The Atlanta Hawks may have opted for regime change when they axed general manager Pete Babcock last week, but they're going to be cleaning up the mess for quite a while.
Babcock was well-liked throughout the league, but especially so by his fellow general managers who fleeced him in trade after trade. He gutted the Hawks' talent base with stinkers like Steve Smith for Isaiah Rider, Pau Gasol and Lorenzen Wright for Shareef Abdur-Rahim, and including a first-round draft pick with unusually light lottery protection in the trade for Glenn Robinson.
Certainly, Babcock had bad luck along the way. Trading Dikembe Mutombo for Theo Ratliff, Nazr Mohammed and Kukoc looked like a home run two years ago. But that was before Ratliff hurt his hip and Mohammed was abducted by aliens and replaced with Greg Kite. Even so, the combination of Jason Terry, Robinson and Abdur-Rahim would seem to able to put up enough points to win 35 or 40 games this season.
To find the reason the Hawks couldn't win despite those three scorers, look a bit deeper. Getting a superstar is partly dependent on luck, but rate each NBA team's bench, and it separates the gifted general managers from the clueless like Moses parting the Red Sea. Top talent evaluators like Sacramento's Geoff Petrie, Indiana's Donnie Walsh and Portland's Bob Whitsitt (more on him later) trot out second fives that could win 30 games on their own.
Meanwhile, under Babcock the Hawks' emaciated bench "featured" either Dion Glover or Ira Newble (whichever one wasn't starting), and then descended into the likes of Alan Henderson, Darvin Ham, the strangely ineffective Mohammed and rookie bust Dan Dickau. Mind you, that was with a starting five that hardly lost a game to injury all season. If Ratliff or one of the three big scorers had suffered a prolonged injury -- which is a good bet in most NBA seasons -- the carnage would have been much uglier.
With the Hawks capped out and likely losing their draft choice to Milwaukee, the options for the future are slim. Whoever is running the team next year -- Billy Knight, who ironically enough was the one that jobbed Babcock in the Gasol trade, has the gig for the moment -- faces a steep challenge.
With just a mid-level exception and a late first-round pick (the Hawks own Indiana's draft choice), Atlanta needs to come away with a decent bench. Their most marketable commodity, Terry, is a restricted free agent, which means rebuilding the team probably will begin with a sign-and-trade deal that sends out Terry and bring back two or three players who can add depth to the frontcourt.
Whatever is decided, the rebuilding needs to happen quick. Fan lethargy, always a problem, is at a new low. Saturday's game against Memphis drew a crowd that you might normally see at a high school game. For the JV. There's only one quick cure, and if the Hawks miraculously get LeBron James, then they might be tempted to bring back Terry and make another run with this group.
But oustide of that fantasy world, it appears that Babcock's moves have set the Hawks back far enough that the cupboard is not very full at the present and looking barer in the future. Even in the Eastern Conference, getting the Hawks into the playoffs before 2006 will require a Herculean effort from Babcock's successor.
Jail Blazers strike again
Days after teammate Qyntel Woods was cited for marijuana possession and tried to use his own basketball card as ID, Zach Randolph clocked fellow Blazer Ruben Patterson in practice. That earned Randolph a two-game suspension from the team and a rare public comment from reclusive owner Paul Allen calling for his unruly bunch to behave. (Patterson said he won't retaliate because "I'm on probation. I would get in trouble." That's beautiful. Only on the Blazers.)
The latest Blazer crime spree also unleashed the usual barrage of knee-jerk columns calling for team president Bob Whitsitt's dismissal (one writer even wanted to replace him with Pete Babcock, if you can believe that). Meanwhile, the Blazers dropped two home games and their lock on the No. 4 spot in the West suddenly is threatened.
Soy un perdito
Lenny Wilkens isn't just the all-time winningest coach any more; he's also the biggest loser. Wilkens passed Bill Fitch with loss No. 1,107 on Friday against San Antonio, and with the Raptors limping to a 50-loss season, his firing at year's end appears a mere formality. But the fact that he didn't resign before breaking the loss record is as good evidence as any that Wilkens would like to be back on the sidelines for somebody else next season.
Down go the Pistons
Detroit lost its entire team in the span of about an hour Sunday, or so it seemed. After learning Chauncey Billups would be out with a sprained ankle and Chucky Atkins couldn't go either, the big bombshell came when Ben Wallace hurt his knee against the Spurs. While his injury is still being called a sprain, that's normally a prelude to an MRI finding a torn ligament, so the prognosis is bad indeed.
SWISH: Dirk Nowitzki
The shaggy blonde kept the Mavs a hair ahead of San Antonio for the NBA's top record, averaging 28 points and 13 boards. He showed his toughness by grabbing 22 boards in a losing effort against the Lakers after being smacked upside the head by Shaquille O'Neal moments after the opening tipoff.
BRICK: Allen Iverson
Iverson's sore knee is taking a toll on his game. After starting the week in grand style with 42 points against Orlando, he missed his final 16 shots en route to a 4-for-23 nightmare against Houston on Friday, and followed it up with his second six-turnover game of the week in a loss to Sacramento on Sunday.
SWISH: Shaquille O'Neal
He's scoring big every night, but what really gives away how good he's feeling is the 14 blocked shots in four games this week. In addition, he averaged 30 points and 15 boards and shot a ridiculous 65 percent as the Lakers went 4-0.
BRICK: Gilbert Arenas
A free agent after the season, it appears Arenas has packed his bags a couple of weeks early. After being limited to a combined 21 points in two losses to Portland, he finished the week by mailing in a one-point, seven-turnover "effort" against his probable future employers, the Denver Nuggets, on Sunday.
SWISH: Richard Jefferson
Building on his Player of the Week honors from the previous week, Jefferson averaged 22 points and five assists a game -- while committing just four turnovers all week -- as the Nets won three of four and regained the top record in the East. Best of all, he did it while shooting 55 percent from the floor.
Kansas Jayhawks vs. Syracuse Orangemen, Monday, 9 pm ET
With no NBA games Monday night, you might as well tune in and get a look at the likely No. 3 pick in next year's draft, Carmelo Anthony of Syracuse. While you're at it, check out likely first-rounders Kirk Hinrich and Nick Collison of Kansas and possible future NBA talent like Syracuse's Hakim Warrick and Kansas' Keith Langford.
Dallas Mavericks at Los Angeles Lakers, Tuesday, 10:30 p.m. ET
The Mavericks face a tough slate to end the season -- four of their last six games are on the road against Western Conference playoff teams -- and they may need to win all six to hold off San Antonio for the top seed in the West. For added motivation, the Mavs also have struggled against the Lakers-Kings-Spurs triumvirate, which is why they've yet to get respect as a potential playoff force.
Sacramento Kings at Los Angeles Lakers, Thursday, 10 p.m. ET
The rematch of the Western Conference finals is always a big deal, but actually it might be in the Kings' best interests to lose this game. The last thing they want to do is knock the Lakers into the No. 7 seed and face them in the first round.
Seattle SuperSonics at Houston Rockets, Saturday, 8:30 p.m. ET
Because Phoenix still has to play each of the top four teams in the West, the winner of this game has a shot at stealing the final playoff spot in the West. This may play out as a de facto elimination game, with the Rockets holding the upper hand given that the Sonics can't match up with Yao Ming.
This department brings you thoughts and comments from around the country. Here's what people are saying this week:
Hall of shame
This story has needed to be written for a long time, so kudos to Percy Allen of the Seattle Times for pointing out the basketball Hall of Fame's multiple flaws: No clear standards, lack of transparency and rampant East Coast bias. Allen didn't mention it, but I'll also add "repeatedly electing long-lived college coaches who never won anything" to the list. Anyway, the Hall's Class of 2003 will be announced Monday, so it will be interesting to see who gets a plaque. More
Roberts rules
The biggest non-story of the season had to be the end of Stanley Roberts' NBA suspension, which allowed any team to sign him. While newspapers filled with rumors of possible suitors, NBA teams reacted with a collective yawn and went on with their day. This story catches up with Roberts, currently with the Harlem Globetrotters, and his continuing battle to get in decent playing shape. More
French invasion
Could Frederic Weis become a Knick after all? There are murmurs that after being snubbed by last year's second-round pick, Milos Vujanic (who opted to stay in Europe), that New York may look at the French 7-footer it drafted in 1999, who is most famous for helping Vince Carter make a poster in the 2000 Olympics. More
Rocky Road
Golden State's Gilbert Arenas is a restricted free agent after the season, but the Warriors can only match up to the mid-level exception. As a result, Arenas' father told a Denver newspaper that his son will likely head for the mountains this summer (More). But the next day, Gilbert denied it. More
Pippen's peeved
In this Q&A with Scottie Pippen, the Trail Blazer forward slings daggers from the injured list, most of them aimed at Whitsitt and the moves he's made since acquiring Pippen (He had no problem with that trade, naturally). More
Money pit
A story on Paul Allen's business failings in his post-Microsoft life points out that the Blazers could lose $100 million this year, although nitpickers will note that it's hard to see how they arrived at a number without any attempt to project the team's revenue. More
Care to guess who leads all rookies in 3-pointers? It's not Jay Williams or Mike Dunleavy. It's not Gordan Giricek or Marko Jaric. It's the undrafted guard from St. Bonaventure who has taken over the Boston Celtics' starting job, J.R. Bremer. He also has the best percentage among rookies with more than 50 attempts, hitting 35.9 percent and adding another weapon to the Celtics' 3-point barrage.
Whither the Dukies? That's the question Off The Glass addresses this week, as it looks to answer why college superstars like Danny Ferry, Christian Laettner, Bobby Hurley and Jay Williams have had so much trouble achieving NBA success.
This is the part where we ask you, the reader, to stop waving that towel on the sidelines, pull off the warmups, get on the floor and take some shots. Each week we'll ask a question and post the best responses a week later.
Last week WAAG asked who was better, Shaq or Kobe. The letters settled nothing, and the debate still rages:
Kobe is better. Because, obviously, Kobe can beat Shaq one-on-one. Chuan Xing, Novi, Mich.
Shaq. Just ask Phil or Tex. Yohan Daswani, Mumbai, India
Kobe, because his athletic versatility enables him to constantly be able to overcome the opposition at his or any position he chooses to play. Stan Grenda, Vancouver, B.C.
SHAQ BABY! Kobe's spectacular, but Shaq plays checkers, knows Pythagoras, and can relate everything to PlayStation. MDE, MVP, MDE, MVP!!! Alexander Kowell, Los Angeles
Kobe by a country mile. Kobe can ball anywhere on the court. Take Shaq more than five feet from the basket and see if he looks anywhere near as good as Kobe does. David Costales, San Antonio, Tex.
Shaq's presence down low helps Kobe tremendously. If I was a visiting coach, I would rather see Shaq on the IL. Its too bad Shaq isn't as good as he thinks he is though. Greg Barry, West Palm Beach, Fla.
It's a no-brainer: Kobe by a landslide. Kobe shows his skill each night on both ends of the floor, while Shaq labors up and down the court and throws his girth into people.....quality over quantity people. Chris Patton, Bellingham, Wash.
Not even close, Shaq is the better basketball player, better eater, and definitely better at inserting his surgically "un-repaired" toe in his mouth. Looking forward to when the question is, "Who is better, Shaq or Yao?" Give it 3 years... John Chao, Shanghai, China
Kobe may be the most talented, but in fact, there's no question. Shaq is the best, having more impact on the game than anybody, and far more than Kobe. Christian Lesimple, Paris
Shaq has the overall dominance to win games by himself. Kobe can't, the Lakers supporting cast isn't enough. Remember the first 15 games this season? John King, Lake Havasu, Ariz.
This week's topic: Did Michael Jordan's comeback help the Wizards?
John Hollinger covers the NBA for SI.com. "Week at a Glance" appears each Monday during the season.
Care to guess who leads all rookies in 3-pointers? It's not Jay Williams or Mike Dunleavy. It's not Gordan Giricek or Marko Jaric. It's the undrafted guard from St. Bonaventure who has taken over the 
