Happy Friday, Hawks fans! Here’s a look at your news links for today:

• Hawks Draft Keith Benson at No. 48 – The Hawks pick up center, Keith Benson, from Oakland University in the second round of the draft. Benson is the first player from Oakland to go to the NBA, Examiner
• Atlanta Spirit Negotiations Continue – The Atlanta Spirit Group, which recently completed its sale of the Thrashers, continues negotiations with undisclosed parties for a potential sale of the Hawks, Sports Illustrated
• Josh Smith Trade Rumors Pick Up – While efforts to move Smith to gain a higher pick in the draft didn’t materialize last night, the team continues to consider its options with the forward. The Blazers and Magic are among the teams in the mix, AJC

As irritating as it is to hear the phrase repeated 23892374983 times as part of ESPN Radio’s marketing, it’s started to resonate more and more with each new move made by the Atlanta Spirit Group. Not only did the ownership group recently sell the Atlanta Thrashers to a Winnipeg group, leaving Atlanta without a professional hockey team, but rumors have been swirling about a potential sale of the Hawks as well.

I used to hate Mark Cuban, secretly resentful of the fact that the billionaire owner of the Mavs had the ability to pay off luxury taxes and exceed the league’s salary cap like it was nothing. I also used to hate the Steinbrenners and the way they could just “buy” championships by luring top players with hefty contracts that they couldn’t turn down. (Somehow, I failed to see the fact that Ted Turner was pretty much in the same category.)

Ted Turner

Now, I have to say I kind of respect that. It’s refreshing to see owners that are willing to invest in their teams. That actually care about their team’s success rather than just trying to turn a profit. The Hawks strung together their longest consecutive streak of over .500 seasons, and the Braves enjoyed their 14-year division champion streak while under Turner’s ownership. Mark Cuban just celebrated his team’s first championship, and even paid for the celebration parade stating:

“I’ll pay for it because I don’t think it’s right for the city to have to pay for it. And let’s just have some fun.”

It works the other way too– look at Mets majority owner Fred Wilpon and Dodgers former owner Frank McCourt whose egregious financial scandals were recently exposed. Both teams are struggling financially and on the field: Wilpon said the Mets were “bleeding cash” and could lose as much as $70 million this year, and commissioner Bud Selig seized control over the Dodgers from McCourt; both teams are sitting in second-to-last place in their divisions.

As sleazy as Cuban and the Steinbrenners may be, at least they abide by the law (as far as we know). It’s true– good owners, good teams; bad owners, bad teams. Simple as that.

Last Thursday, USA Today reported that a minority investment group had put in a $500 million bid to buy the Atlanta Spirit Group including the Hawks, Thrashers and operating rights to Philips Arena. W/C Holdings, led by former LSU basketball player Bernard Woodside, expressed interest in the Atlanta market, particularly for the group’s influence in the African American community:

“It’s critical and something that weighs heavily on our entire team of African Americans because we look at this as something that would be favorable for the African-American community and representing the community correctly,” Woodside said. “It’s an important aspect we never lose sight upon.”

The group acknowledged the recent sale of the Thrashers to True North and stated that it would adjust its offer for the Hawks and Philips Arena down once the Thrashers’ move had been made official.

However, it looks like the deal may be nothing more than speculation. A source close to the Spirit stated that the bid was

“another crazy rumor,” “there was no truth to it,” and they were “surprised USA Today printed it.”

Check back for more updates on this supposed deal as it unfolds!

Happy Friday! Here are your Hawks news links and updates:

• Minority group puts in bid to purchase Atlanta Spirit Group – the CEOs of Global Wellington Financial Corp and Oriana Capital Partners bid $500M to acquire the Spirit, USA Today
• Rumor Mill: Monta Ellis headed to the Hawks? – Warriors Guard Monta Ellis has been rumored to be heading to the Sixers, Magic or Hawks, SB Nation
• Mo Williams undergoes back surgery – Hawks forward Marvin Williams had a discetomy on his lower back, AP
• Al Horford hosts basketball camp – Horford will hold a two-day camp at Emory University to benefit the Boys and Girls Club, Patch.com

It’s official. The Atlanta Thrashers are on their way up north. The Atlanta Spirit Group, owner of the Hawks and operating rights to Philips Arena, sold Atlanta’s professional hockey team to True North Sports and Entertainment earlier today. The team will play in Winnipeg, Manitoba for the 2011-12 season.

Economics drives a lot of transactions in sports, and the sale of the Thrashers was no exception. Atlanta Spirit, which had been under financial stress, will receive $170 million, and the NHL will take in a $60 million relocation fee from True North.

The move doesn’t necessarily erase the financial difficulties of operating a team in the league, and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman acknowledged the challenges True North will face, particularly with the Thrashers playing in the 15,015-seat MTS Centre, the smallest arena in the NHL:

“It isn’t going to work very well unless this building is sold out every night,” Bettman said.”

However, Winnipeg just might be better suited to bear some of the financial burdens. The Thrashers will no longer be competing with the likes of the Braves, Falcons and Hawks for fans, and Winnipeg has been itching for a pro hockey team ever since the Winnipeg Jets moved to Phoenix in 1996.

While several Thrasher players and fans are outraged about the move, some are looking on the bright side. Atlanta goalie Chris Mason stated:

“I remember growing up watching the Jets, and I’m just excited to know NHL hockey is coming back to a city that has always wanted hockey.”

And Vancouver Canucks player Alex Burrows pointed out:

“I’d rather play in a rink that holds 15,000 and feels like it’s 20,000 than go into a building with 20,000 seats and just 5,000 fans.”

And besides, the Canadian dollar is stronger than the U.S. dollar now anyways, right?

Well, it looks like the Hawks and Philips Arena will remain under Atlanta Spirit ownership despite earlier talks with John Moores who had expressed interest in buying the team. The prior exclusive negotiating period was ended without any agreements before the window closed on Friday. According to Spirit partner Michael Gearon, Jr., the decision was not provoked by one side or another, but rather “ended by mutual agreement after preliminary discussions.”

On the other side of the house, it looks like the Thrasher are getting closer and closer to a move up north. The AJC indicated that the Spirit was nearing a finalization of the sale of Atlanta’s hockey team to True North Sports and Entertainment, which would move the team up to Winnipeg, Manitoba.

While Atlanta’s pro baseball, basketball and football teams are clearly the city’s focus (SB Nation calls out the AJC outright for prioritizing an inconsequential regular season Braves game over the potential sale), the Thrashers had developed a loyal following in their 11 years in the city.

It’s like the unfortunate consequences for two kids caught in the middle of an ugly divorce– you go with mom, you go with dad. Atlanta Spirit, LLC, the ownership group of the Hawks, Thrashers and Philips Arena was recently criticized by Thrashers forward Chris Thorburn for how the group has handled the proposed sale of the Thrashers. Thorburn commented to Fox 5 News at a public appearance last Saturday:

“For owners to turn your [sic] backs on you, it kind of makes you mad. Obviously, we don’t know every aspect of the deal and where they’re coming from because it hasn’t been publicly noted in the papers. From everything we heard and rumors we heard, it’s discouraging knowing that they’re not behind us and they’re trying to dump us. That makes a guy mad.”

While the details of both deals are still in the works, it looks like any potential sale of Atlanta Spirit’s holdings would be separate: the Thrashers to a Winnipeg investment group; the Hawks and Philips Arena to former San Diego Padres owner John Moores. Doesn’t seem like there’s a whole lot of “Atlanta spirit” going around…

Jamal Crawford gave the Hawks’ front office an ultimatum at the start of the season: Offer a longer contract extension or trade him to a team that was willing to do so. The Hawks did neither.

The NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year in 2010 made a huge impact on the team when he was first traded from the Warriors in June 2009. While Crawford continued to be an integral part of the team’s success this year, his 30.2 minutes and 14.2 points per game were his lowest totals in both categories since the 2002-2003 season. The unresolved contract issues likely had an impact on Crawford’s mental game, and the 11-year veteran suffered through a rough shooting slump during the final months of the season.

Crawford indicated that he would like to remain in Atlanta with the Hawks. But it might be tough for an Atlanta Spirit ownership group that is already strapped for cash to offer a deal that would meet Crawford’s demands. $64.3 million is already spoken for between Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, Al Horford, Kirk Hinrich, Marvin Williams, Zaza Pachulia and Jeff Teague. Crawford made $10.8 million last year. Unless the Hawks make a trade to free up payroll, it would be extremely difficult for the front office to re-sign Crawford and stay under the luxury tax threshold.

What’s more, an expiring collective bargaining agreement looms in the background– the current agreement will be null after June 30. A new agreement would mean new stipulations, including the possibility of a hard cap that would be at or near the current luxury tax threshold of $70.3 million.

My take? Trade Smith, keep Crawford, keep Hinrich as a shooting guard, try and build the team up around Teague.

Amidst all of the hype and hoopla of Hawks owner, Atlanta Spirit, LLC, one sign of continuity emerged with the extension of GM Rick Sund’s contract through the 2012 season. The Hawks’ performance in the playoffs this season helped solidify Sund’s job security as the team snapped a 15-game losing streak in the second round that dated back to the 2008-2009 season. Sund’s major moves as Hawks GM include the replacement of head coach Mike Woodson with Larry Drew and the signing of guard Joe Johnson to a $123.7 million contract– a move that faced a lot of scrutiny from ownership and led to the dismissal of Steve Belkin from the group.

Some view the contract extension as a move to merely delay decisions about a new general manager before an inevitable sale of the Hawks. However, it doesn’t look like the Atlanta Spirit will be giving up the Hawks anytime soon, despite rumors abounding about outgoing San Diego Padres owner John Moores’s interest in obtaining operating rights to the Hawks and Philips Arena.

In any case, I have no complaints about keeping Sund around. AJC writer Jeff Shultz commented:

“Bottom line: Sund may have had some missteps. But he’s a vast improvement over his predecessor, Billy Knight.”