TJ#11 | nbadimensions.net
The Atlanta Hawks' offseason has been worse than they expected it to be.
Coming off a surprising playoff series in which they pushed the Boston Celtics to seven games, everyone thought they were going to return to that level and maybe even get out of the first round the next season.
This might not happen, however. This offseason has been a nightmare for both the Hawks organization and the Hawks fans.
First, Josh Childress and Josh Smith were both free agents. Everyone assumed that the Hawks would be able to sign them both and compete again next season. As it is, they have already lost one, and the other seems likely to leave next offseason if not now.
Josh Childress was not happy with what the Hawks were doing, and honestly I can't blame him. They were playing around, offering very low offers. He decided to give them a piece of their own pie and started looking around the NBA for more offers as well.
He went to visit the 76ers and came away without an offer sheet. The Phoenix Suns also tried to acquire Childress in a sign and trade deal, but the Hawks refused it.
After a few weeks of waiting for the right offer, Childress finally got one. It was from a European team. He sat on the offer for a few days, waiting for the Hawks to reply and offer him the contract he had wanted from them all along. It never came.
He accepted the offer from the European team, and the Hawks lost one of their best players right there. Now they are likely to lose another.
Josh Smith wants a big contract but hasn't gotten one. It seems the Hawks are doing the same thing to him that they did to Childress, offering low contracts.
If they don't hurry up and get something done, he might either ignore contract talks, or accept a high offer from another team and the Hawks won't match it. Or he will just not play as hard this season and leave next offseason.
The Hawks have to be very disappointed. I think they might lose some of their fan support because of these losses.
Unfortunately, the Hawks team is probably not going to be as good as last year, which means no playoffs. This truly has been a horrible offseason for the Atlanta Hawks.
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