A series of front-office missteps hasnt stopped Atlanta from thriving early in the 2014-15 season.His rough summer has turned into a bittersweet winter, no doubt, because how much fun can it be to remain estranged from a team you created? A team flirting with first place in the East? A team that, suddenly, is doing the very thing some in the organization openly questioned: garnering curiosity -- if not dollars -- in Atlanta? Danny Ferry is living in exile in the Atlanta area, just a few dozen bounce passes away from Philips Arena, where the Hawks are doing what they can to turn heads. A month ago they had a neat little record in the East many snorted at because the Hawks hadnt played anyone. After 15 wins in 17 games -- including victories against Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers, plus road wins vs. Houston, the L.A. Clippers and Dallas -- Atlanta has raised its swagger. The Hawks are essentially the anti-Cavs: low on star-power, high on unity, through the roof on value. Its a team that keeps on fighting, and everyone has bought into the system, said Al Horford. We go out, play unselfish basketball and let the rest take care of itself. Put this team in New York, L.A. or Philadelphia and folks in those big, depressed basketball cities would be losing their heads a bit. As it is, the Hawks are toiling in perhaps the worst sports town in America and certainly a hard-to-please basketball burgh thats been in hibernation ever since the last reel of the Human Highlight Film ended. Dominique Wilkins retired in 1999 and today, as the teams TV commentator, hes still the most famous Hawk in the building. Thats the hard sell of the Hawks, and thats what indirectly contributed to a long, hot basketball summer in Atlanta. Thats when Ferry, then the general manager, and a leaked memo from ownership put the franchise in a pickle. Ferry mentioned in a team conference call how Luol Deng, a 2014 free agent the Hawks considered pursuing, had a little African in him, a crack at Dengs supposed tendency to deceive. Separately, Hawks majority owner Bruce Levenson complained in a memo (which he revealed) about the Hawks woeful attendance and openly wondered how to attract more white fans. In a city that gave birth to the Civil Rights Era, this felt uncomfortable. Ferry and the Hawks didnt receive much backlash because the general manager and team fell on their sword quickly and thoroughly, aiding the healing process. Levenson immediately announced plans to sell his share, and the Hawks remain active in their pursuit of a potential majority owner. As for Ferry, he has gone great lengths to educate himself on all matters of race and culture. How can anyone condemn a man who goes that route to redemption without being nudged? What Ferry said was probably more due to ignorance. It was an insensitive observation by someone who doesnt have a history of being racial. Plenty of prominent blacks in and out of basketball gave Ferry a pass and stressed the need to move on: Magic Johnson, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, even Deng. In any event, after he was placed on indefinite leave, he took it upon himself to meet with community leaders, Hawks players and even took an NBA-sponsored trip to Africa. Ferrys leftover work on the court appears to be just as impressive. Coach Mike Budenholzer, whom Ferry hired in 2013, is running a team that plays hard, hides its weaknesses and shares the wealth. Because of this, Bud is a Coach of the Year front-runner. Ferry and Bud were groomed by the San Antonio Spurs organization and that imprint is evident. However, there is one big difference. The Spurs have three future Hall of Famers, while theres a small possibility the Hawks wont have a player in the 2015 All-Star Game. How weird would that be if, by chance, the Hawks are leading the East by then? Paul Millsap, Horford, Jeff Teague or Kyle Korver should garner a All-Star reserve spot, even though none of them are producing earth-moving numbers or contributions. In any event, the Hawks are satisfied playing team ball ... not that they have much choice. Atlanta has never been a destination city for free agents, despite its charms: great weather, a reasonable cost of living, diversity and nightlife. Their inability to get a true star has affected the box office and echoes can be heard in Philips Arena on most nights. The Hawks are 24th in average home attendance this season and finished 28th, 26th and 23rd in that department, respectively, the last three seasons. Sparse crowds and support is probably enough to scare A-list free agents away. Depending on whom you ask, other excuses range from a lack of traditional success (the Atlanta-era Hawks have never reached the conference finals) to lack of faith in ownership. Atlanta product Dwight Howard made it clear as a free agent two summers ago he had no plans to return home, not even to play alongside boyhood pal (and now Houston teammate) Josh Smith. Despite these challenges, Ferry went to work anyway. He came to a team that had maxed itself out and managed to re-tool the Hawks with minimum pain. His greatest feat was dumping Joe Johnsons massive contract to the Brooklyn Nets without taking back a bad contract. That same summer, he shipped Marvin Williams albatross deal to the Utah Jazz. Ferry eventually replaced Smith with Millsap, a much more reliable all-around player who is on a team-friendly contract ($9 million per). He traded for and then re-signed 3-point shooting ace Korver and two summers ago, drafted German point guard Dennis Schroder. Hes already pressing Teague for playing time and is often on the floor deep in fourth quarters. Despite a 38-win season, the Hawks were a pleasant playoff surprise and took the Pacers to the limit. Theyve continued that trend so far in 2014-15, especially lately. Even if they break even from here, the Hawks would finish with nearly 50 wins. Because they dont rely on a designated weapon, the Hawks move the ball (second in the league in team assists) and simply locate the open man. Horfords return from his second shoulder procedure has been a significant lift, and Bud is getting the most from a bench comprised of second-round picks and lightly regarded free agents. Mike Scott, Pero Antic, DeMarre Carroll and others arent bashful about taking big shots in the clutch. Im just happy I can work my way back and not be the person holding back this team, Horford said, laughing. The last couple of weeks, Ive felt normal. And its good to feel that way and be productive, because this is a good group of guys, a solid team to be around. Recent wins over top teams in the West prove the Hawks arent a fluke. Whether theyre a serious threat to win the East depends on them staying injury-free, maintaining their sharp 3-point shooting and managing a few more message-sending wins over the Toronto Raptors and Bulls. Meanwhile, another bit a drama is taking place quietly. Ferrys fate is up in the air and will be largely decided upon by the new owner, whomever that will be and whenever he/she will arrive. Until then, Bud will handle the personnel duties, and while that might seem burdensome for a coach, this will only become an issue should the Hawks become buyers at the trade deadline. Heres the cruel thing about that now-infamous memo from Levenson about the Hawks inability to get people to the games: Their biggest supporter, the man who built the team and made this hot start possible, is reluctantly a part of the crowd that stays away from Philips Arena. Still stranded in exile, Ferry can only sit and home and watch on TV.
Posted on: Wed, 31 Dec 2014 17:15:04 +0000
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