I hate Billy Knight

Well so much for brevity, because I have a feeling this is going to be a lengthy rant …

I hate Billy Knight.

At this point, I believe the hate I share with many fellow Hawks fans (yes, a few still survive) is akin to Detroit Lions’ fans loathing Matt Millen. And for good reason, as Knight and Millen seem to share a similar predisposed infatuation with rangy quick athletes. For Millen, he can’t resist a strong, quick wideout with height. In Knight’s case, the Hawks’ GM can’t say no to a 6’8’’/6’9’’ forward with length.

This year’s edition of, ‘Who Is The Hawks Latest Forward,’ brought us Al Horford, a 6’9’’ power forward who could barely score at the college level on a team so stacked, he was rarely double teamed. At least he can rebound, right? Or didn’t we say the same about 'The Slumlord' Sheldon Williams last year?

Frankly, I think this was a wasted pick.

Of course the Hawks needed a legitimate post presence to balance the team on both the offensive and defensive ends of the court. However, in my opinion, Horford’s best-case-NBA projection is that of a 15 and nine guy at his best, with perhaps an All-Star appearance or two. And while the Hawks certainly can use this type of player, isn’t the third overall pick reserved for someone who’s upside is that of a numerous time All-Star? The type of upside very few prognosticators believe Horford has. But, he is ready to play in the NBA right now, some say. Some hear this and think, ‘instant production,’ while I hear, ‘Already reached his potential.’

Maybe I’m being too tough on the guy. Then again, I preferred Acie Law IV (thank god we at least got one pick right) to Mike Conley Jr., but would have preferred the Hawks selected Conley or Yi Jianlan, the 7-foot tall Chinese power forward, over Horford with the third pick because those players have greater potential to be superstars and still fit the Hawks’ needs. I would have rather given this year’s pick to Phoenix so that we could have next year’s first round pick instead of Horford’s Sheldon Williams-like game.

But this is not solely Billy’s fault. The Hawks’ ownership, including one Steve Belkin, is more to blame than anyone else. Had the collective group of owners not been so frugal (aka cheap asses) and placed a clause in their agreement calling for a collective vote on any trade or signing putting the team over the salary cap requiring only one nay to veto, the Hawks would likely have traded for 24-year old All-Star Amare Stoudamire in return for their 2007 third and 11th draft picks. Specifically, Belkin is most responsible for reportedly being the dickhole who vetoed the Amare deal. And honestly, I don’t think he vetoed it because he thought the trade would hurt the franchise. I think he did just to zing the other member’s of the ownership in the continuing slap fight over the rights to own the Hawks and Thrashers. (Read about the Hawks' ownership disfunction here!)

Yep. This is what it is like to be a Hawks fan these days.

And, off the subject, what should the over/under be on Big Macs consumed by Eddie Curry and the newly acquired Zach Randolph of the New York Knicks be for one season? 100 or 200? Because I really think 250 between the two of them in one year is a real possibility.

In my next post, look for brief thoughts on the Chris Benoit horror and for 2007 NBA Draft conspiracy theories.