Hawks GM Ferry on indefinite leave after Deng remarks…
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New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony insists that the recent controversy surrounding the Atlanta Hawks has put the franchise back with free agents.
The Knicks forward was speaking after Hawks general manager Danny Ferry was disciplined by the team and put on indefinite leave after his remarks on Luol Deng.
Ferry, paraphrasing a scouting report, described then-free agent Deng as someone who “has a little African in him”.
Ferry added: “He’s like a guy who would have a nice store out front and sell you counterfeit stuff out of the back,” with the conference call being recorded.
Deng has since moved on to sign with the Miami Heat, but was unimpressed with the comments made about him and expressed his disappointment with the situation in an official statement.
In addition, Anthony now believes that the scandal will set the Hawks back even further when it comes to attracting top free agents to the franchise, as ultimately the environment at the organisation has come across in a bad light as a result of Ferry’s words.
“[There] ain’t nobody [who] would want to go there,” Anthony said Saturday at the Citi Carmelo Anthony Basketball camp in Manhattan, ESPN reports.
“At the end of the day, Atlanta, I think it puts Atlanta back even further now, from that standpoint.
“Atlanta is a great city, a great market, great people, great atmosphere. But as far as the comments [that] were made, I think it was uncalled for. From an owner, from a GM, those are not things you play with.”
Anthony went on to add that as an individual, player and family man, NBA players consider all factors before deciding to join a new team, and ultimately Ferry’s comments would result in very few considering a move to play for the Hawks now.
Ferry has since apologized for his inappropriate remarks, but it remains to be seen how the Hawks intend on moving forward from the situation and overcoming any potential barriers that they have put up when it comes to bringing in new players.
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