"Just two weeks until training camp, blog people, and all is quiet on the Hawks front. And under the circumstances, "quiet" really means: "Jamal Crawford and the Hawks might be headed for a showdown."

As everyone knows, Crawford wants a contract extension for what he believes to be his market value or, failing that, a trade. He's pushing for an extension both because of the past (his Sixth Man of the Year season) and the future (the looming specter of a new CBA).

The Hawks have contemplated Crawford's request for going on two months now. But they seem reluctant to offer him a long-term contract because of the past (long-term deals for Bibby and Marvin last summer and J.J. this summer) and the future (possible contract extension for Al).

That brings us to the present. The best-case scenario for the Hawks would be for Crawford to report to camp and put the extension talk on the backburner with promises to take care of him later, no hard feelings. That way Atlanta gets Crawford doing his thing off the bench for another season and doesn't have to add him now to its growing list of long-term financial obligations.

But you have to wonder how that would sit with Crawford. In his only public comments since word leaked of his pay-me-or-trade-me request, Crawford didn't shoot down the stories and instead pointedly declined to even talk about playing for the Hawks in 2010-11.

That doesn't sound like a guy who has any intention of backing off his request. Crawford would report to camp without the promise of an extension since there's no real advantage for NBA players to hold out. He also would have incentive to put in another good year with a good team and hit free agency next summer with his value still high.

But Crawford also would see that he's the only member of Atlanta's proverbial "core" who isn't under contract beyond 2010-11. Whether you think the Hawks should extend Jamal or not, we've all seen situations where players (or people, really) who don't feel appreciated or respected by their organizations also aren't as productive."