ducks
06-18-2004, 02:44 PM
Hawks seek No. 2 pick, Howard
By MICHAEL LEE
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 6/17/04
The Hawks have intensified their efforts to land homegrown talent Dwight Howard, offering both of their first-round picks -- Nos. 6 and 17 -- to the Los Angeles Clippers and agreeing to absorb the contract of at least one of the Clippers' unwanted veterans, sources familiar with the discussions said.
In exchange, the Hawks would get the Clippers' No. 2 pick in next Thursday's NBA draft, clearing the way for them to draft Howard.
Hawks general manager Billy Knight would not comment on the specifics of the trade talks but said Thursday, "It is true that we're trying to move up and improve our position in the draft."
Financially, the deal would make sense. The NBA's first-year salary scale for a No. 2 pick ($3.12 million) matches almost perfectly with the total salaries for No. 6 ($2.08 million) and No. 17 ($1.06 million).
The Clippers appear willing to part with the No. 2 pick and are among the teams believed to be interested in getting well under the salary cap to make a push for free-agent-to-be Kobe Bryant. Bryant declared his intent to opt out of his contract after the Lakers lost in the NBA Finals. The Hawks plan to speak with Bryant but don't have a realistic shot of luring him away from Los Angeles.
Orlando has the No. 1 pick and could ruin a Hawks-Clippers trade by taking Howard, though the Magic is expected to select Connecticut's Emeka Okafor. Howard, scheduled to work out with the Magic on Saturday, would be thrilled to go No. 1.
"Hopefully, they'll pick me," Howard said.
The Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy product will fly to Los Angeles on Sunday and meet with Clippers general manager Elgin Baylor but won't work out. On Monday, Howard might visit the expansion Charlotte Bobcats, who also are trying to move up from No. 4.
Noticeably absent from Howard's schedule is a meeting with the Hawks.
"No, we don't have to work out for Atlanta," Howard's father, Dwight Sr., said, laughing. "They know what we've got."
Knight has said he wouldn't draft a player that didn't work out for the Hawks, but in this instance, "You do what you need to do."
Howard Sr. said Baylor requested a meeting with the 6-foot-10 forward "to get to know him." The father said they won't tell the Clippers not to take Howard but will say, "We prefer being in the East, ideally Atlanta."
Howard's main concern is playing time more than the city or the team. "He wants to be in a place where he can make an immediate impact," the father said.
If drafted by the Clippers, Howard would be forced to sit. They currently have three power forwards on their roster, including Elton Brand, their best player.
The Clippers have only a handful of players signed beyond the 2004-05 season -- Brand, Corey Maggette, Melvin Ely, Chris Wilcox and Chris Kaman -- and they likely wouldn't want to part with any of them. But they might be willing to include one or more of the following -- centers Peja Drobnjak and Wang Zhi Zhi, or guards Keyon Dooling and Marko Jaric -- to get the deal with the Hawks done.
Knight added that the Hawks are in discussions with a number of teams about exchanging draft slots.
-- Staff writer Mike Tierney contributed to this report.
link (http://www.ajc.com/hawks/content/sports/hawks/0604/18howard.html)
By MICHAEL LEE
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 6/17/04
The Hawks have intensified their efforts to land homegrown talent Dwight Howard, offering both of their first-round picks -- Nos. 6 and 17 -- to the Los Angeles Clippers and agreeing to absorb the contract of at least one of the Clippers' unwanted veterans, sources familiar with the discussions said.
In exchange, the Hawks would get the Clippers' No. 2 pick in next Thursday's NBA draft, clearing the way for them to draft Howard.
Hawks general manager Billy Knight would not comment on the specifics of the trade talks but said Thursday, "It is true that we're trying to move up and improve our position in the draft."
Financially, the deal would make sense. The NBA's first-year salary scale for a No. 2 pick ($3.12 million) matches almost perfectly with the total salaries for No. 6 ($2.08 million) and No. 17 ($1.06 million).
The Clippers appear willing to part with the No. 2 pick and are among the teams believed to be interested in getting well under the salary cap to make a push for free-agent-to-be Kobe Bryant. Bryant declared his intent to opt out of his contract after the Lakers lost in the NBA Finals. The Hawks plan to speak with Bryant but don't have a realistic shot of luring him away from Los Angeles.
Orlando has the No. 1 pick and could ruin a Hawks-Clippers trade by taking Howard, though the Magic is expected to select Connecticut's Emeka Okafor. Howard, scheduled to work out with the Magic on Saturday, would be thrilled to go No. 1.
"Hopefully, they'll pick me," Howard said.
The Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy product will fly to Los Angeles on Sunday and meet with Clippers general manager Elgin Baylor but won't work out. On Monday, Howard might visit the expansion Charlotte Bobcats, who also are trying to move up from No. 4.
Noticeably absent from Howard's schedule is a meeting with the Hawks.
"No, we don't have to work out for Atlanta," Howard's father, Dwight Sr., said, laughing. "They know what we've got."
Knight has said he wouldn't draft a player that didn't work out for the Hawks, but in this instance, "You do what you need to do."
Howard Sr. said Baylor requested a meeting with the 6-foot-10 forward "to get to know him." The father said they won't tell the Clippers not to take Howard but will say, "We prefer being in the East, ideally Atlanta."
Howard's main concern is playing time more than the city or the team. "He wants to be in a place where he can make an immediate impact," the father said.
If drafted by the Clippers, Howard would be forced to sit. They currently have three power forwards on their roster, including Elton Brand, their best player.
The Clippers have only a handful of players signed beyond the 2004-05 season -- Brand, Corey Maggette, Melvin Ely, Chris Wilcox and Chris Kaman -- and they likely wouldn't want to part with any of them. But they might be willing to include one or more of the following -- centers Peja Drobnjak and Wang Zhi Zhi, or guards Keyon Dooling and Marko Jaric -- to get the deal with the Hawks done.
Knight added that the Hawks are in discussions with a number of teams about exchanging draft slots.
-- Staff writer Mike Tierney contributed to this report.
link (http://www.ajc.com/hawks/content/sports/hawks/0604/18howard.html)