Empty the Bench

This little nugget basically amounts to total speculation and 100% heresay, but a good idea is a good idea, and this trade scenario makes a lot of sense for both teams. Sekou K. Smith says in the Hawks Blog that Jarrett Jack might be moved this summer by Portland, and that his game solves one of the Hawks’ missing links:

The word is the Blazers love former Tech star Jarrett Jack, but think Brandon Roy is really a PG (and they have ample insurance in promising rookie Sergio Rodriguez), and might be willing to part with Jack for a much-needed small forward … can you think of a team loaded with small forwards that is in dire need of a young point guard? Jack is solid. His only real weakness right now is his outside stroke, which is streaky at best. But he can run a team, knows how to take charge late in games and is the ultimate facilitator for NBA teams because his ego is already in check (he’s not busy trying to show he’s the man all the time, which is the curse of some young PGs).

We’re big fans of Jack here at ETB, recently naming him to our Top 10 NBA Fantasy Surprises of ’07 team. We already said this in that article, but in some ways he reminds us of Chauncey Billups (especially his build and rapidly developing floor-general mindset), except he’s much farther along now than Mr. Big Shot was at this stage of his career. He’s suffering through a bit of a slump at the moment, but this is still a young guy in just his second full NBA season, so a few ups and downs along the way can be expected.

Like Smith says, however, the Blazers are pretty stocked at the point guard position with young talent, which makes Jack expendable for the right price. Working a deal with the Hawks makes perfect sense: Atlanta has a surplus of ‘tweener guards/forwards and a shortage of star power at point guard, while Portland could use more stability on the wing, especially if Travis Outlaw leaves as a free agent this summer. Could these teams work out a Jack for, say, Josh Childress trade? Would the Hawks still be interested if the talented but troubled Zach Randolph had to be included, and they had to give up more of their young talent or a 1st-round pick?

We obviously have no idea if anything will ever come of this rumor, but we’d love to see Atlanta acquire a guard like Jack. Factor in a healthy Joe Johnson, along with the continued development of Josh Smith and Marvin Williams (and ZaZa Pachulia), and a guy like Jack might add just enough to push them into the playoffs next season.

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3. Atlanta Hawks Really Want a Point Guard


4. NBA Offseason Trade Rumors – Carmelo Anthony, Allen Iverson on the Trading Block?


5. The Fate of the Golden State Warriors’ Playoff Hopes Will Be Decided by Captain Jack