| | |  | | Lenny Wilkens is a Hall of Famer. Isaiah Rider? Now torturing his third NBA team. |
The Atlanta Hawks, in the six-year tenure of coach Lenny Wilkens, have done well in the regular season, but haven't had much success in the playoffs. After last season's disappointing sweep by New York in the second round of the playoffs, the Hawks made some trades and draft selections that they hoped would strengthen their team and, at the same time, cut some of their long-term financial responsibilities. Wilkens, who has won more games than anyone in the history of the NBA (1,152), and general manager Pete Babcock were optimistic about the coming season. So far, the Hawks have struggled -- currently posting a 1-6 mark entering Tuesday's game with the Hornets.
Trades, Free Agents and Draft Picks
1993-94: Traded Dominique Wilkins (and a future No. 1 pick) to the L.A. Clippers for Danny Manning. Acquired free agents Craig Ehlo and Andrew Lang; drafted Doug Edwards (15) and Richard Manning (40). Regular season: 57 wins; beat Miami (3-2), lost to Indiana (4-2) in playoffs.
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THROUGH THE YEARS
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Year
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Record
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Playoffs |
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1993-94
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57-25
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5-6
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1994-95
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42-40
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0-3
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1995-96
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46-36
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4-6
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1996-97
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56-26
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4-6
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1997-98
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50-32
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1-3
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1998-99
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31-19
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3-6
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Totals
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282-178
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17-30
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1994-95: Lost free agent Manning to Phoenix; traded Kevin Willis and a future first pick to Miami for Steve Smith, Grant Long and a future second pick. Traded Adam Keefe and second-round pick to Utah for Tyrone Corbin; traded rights to Roy Hinson to Milwaukee for Ken Norman; drafted Goylon Nickerson (34). Regular season: 42 wins; lost to Indiana (0-3) in playoffs.
1995-96: Traded Andrew Lang and Spud Webb to Minnesota for Christian Laettner and Sean Rooks; drafted Alan Henderson (16), Donnie Boyce (42), Troy Brown (45) and Cuonzo Martin (57). Regular season: 46 wins; beat Indiana (3-2); lost to Orlando (1-4) in playoffs.
1996-97: Acquired free agent Dikembe Mutombo; traded Grant Long and
Stacey Augmon to Detroit for two first-round and two second-round picks. Drafted Priest Lauderdale (28). Regular season: 56 wins; beat Detroit (3-2); lost to Chicago (1-4) in playoffs.
1997-98: Drafted Ed Gray (22), Alain Digbeu (50) and Chris Crawford (51). Regular season: 50 wins; lost to Charlotte (1-4) in the playoffs.
1998-99: Traded Laettner to Detroit for Scott Pollard and a first-round pick. Acquired free agents LaPhonso Ellis, Anthony Johnson, Mark West and Grant Long; drafted Roshown McLeod (20) and Cory Carr (49), then traded Carr and two future second-round picks to Chicago for Shammond Williams. Regular season: 31-19 (50-game season); beat Detroit (3-2); lost to N.Y. (0-4) in playoffs.
1999-2000: Traded Steve Smith (and Ed Gray) to Portland and Mookie Blaylock (and the 21st pick in the 1999 NBA Draft) to Golden State; and got in return Isaiah Rider, Jim Jackson, Duane Ferrell and the 10th pick in the '99 Draft -- Jason Terry. The Hawks also acquired 6-11 Lorenzen Wright from the Clippers for two future first-rounders, to help Dikembe Mutombo with the rebounding and shot-blocking chores. Drafted: Terry, Cal Bowdler (17), Jumaine Jones (27) and Roberto Bergerson (52). Jones and Bergerson were then sent to Philadelphia and Portland respectively for future considerations.
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TEAM STATUS
If everything went right -- everybody healthy, willing acceptance of the team game plan, full attendance and energetic participation in practice, unselfish play on offense and defense, clutch play down the stretch of close games -- the Hawks could be a better than a .500 team with a shot at making the playoffs. A starting lineup of Ellis and Henderson at forward; Mutombo at center; with Coles and Rider at guard is talented enough. Jackson, Crawford, McLeod, Wright and Jackson and/or Terry could combine to make a solid bench. But that's only if everything goes right. It probably won't happen. Much depends on Isaiah Rider. |
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Analysis
After all the wheeling and dealing, only Alan Henderson and Chris Crawford have proven to be productive draft selections for the Hawks in this time frame. McLeod still has a chance to be a solid NBA player, and Wilkens continues to have high hopes for rookie Terry, who seems overwhelmed by the league at this time.
The Hawks got good service from many of their trades and free agent acquisitions over the years. Manning, Ehlo, Lang, Laettner, Smith, Long, Blaylock, Rooks and Corbin all helped the team succeed before moving on. Henderson, the veteran Hawk with four seasons and Mutombo with three, remain the nucleus for Wilkens to build around. Seven teammates are new to the Hawks this year.
The thinking behind the most recent moves, according to GM Pete Babcock was that: a) the team wasn't a contender with Smith and Blaylock; b) he was able to rid management of long-term, big-dollar obligations to both players; and c) he was able to replace both players with Coles plus a rookie of high promise (Terry); Rider and Jackson, both acknowledged high-powered talent, are in the last year of their contracts.
Wilkens has a tough job. Not only does he have to adapt these new players to his game, but he has the added distraction of Rider's frequent absence from practice and games, and his apparent unwillingness to accept his role with the team. Babcock has said that the Hawks went into the Rider deal with their eyes open -- they were aware of his potential for disruption. Wilkens told me last summer that he gave Rider a fresh start with the Hawks, and thought that he would work out all right. It seems neither was prepared for the magnitude of the problem.
The Future
If the talented Rider does not "join the team," the Hawks will have to suffer through a difficult season and then release him. It won't be any fun because there will always be controversy and uncertainty. At some point, Wilkens may have to try to salvage some value from the season by playing his young guys and letting them soak up experience to be used more productively some time down the line.
If the Hawks have to go through a rebuilding program, it could take several seasons to complete, and that might be too long for Mutombo (now 33). There's still some good talent here. Henderson, Jackson, Ellis (if healthy), Crawford, McLeod, Terry, Wright, Bowdler and Glover have varying degrees of ability and all are under 30 years old.
So's Rider. | |
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