"Hawks could face tampering charges"

[wdleehi]

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/atlanta-hawks-could-face-tampering-charges-ticket-advertisement-194928526.html

    The letter, obtained by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, was on team letterhead and headlined “Hot New Player news: Chris Paul and Dwight Howard.”

    It began with the statement: “The buzz around our offseason is more than heating up. With massive cap space, 4 draft picks, and free agency rapidly approaching, we sit in the best position in the NBA. Player interest is skyrocketing as the possibilities of landing Chris Paul & Dwight Howard become more and more of a reality.”

[kozlodoev]

They must be really desperate down in Atlanta.

[rondohondo]

haaaa

next it will say

"After tampering, we now only have 1 draft pick. Dwight Howard and CP3 don't want to come here "

sorry folks

[Monkhouse]

I don't like Atlanta.

I could care less if they just want to attract more fans.

NEVER promise something you cannot guarantee... That makes you look so much less credible especially as an organization.

Also, I'm not surprised they would do something like this. Atlanta has got to be one of the crappiest teams in terms of fans, and organization/front offices.

Which is why I wish J-Smoove could come here... Being surrounded by a defensive first minded coach, a great organization, wonderful fans, and a different change of scenery. Would really boost his defensive prowess and make him a monster on the offensive end with numerous alley oops, and easy passes in the paint from Rondo.

[KGs Knee]

Edit: never mind, I see it was a letter sent to season ticket holders.

That is not good.

[hpantazo]

It's terrible business strategy, but why would that be tampering? They are just speculating, and doesn't at all indicate that they contacted Dwight or CP3.

[KGs Knee]

It's terrible business strategy, but why would that be tampering? They are just speculating, and doesn't at all indicate that they contacted Dwight or CP3.

No, but the letter essentially implies the organization intends to pursue said players as free agents.  This is not allowed.

[hpantazo]

It's terrible business strategy, but why would that be tampering? They are just speculating, and doesn't at all indicate that they contacted Dwight or CP3.

No, but the letter essentially implies the organization intends to pursue said players as free agents.  This is not allowed.

Really? I believe you, I'm just surprised. I mean, what's wrong with a team saying they want to pursue one or two of the top upcoming free agents?

[CelticConcourse]

haaaa

next it will say

"After tampering, we now only have 1 draft pick. Dwight Howard and CP3 don't want to come here "

sorry folks

LOL LOL LOL

[action781]

Didn't their ownership make some other incredibly stupid promise a while back to their season ticket holders like that they were guaranteed going to make the playoffs or else they'd give the ticket holders a refund or something?  And then they did fail to make the playoffs?

Am I making this up or do I correctly remember that actually happened?

[CelticConcourse]

Didn't their ownership make some other incredibly stupid promise a while back to their season ticket holders like that they were guaranteed going to make the playoffs or else they'd give the ticket holders a refund or something?  And then they did fail to make the playoffs?

Am I making this up or do I correctly remember that actually happened?

In one of their latest turnovers -- they are 27th in the league in that category -- the Hawks have dropped "playoff bound" from their vernacular. The phone operators at team headquarters no longer greet callers by saying "playoff-bound Atlanta Hawks," though that rolls off the tongue better than, say, "plenty-of-good-seats-available Atlanta Hawks."
"I'm glad to hear that," general manager Pete Babcock said of last week's change, one more move than he made before the trade deadline after suggesting the Hawks would clean house.
"I wish they had never started. I mean, I bought into it because I thought we'd make the playoffs. But we shouldn't have started it. It was a no-win situation."
Sort of like what the Hawks are in on the court. The Hawks have failed spectacularly in trying to fulfill expectations that they created before the season, when then-coach Lon Kruger backed a plan to offer $125 rebates to full season-ticket holders if the club missed the playoffs.
Kruger is being paid and not showing up at Philips Arena. Some fans who are not showing up at Philips Arena -- Atlanta is 28th in attendance -- will be paid because of the money-back guarantee. Kruger was fired after an 11-16 start; his replacement, Terry Stotts, has guided the Hawks to an 11-21 record.
Nothing has gone right for the Hawks since former assistant Eric Musselman led their entry in the Boston summer league to a 6-0 record. Major injuries (most notably to probable starting shooting guard DerMarr Johnson and reserve center Nazr Mohammed), poor on-court chemistry, a lack of leadership and the same old questions about combo guard Jason Terry's ability to run a team have dogged the Eastern Conference's 11th-place club.
Although promising a playoff spot after finishing 33-49 in 2001-02 seemed ambitious, the Hawks at least figured to contend for a postseason berth in the so-so East because the addition of forward Glenn Robinson from Milwaukee and shot-blocking center Theo Ratliff's return from a serious hip injury gave them two former All-Stars to play alongside 20-point, nine-rebound forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Terry.
When the Hawks on Aug. 2 acquired Robinson from Milwaukee for Toni Kukoc, Leon Smith and a 2003 first-round pick, Kruger said, "This is an indication to the players that management is committed to taking that extra step."
Backward, apparently. The one-dimensional Robinson is producing 20.9 points a game, but he is shooting a career-worst 43 percent from the field and is averaging the third-most turnovers in the league (3.61). The Hawks were supposed to win by scoring big because only Ratliff among the starters is regarded for his defense, but through Friday Atlanta ranked 21st in scoring at 93.2 a game.
Coaches always talk about the importance of having an identity. The Warriors, for instance, under Musselman have become known for their competitiveness and free-flowing offense. The Hawks, on the hand, have no foundation for success.
When his old team visited Oakland last week, Musselman was asked if, presented with the opportunity, could he have done in Atlanta what he's accomplished with the surprising Warriors.
"I'm glad I got a start here with these guys. This is a better opportunity for me," Musselman said. "I had a great relationship with the Atlanta players, but I think as an assistant coach you take on different roles than you do as a head coach. It's much easier to get a clean slate with a new group of guys who see you only in that light.
"Those guys all liked me. I didn't control minutes or shots. When we play them, it's a love-a-thon before the game. They come over, give me a hug, shake my hand."

[fairweatherfan]

It's terrible business strategy, but why would that be tampering? They are just speculating, and doesn't at all indicate that they contacted Dwight or CP3.

No, but the letter essentially implies the organization intends to pursue said players as free agents.  This is not allowed.

Really? I believe you, I'm just surprised. I mean, what's wrong with a team saying they want to pursue one or two of the top upcoming free agents?

Because they aren't free agents yet, they're under contract with the Clippers and Lakers.  Can't openly talk about signing another team's players.  Cuban got a big fine in 2010 for just saying that anybody would be interested in signing LeBron.

I agree that this is really dumb and will definitely draw a fine, maybe even forfeiture of a draft pick or something like that.

[nickagneta]

Not sure this is anywhere near the level of Kevin McHale/Minnesota tampering charges bad but I think it is worse than the Cuban/Kerr/Dallas tampering charges.

I'm thinking the fine will be $500,000 to the organization and loss of a pick. If its a 2014 draft pick, that's not going to be good if Atlanta doesn't make next year's playoffs. Don't think the NBA will complete an investigation fast enough to effect Atlanta's pick this year.

[SHAQATTACK]

selling the fans a false idea or promise is not going to sit well with the powers at be .  I suspect this isn't gonna go well for then Hawks organization on several issues.

somebody is going to get fired in Atlanta.

[hpantazo]

so what happens to a pick if a team like the Hawks loses it for tampering? Is the first round then just 29 picks and the 1st pick of the 2nd round the 30th pick? Does that then make the 30th pick's contract a 2nd round contract?