Jul 11 2009
Hawks Summer League Team in 2009
The Atlanta Hawks have announced their 2009 Summer League team for this year in Las Vegas. Don’t worry about grabbing a pencil and jotting the list down, because it is a very short one. Josh Smith is the only name on it and will be the only Hawks player to represent the team this summer in Las Vegas. This is because the Hawks will not have a summer team this year. Not sure why the team isn’t putting one together and I think they may be making a huge mistake. It is true that Josh Smith will be in Las Vegas this summer, but only in a mini camp for USA basketball. He was one of the 25 chosen players to be invited to Las Vegas for this 3 day mini camp that will take place between July 22nd and the 25th.
I always wondered why some NBA teams just don’t send the big boys out in summer ball action. It would be a great chance to get your regular players a little playing time and work on polishing a team for the new season. It would take away from seeing the new guys you just drafted or acquired via trades, so I figured that was the main reason. Now that I learn the Atlanta Hawks will not even be dressing a team to play in Las Vegas or Orlando (2 cities for NBA summer leagues), it makes me wonder even more about the direction of the Atlanta Hawks. They are two other NBA teams that will not be putting teams together for this summer, so the Hawks are not alone in their decision. The fans in Atlanta would love to see some of the new guys play and a chance to see an early glimpse of Wake Forrest star Jeff Teague. You do pick up on a few things in these summer league games and some players show what they have or don’t have during this short period of time. Marvin Williams was a good example of this and the summer league proved he wasn’t quite ready to be a starter in the NBA. The Rocky Mountain Review was the summer league the Hawks were playing in and that has now been cancelled. I know the people in Utah really enjoyed seeing this event each year and they got a chance to see other NBA teams; plus the Utah Jazz always took part in the action.
The Las Vegas summer league is just starting up and will last 9 days for the 21 NBA teams that did decide to play this year. If you’re a sports fan in Atlanta and was looking forward to seeing the Atlanta Hawks play this year; then I’m sure you’re disappointed. Perhaps the brass for the Hawks can make us all happy with the announcement of a big trade or free agent signing. I know Ramon Sessions would be a great place to start and this would make up for not having a summer league team this year in Las Vegas or Orlando. Sessions is another point guard and this might seem very unlikely since Mike Bibby has been resigned and the additions of Jamal Crawford and Jeff Teague. I think Bibby and Crawford are better 2 guards and Ramon Sessions is a much better 1 guard or point guard. You always find room for a guy like Sessions and he has a great game and would be good for any NBA team.
Maybe the Atlanta Braves helped out with their recent trade of Jeff Francoeur. I’m sure a lot of Braves and Hawks fans will have the TV on tonight to see the possible debut of Ryan Church. The Braves acquired him from the New York Mets for the hometown favorite Jeff Francoeur. Just for the record, the Braves got a great player in this deal and really gave up nothing to get him. It was the New York Mets that called the Braves to set up this trade and the fans in Atlanta will love Ryan Church. No summer team this year for the Hawks and no more Frenchy for the Bravos, so I guess we hold our breath for free agency and watch Mr. Church driving in runs for now.
