Hawks bring back assistants Drew, Bender Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - The Atlanta Hawks signed assistant coaches
Larry Drew and Bob Bender to contracts on Tuesday.
Both men return to head coach Mike Woodson's staff, which put together a 37-45
record a year ago but pushed the NBA champion Boston Celtics to a deciding
Game 7 in their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series.
Each man has spent the four previous seasons as assistants with Atlanta. Drew
had been an assistant with the Lakers, Pistons, Wizards and Nets since
retiring as a player in 1991. Bender, who was a head coach at the collegiate
level... More...
Josh Childress, a restricted free agent, is receiving "broad and enthusiastic" interest, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. The 76ers are known to be one of the teams seeking out his services.
Our View:Childress is probably looking for a team that is willing to start him. He has proven himself to be one of the most efficient players in the league. It's likely that the Lakers are one of the teams in this race after Phil Jackson commmented that he wanted more perimeter shooting and defense on the wing. A sign-and-trade centered around Childress and Lamar Odom would be feasable, especially if the Hawks lose Josh Smith.
The Philadelphia 76ers gave Josh Smith, a restricted free agent, the red carpet treatment yesterday and he was impressed, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. The Sixers can over Smith a deal in the five-year, $66 million range. "They fit the style of play that I like to play, which is up-tempo," Smith told reporters at the airport. "They have great talent. This is one of the teams that I'm looking at."
Our View:The Hawks could match, but may hesitate given the headaches Smith has caused in the past, large contracts that are due to Mike Bibby and Joe Johnson, and an ownership group that rarely agrees on anything. Putting Smith in an offense with Andre Miller would increase his fantasy value.
Josh Smith is to meet with the 76ers on Wednesday, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Our View:The 6-foot-9 Smith is a fantasy freak because he is valuable in all categories. If he were to play with Andre Miller under coach Maurice Cheeks, his fantasy status would be even higher. However, the Hawks have the right to match any offer as Smith is a restricted free agent. Smith has had multiple run-ins with Hawks coaching and management during his four seasons in Atlanta.
