The working hypothesis in the Atlanta Hawks front office appears to be that, if you get the chance to follow up your inexplicable decision to re-sign Jason Collins to be your third-string center by signing a free agent center six months older than Collins who has played 1082 fewer minutes than Collins over the previous three seasons to create competition for the role of third-string center, you have to make that move.
Enter Etan Thomas.
That difference in playing time isn't entirely fair to Thomas, as he missed the 2007-08 season after undergoing open heart surgery and Thomas was useful more recently than Collins (that being the 2006-07 rather than 2005-06 season). Therefore, let it be noted that, since his return from open heart surgery, Thomas has, over two seasons, played 90 more minutes in 6 fewer games than Collins.
Thomas was unproductive in limited minutes in each of the last two seasons but not, it should be further noted, unproductive to the comical extent to which Collins was unproductive. Still, with the Wizards in 2008-09, Thomas set career lows in scoring rate, eFG%, OR%, DR%, steal rate, turnover rate, usage, and PER. With the Thunder in 2009-10, Thomas set new career lows in scoring rate, eFG%, TS%, OR%, DR%, assist rate, usage, and PER. Oh, and not that it's statistically significant given how little he played, but the Wizards allowed 4.5 more points per 100 possessions with Thomas on the floor in 2008-09 and the Thunder allowed almost 2 more points per 100 possessions with Thomas on the floor last season.
Looking at his career stats, there's a sharp line drawn between the useful role player Thomas was in his 20s and the guy in his 30s who could play or produce for either a terrible team or a good team following open heart surgery. And now he's a Hawk. And now the Hawks are $854,389 closer to the luxury tax line. And still the roster includes neither a proper backup for Marvin Williams nor a guard with a track record of staying in front of opponents.
5 comments:
What the hell is going on in the heads of the people who make decisions in the ASG? What's comical is their belief (if they have one) that what they are doing will improve the team.
You'd think a bunch of dimwits with millions of dollars would buy a sports team to win. Evidently, either it is extremely difficult to win or extremely difficult to put your money where your mouth is. My biggest gripe with the "Group" is the fact that they're willing to plunk down a few hundred million to purchase a sports team, but refuse to drop a couple million more to make them winners. Unlike someone's retail or personal business, a sports team has a unique connection with its city, and furthermore, the residents of that city feel a unique connection to the team. The decisions made by the ASG do not only affect their bottom line (as decisions regarding their personal assets), rather, their decisions affect the city as a whole - In the success of the team, the marketing value (and stigma) of Atlanta, and even as far as welfare and confidence of residents here. Put simply, watching the Hawks win will bring joy to people here. Watching the ASG members protect their wallets will do exactly the opposite.
I'm beyond frustrated at following the organization. They have lost direction, a plan, or even a vision. They don't communicate with their fans, nor do they seem to try and please them. In fact, they're not even willing to tell the truth. Someone up there can start by answering the simple question "Do you think this team is better than it was last year?" Hey ASG - Don't be lying, sleazy businessmen. The answer is no, and you are, as a group, letting down a great city.
Damn, why didn't my comment go through last night? I spent some time on a great rant.
I don't know. Hence both the test and the upcoming (and really happening this time) site upgrade.
Mr. Ehlo's rant: What the hell is going on in the heads of the people who make decisions in the ASG? What's comical is their belief (if they have one) that what they are doing will improve the team.
You'd think a bunch of dimwits with millions of dollars would buy a sports team to win. Evidently, either it is extremely difficult to win or extremely difficult to put your money where your mouth is. My biggest gripe with the "Group" is the fact that they're willing to plunk down a few hundred million to purchase a sports team, but refuse to drop a couple million more to make them winners. Unlike someone's retail or personal business, a sports team has a unique connection with its city, and furthermore, the residents of that city feel a unique connection to the team. The decisions made by the ASG do not only affect their bottom line (as decisions regarding their personal assets), rather, their decisions affect the city as a whole - In the success of the team, the marketing value (and stigma) of Atlanta, and even as far as welfare and confidence of residents here. Put simply, watching the Hawks win will bring joy to people here. Watching the ASG members protect their wallets will do exactly the opposite.
I'm beyond frustrated at following the organization. They have lost direction, a plan, or even a vision. They don't communicate with their fans, nor do they seem to try and please them. In fact, they're not even willing to tell the truth. Someone up there can start by answering the simple question "Do you think this team is better than it was last year?" Hey ASG - Don't be lying, sleazy businessmen. The answer is no, and you are, as a group, letting down a great city.
I don't get this FA's obsession with signing obsolete players who were never good to begin with when there are still capable players (e.g. Amundson, Boone, Barron) out there.
I'm looking forward to the ASG signing Brian Skinner and Tony Battie next year.
Anytime you have the option to sign a center known best for fighting with a teammate repeatedly in practice, well, you have to do it.
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