HoopsHype.com Columns

'Big Dog' may put Hawks on short leash
by Mike Sandrolini / August 5, 2002

Following last season's second-half free fall, the question wasn't if the Milwaukee Bucks were going to shuffle the deck and deal one of their "Big Three," a.k.a., Sam Cassell, Ray Allen and Glenn Robinson. It was simply a question of when.

And Friday, it was "Big Dog" whom the Bucks turned loose, trading him to the Atlanta Hawks for Toni Kukoc, Leon Smith --a one-time first-round draft choice of the San Antonio Spurs-- and a first-round pick in the 2003 draft.

On paper, you are tempted to give the edge to Atlanta for getting the better end of this deal. Kukoc, a guard in a 6-11 frame, made a good first impression in the NBA with his ballhandling and playmaking abilities while winning championship rings with the Chicago Bulls during the mid-1990s. But you can take the "Sensation" out of Kukoc's longtime "Croatian Sensation" handle because he's lost at least a half step, if not a full step.

Smith, meanwhile, has yet to live up to his potential after the Spurs drafted him out of Martin Luther King High School in Chicago in 1999. He did hook on with the Hawks late last season after averaging a league-high 15.3 rebounds per game with two CBA clubs. However, Smith comes to the Bucks with off-court baggage -- most recently, he failed to show up to play for the Hawks' rookie team in Boston this summer (don't be surprised if he's not on the Bucks' opening night roster).

Long the subject of trade rumors, Robinson's departure isn't a shock. Considered by many to be the NBA's best-shooting small forward, Robinson averaged just over 21 points per game during his eight-year career with the Bucks.

Undoubtedly, Big Dog will bring some Big to the Hawks if he can duplicate his career average, and provide Atlanta with something it sorely lacked last season: perimeter shooting. Robinson also will help take the scoring load off of power forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim (21.1 points per game) and guard Jason Terry (19.3), the only Hawks who averaged in double figures during the 2001-02 season.

Hawks brass is hoping the addition of Robinson -- who, combined with Abdur-Rahim and a healthy Theo Ratliff, gives the Hawks one of the top frontcourts in the NBA's Eastern Conference -- will help them keep a promise to season ticket-holders.

That promise (gulp)? Atlanta will make the playoffs this season.

Let's put it this way, folks: I'd hate to be in GM Pete Babcock's and director of basketball operations Billy Knight's shoes, hoping Big Dog, with a change of scenery, can lead Atlanta out of the dog house and into promised land. I'm simply not convinced Robinson can deliver.

"Big Dog" did his share of whimpering as the Bucks slid out of playoff contention just one season after they nearly made it to the NBA Finals. All of Robinson's vital statistics -- points, shooting percentage, rebounds and assists -- took a dip in 2001-02, as well.

To top that off, Robinson has an August 19 court date hanging over his head, stemming from an incident last month where he allegedly pushed his ex-fiancee and demanded she let him into her house.

Robinson, to his credit, has apologized profusely for the incident. Nonetheless, he was charged with assault, illegal possession of a firearm and misdemeanor counts of domestic battery -- clearly not the kind of fodder you want in your bio as you try to establish yourself in a new city.

What puzzles most about the Hawks acquiring Robinson, however, is this tidbit: last winter, the Hawks averaged 94 points per game and surrendered 98.3 -- one of the worst ratios in the league (the Bucks, meanwhile, averaged 97.5 points while giving up 97.7). Robinson's scoring output alone may help bridge this gap. Then again, will the Hawks now lose games by margins of, say, 105-101? It's no secret "Big Dog" pretty much dogs it on defense.

The same can be said about Toni Kukoc's defensive shortcomings. Still, bringing Kukoc into the mix will enable George Karl to move sixth man Tim Thomas, a better defender than Robinson, into the starting lineup. Karl wants the Bucks to become a better defensive ball club and share the ball more. He likes Kukoc, and believes Kukoc can give the Bucks a lift offensively off the bench because of his ability to distribute the ball.

The deal makes sense for Milwaukee from a financial standpoint, too. Milwaukee locked up Thomas to a huge contract prior to the start of last season, and couldn't live with both he and Big Dog making big bucks. In addition, the Bucks freed up some coin by ridding themselves of a $12 million extension that would have kicked in at the end of Robinson's whopping 11-year, $80 million contract.

And here's the trump card for Milwaukee: Atlanta has two first-round draft picks in 2003, but the Bucks will get the higher pick.

That may very well become a lottery selection if Big Dog's game goes to the dogs in Atlanta. .

Mike Sandrolini has written about the NBA for various newspapers and magazines. He is a regular contributor to HoopsHype.com

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