Let the workouts begin
The Hawks will get a closer look at Wake Forest's Jeff Teague (left) and North Carolina's Wayne Ellington this week. The Hawks are scheduled to host workouts at Philips Arena today through the weekend with the June 25 NBA draft just days away.
HAWKSVILLE - After weeks of relative silence on the Hawks’ workout front, things are going to kick up dramatically today and through the weekend.
The Hawks have a full slate of workouts scheduled at Philips Arena, with players of all shapes and sizes ready to showcase themselves for the team with the 19th pick in the June 25 draft.
Pittsburgh’s DeJuan Blair and Gonzaga’s Josh Heytvelt are scheduled to kick off the festivities this morning at Philips Arena.
They’ll be followed Thursday by a scheduled monster workout crew that includes Ohio State’s BJ Mullens, Georgetown’s DaJuan Summers, Wake Forest’s Jeff Teague, Georgia Tech’s Lewis Clinch, Xavier’s Derrick Brown, Jonesboro’s own and Florida State star Toney Douglas, and Augusta State big man Garret Siler.
Friday’s scheduled slate includes North Carolina guard Wayne Ellington, VCU’s Eric Maynor, Missouri’s DeMarre Carroll, LSU’s Garrett Temple and Marquette’s Wes Matthews. Maynor was initially listed as a Thursday visitor, along with Teague, whose plans have apparently changed as well. From what I’ve learned today (this is an in-blog update from 1:18 on Thursday afternoon) Teague is scheduled to attend Friday’s session as well.
The workouts will continue into the weekend, with the Hawks scheduled to get a closer look North Carolina’s Tyler Hansbrough and former Stephenson and Georgia Tech standout Alade Aminu on Sunday.
Before you start wondering why guys like Ty Lawson and others aren’t on this workout list, keep in mind that the Hawks have spent every waking moment of basically the last month traveling the country (and in some instances the globe) watching draft workouts and combines and Eurocamp sessions.
I can’t imagine there’s a guy that will be drafted that they haven’t seen already. These workouts here simply offer them another chance to evaluate players they’ve already seen a zillion times already. It also gives them a chance to bring them in to their own facility, see how they respond to the Hawks’ specific drills and questioning and really try and dig into their mettle and competitive nature.
The Hawks aren’t only working out players that they are considering with the 19th pick, they’ve also got the 49th pick in next week’s draft, so they’ve been evaluating and will continue to evaluate players for that pick as well.
Whatever happens, it should prove to be an interesting few days, to say the least.
UPDATE: Sat quietly on the side of the court during the morning workout (the Hawks were gracious enough to allow me in, provided I don’t get into specifics about the workout). Honestly, there isn’t much to be gleaned from these workouts, particularly this late in the game. We’re within a week of the draft. These players have to be a bit exhausted from the process. Heytvelt told me that when it’s all over he’ll have worked out for 15 different teams.
A two-man session doesn’t allow the players the range to do a whole lot other than drills. There was a good pace to it and both guys seemed to perform well. I’m expecting a little more action tomorrow morning, though I was disappointed to learn this afternoon that Teague had been removed from the list of players expected in. I wanted to see he and Maynor in the same workout. It seems we will get to see Maynor (Friday), along with Ellington (who I’ve heard good things about from people who watched him work in Chicago at the pre-draft camp).
Stay tuned to see how things progress through the weekend.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
396 comments Add your comment
doc
June 21st, 2009
3:50 pm
double dog ding nire
funny sautee. seems he forgot indy and new yorks.
Ariose
June 21st, 2009
4:26 pm
Like KG says heh, “Anything is possible” lol. It doesn’t necessarily have to be through picks, OR on draft night. He can trade guys like speedy, or offer some future ist rounders(I doubt we’ll get much higher in the draft in the years coming after this). If he can just get two more picks(buy them off someone) and do some trading(down or up in the draft) it could work.
It’s WAY cheaper thay aquiring a good bench through Free Agency. I think Portland has already proven that over the past few years. Not be necessarily getting “studs” in the draft, but having multiple picks and drafing multiple SOLID players in the same draft(Batum, Fernandez, Bayless etc.).
It’s a numbers game, if Sund has 4 picks, and one turns out to be a dud(I don’t think Ellington,Mills,or Green will be) he’ll likely won’t be crucified b/c of the 3 other picks that are playing decently. Like us in 2004.
Maybe I am smoking somthing, but how hard could it be? Minnesota has 3 pick I beleive. 2 in the first and one in the 2nd. We Buy their 2nd Rd for a future second rounder, and then trade down(or 49th pick) with a team that doesn’t necessarily need something where they are drafting. That way we have a better chance of getting two quality guys in the 2nd round. That’s my logic, flawed as it may be, but if I was a GM you’d probably think of me as the Kevon Pritcherd of the East.
Ariose
June 21st, 2009
4:37 pm
You telling me if we bait a team by trading away speedy(Expiring contract AND he’s healthy….I know NO needs a CP3 backup), ond then trade our 2nd rounder + Randolph you don’t think we could get TWO more pick in a decent position in the draft order? I beg to differ.
Now you guys don’t get all technical and start thowing numbers at me lol. I’m just sayin’ in theory I don’t think it will be TOO difficult. Especially in a draft considred “Weak” by many teams. BTW what is LA gonna do with their 1st RD pick? They barely have enough money to resign Odum and Ariza. I’m pretty sure we can find a way to nab the 30th pick from them. Draft Ellington with the 19th, Get Mills with the 30th, Danny Green with the 49th…..and I don’t know about Hansbrough. We might just have to let him get drafted and then work out a deal with the team who drafted him(Future 1st and 2nd round pick+cash to cover his cap charge that gets added immedately to the teams who drafts him).
Just thoughts…..work with me here fellas…or would you rather discuss Smooves BYC again??? LOL!!
ant banks
June 21st, 2009
4:43 pm
DASHIZZ47,
you smokin’ some good indonesia for father’s day. i ain’t mad atcha!! first, the reason people want to fire woody is because the team won INSPITE of him not because of him. secondly, he failed to develop acie law, solo, randmo, thomas gardner, salim, royal ivey and all the other bench players. he ride his top 7 like a horse. why you think jj avg. 44.8minutes per nite?
and all of your trade proposals are insane. LOL!! (REMEMBER TO puff, puff, pass. don’t mess up the rotation.)
The Truth
June 21st, 2009
4:49 pm
ant banks
What was that? (”puff, puff, pass. don’t mess up the rotation”)
That’s just the laugh I needed!
Melvin
June 21st, 2009
5:11 pm
Ant,
Would it better if he don’t inhale…
Ariose
June 21st, 2009
5:13 pm
CP, If We trade MO Eavns on draft Day also, We will defenetly be able to land Elington, Mills, Hansbrough, and Danny Green……
I like Mo though Great guy, plays hard, but his flaws are very obvious…If trading him gets us better(like the Evans/Ariza trade last year) then i’m all for it.
Dashizz47
June 21st, 2009
5:29 pm
ant banks
develop! the players you just named no other team could develop any of those players, why do you thing they haven’t been picked up by anybody! Solo is the only one worth working with, the rest suck! Oh by the way this is some good ish! I’m smoking….LOL
Ariose
June 21st, 2009
5:30 pm
LOL @ Dashizz, that’s a true comedian right there.
Ariose
June 21st, 2009
5:34 pm
The second we trade Acie Law, he’s going to blow up…..you all know this. The only way to truly see if he sucks is by drafting another PG. IF say Lawson or Mills out performs him(b4 the trading deadlin of course), then we’ll know what the deal is. Think DJ Augustin, that kid was nasty with it as soon as he stepped on the NBA Hardwood.
Ariose
June 21st, 2009
5:49 pm
Maybe we forget about hansbrough and go after RFA Channing Frye instead? I don’t think we have the cap space to pull it off though. We’re better of getting the guys I mentionedin the draft…
ant banks
June 21st, 2009
6:26 pm
ARIOSE,
i like acie law. dude was the truff at a&m, but damn he is a brittle as porcelain. all of those injuries that he has had the past two years. damn!! he couldn’t fight through none of those injuries?
i mean i had a serious papercut. burn everytime somethin’ touched it. but i managed to fight through the pain. my coworkers respect me more now because they saw me fight thru the injury and continue to work. i been promoted to fries now. hope to be to the shake machine by august. LOL!!
seriously, acie stays too, hurt. if kobie can play two seasons with a documented torn ligament in his hand, surely acie can play wit’ a papercut. lol
cp
June 21st, 2009
6:43 pm
Ariose I’m all for trading Mo on draft night. I’m going to look at who is drafting behind us to see who could use a cheap veteran sg and has no use for their low first rounder. Its like you said, Mo plays hard and all but his flaws are obvious. I think at one point during the season he was shooting 30 % to go along with bad defense. If we could add a another low first rounder and a second rounder I think we add better talent to the bench without spending much money so we can bring a guy like Pachulia back. Meeks and Green in the second round or even a Tyrese Rice. The first round is still tricky. I think some guys are going to fall to us.
Dashizz47
June 21st, 2009
6:54 pm
Ariose
If Acie was going to produce we wouldnt be drafting another guard! There’s a reason why if the Hawks don’t sign Bibby they’re looking for another guard! Acie can’t hold that spot, sorry. You don’t hear the Hawks saying if we lose Bibby we got Acie to fall back on! This is why their looking for a Bibby back-up or replacement.
Acie will not sit Flip and Josh and Joe will get there minutes, it’s the make up of this team…It’s not Acie fault, it’s not coaches fault. Unless someone is seriously hurt he will not be a factor.
Hoops
June 21st, 2009
7:18 pm
Acie has been hurt alot. I really think he just needs a fresh start. We should offer Acie and #19 for a pick in the 6-10 range. Maybe take the best player available that is not a PG if the Hawks are planning on resigning Bibby or going after Sessions. I’m sure they will resign Flip. Why should we draft a young PG? Woody will not play him.
cp
June 21st, 2009
7:34 pm
If we are trading up and not getting Flynn then I see no reason to move up at all. The non pg players available in that range might not be better than the guys you can get in the 20’s. Other than Blake I don’t see many guys worth taking in the lottery (non pg’s that is).
RICHIE RICH
June 21st, 2009
7:42 pm
Ariose, I agree with you, we need to get the Laker’s 1st rd pick, they can’t afford to pay a guaranteed contract to a rookie when they want to bring back Odom and Ariza. The Hawks should just let Bibby go and use his money to go after a point gaurd like Jarret Jack, who plays defense(sign and trade with J-Chill’s rights to Indy for Jack and Brandon Rush), then offer Villanueva a contract and resign Marvin. I would also like to get one of the centers from the Clipper’s if possible (Kaman or Camby) Speedy’s contract, A.C. Law, and future pick might do it.
Ariose
June 21st, 2009
7:45 pm
Most of the lottery guys are project players. Not seasoned guys who will make an impact right away ex: Courtney Lee(or Wayne Ellington). Jennings/Rubio will struggle trust me. Mills on the other hand, Gave Stephen Curry and Team USA the business so you know what you’re getting with him.
Now I know Acie was hurt WHEN WE NEEDED HIM MOST. But he certainly wasn’t injured for the other 65 games that he didn’t get any significant playing time in last season. It was just unfortunate that he had to be hurt when we could have used him most; but sometimes Karma is a B!#ch…..MIKE WOODSON!!!!
The Truth
June 21st, 2009
7:52 pm
As much as I like Acie as a person, he has too many intangibles working against him:
Untimely injuries – Is he snake bitten or what? He’s too injury prone
Style of play1 – He doesn’t seem to gel in Woody’s (ISO JOE) offense
Style of play2 – Where is his MoJo? He’s too laid back. Not aggressive
Too Complacent1 – Does he like sitting on the pine. Why isn’t he upset?
Too Complacent2 – 2M/yr he makes is ok, why not 10-14M? Is he motivated?
Skill Set – The hype from college isn’t exactly translating in the NBA
Attitude – Is he hungry enough? Does he feel entitled to start PG in the future?
Folks can say what they want Josh (good bad or indifferent), since he been a Hawk player, he has a way of getting Woody’s attention both on and off the court. Apparently, Acie has not been taking notes.
Ariose
June 21st, 2009
7:59 pm
Ant Banks, LOL @ Paper Cut!!!!!
Hoops
June 21st, 2009
8:15 pm
cp,
I don’t know about that cp. If we could predict the future for these players we would know who to take. I like T. Evans. I think he has alot of possibilities. We could get him in the 6-10pick range. Also, Pendergraph shows alot of potential.
If we draft a PG, we need to move up so we can get a good one. Then we should sign Sessions or J. Jack to be the starter and let Bibby walk(costs too much). We will surely re-sign Flip to back up the 1 and 2 positions.
Ariose
June 21st, 2009
8:54 pm
Here’s my thing w/Acie though. He’s only 23. He’s Chauncey Billups big: 6′3 195, and he plays good defense. I mean, he played great against New Orleans right before he got injured, so who knows how well he would’ve played while Marvin was out. But I guess if we wanted we could package him for another PG in the draft, like mills if he unexpectadly gets picked up ahead of schedule(Whoever drafts Lawson probably won’t give him up.)
Dallas has the 22nd pick and the Kidd thing didn’t quite work out how they planned. Maybe we could send Acie to them for their Pick? Acie is from the area and i’m sure Dallas has scouted him a lot in the past.
Most recent Mock drafts show Hansbrough going at 15 to the Pistons. If that’s what happens then oh, well. Forget him, but it should be easy for us to get our hands on Ellington, Mills, and Green.
Dashizz47
June 21st, 2009
9:04 pm
Ariose
I can’t believe you think the answer to the Hawks success will be Acie Law, he’s been given chances! Royal Ivey got traded and has yet to take advantage of the move the same with Salim. These are all 2nd rounds picks that haven’t panned out, sorry! What happens if Childress returns, I just don’t see Acie in the rotation. Joe, Bibby, Evans & Flip and maybe a good rookie! I don’t think Acie can beat Speedy. Its not the coach, he’s not a true point guard and his defense is suspect!
I wish him the best on another team! Who’s Salim playing for? Oh, that coaches fault also!
LMAO
RICHIE RICH
June 21st, 2009
9:16 pm
The problem with Acie is he can’t shoot a lick!!! That’s why he doesn’t get no P.T
Sautee
June 21st, 2009
9:27 pm
From Sekou’s article today:
“Horford was an instant hit and is one of the league’s top centers. ”
a quote sure to vex the views of big dave.
niremetal
June 21st, 2009
9:32 pm
Not to mention Clyde…
Sautee
June 21st, 2009
9:42 pm
When Acie has gotten time, he’s produced. In the 12 games where he got at least 15 minutes he averaged: 7.2 pts., 2.4 reb., 3.1 ast. to .08 turnovers.
Bibby in 34.7 minutes averaged 14.8 pts., 3.5 reb., 5.0 ast. to 1.62 turnovers.
VERY comparable numbers relative to their respective minutes.
I agree that his jumper was seriously lacking, and if he had shot a higher percentage, he would have had more playing time. But those figures show ME enough to say don’t give up on Acie until he’s had a little more time. Don’t you KNOW Dallas is wishing they hadn’t given up on Harris?
Hoops
June 21st, 2009
10:01 pm
I can’t look into the future and see how these players are going to turn out and nether can the Hawks coaches. You have to base your opinion on their performance in practice and games. Based on what I have seen in games, we need to sign another PG (Sessions or Jack) and trade Acie, Speedy, or Evans with our #19 pick and move up in the draft. We will be fine with Sessions or Jack and Flip. JJ can play some short time @ PG also. I would not draft another PG because Woody will not develop them. Draft night is going to be interesting!!!
Ariose
June 21st, 2009
10:16 pm
Well it looks like my harmless posts have been taken away by the moderators…whatever…
HawkKingBibby
June 21st, 2009
10:49 pm
SEKOU, I just finished reading your story on the Hawks and WAYNE ELLINGTON. Its hard to read between the lines on coaches comments in particular the high praise from Drew. From what you have seen and heard does this kid have nba 3 point range? PS: I cant help but think of Mitch Richmond when I watch him. I know thats crazy but….
darrell starks
June 21st, 2009
11:08 pm
Rick sund if ty lawson is not there do not pass on terrence william no way i no he 6′6 but he will be a still at pick 19 he will be a beast.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!
darrell starks
June 21st, 2009
11:11 pm
I still say trade the pick for bosh but if we keep the pick and ty lawson is gone and terrence william is there do not pass on him.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!
Melvin
June 21st, 2009
11:24 pm
Wayned Ellington reminds me of a 3 inch taller Rodney Monroe that played at NC State in the 90’s. A smooth shooter that could shoot the lights out in a gym from anywhere on the floor. How is that, for an Old School flashback?????
cp
June 21st, 2009
11:28 pm
Hoops I hear you but T. Evans cant shoot. Woodson does not like guards who cant shoot. Evans has to have the ball in his hands to be effective. Well Joe is going to be the primary ball handler here. The offense we run does not fit Evans strengths. The kid is going to be a nice player but sometimes its about fit. I don’t see Woody taking the ball out of Johnson’s hand and Evans does not have that jumper needed to play off Joe, at least he does not have it now. Can you see Woody being patient with a young guard who needs the ball in his hands and is not a good shooter? Sounds almost like a guy we have riding the bench now. If we got a guy in here who would take over the offense and add some damn flexibility to it then yea I wouldn’t mind a guy like Evans but with Woodson being the coach I just don’t see him being effective with his style of play but I truly see where you are coming from..
From reading the new article I guess we are taking Ellington. Can this guy create off the dribble Ariose? I cant lie I never paid too much attention to him. I saw him mostly as a shooter so what are his other strengths?
Ariose
June 21st, 2009
11:34 pm
Cp, trust me, He’s just like joe. Silent but Deadly, and with joe getting so much attention, there’s NO WAY Ellington won’t make you pay. He catches lobs too lol.
I guess Ellington took my advice. I was talking to him over twitter last week and I told him to make sure he killed it during his workout here b/c JJ needed a backup lol.
darrell starks
June 22nd, 2009
12:01 am
DO not sleep on terrence william he is a lock down defender plus his style in the nba will surprise a lot of people i can see him 4year from now avg 20 points a game.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!
Ariose
June 22nd, 2009
12:14 am
It’s really a two-headed moster w/Danny Green and Ellington which is why i’m also lobbying for Green. They play really well together.
Here’s Wayne Ellington’s Draft Express Profile:
http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Wayne-Ellington-482/
Ariose
June 22nd, 2009
12:16 am
DS, they have an article on Williams over at Hoopsworld right now. It’s about ppl questioning his stroke. He says it’s not a problem, he’s working on it and b/c he does other things so well, not to worry…
darrell starks
June 22nd, 2009
12:23 am
Thanks ariose i will check it out.
GO HAWKS!!!!!
Sekou Smith
June 22nd, 2009
12:32 am
New blog up. And Ellington is unique. It’s hard for me to compare him to someone from a bygone era (man, did I really just call the 80s a bygone era?). He certainly has NBA 3-point range HawkKing. But my concerns about him and any other player the Hawks would draft has as much or more to do with whether or not they can defend their position in the league first. The Hawks need to get a guy at 19, if they hold on to the pick, that is going to be able to guard guys at his position in the league. That’s my biggest test for the guy they snag in the draft. NEW BLOG UP!
darrell starks
June 22nd, 2009
12:51 am
One thing when scouting and nba player sometime we get caught up in there scoring avg in college and dont look at the style of play for example iggy of philly was a horrible shooter in college but you new his style of play was going to be speciall in the nba and that how i feel about terrence william.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!
Libid
June 22nd, 2009
3:13 am
I would love to have Teague. He wants to learn from the greats (he said so himself). No one better to learn from than Mike Bibby, the player that many people are comparing him to!
James
June 22nd, 2009
12:58 pm
this is what the picks for the hawks should be.
#19 – Toney Douglas (Florida State)
#49 – Josh Heytvelt ( Gonzaga)
James
June 22nd, 2009
1:12 pm
I don’t understand why people are saying draft Wayne Ellington it makes no sense cause the hawks already got Joe Johnson they play the same position which is SG.
The Hawks need a PG, SF & C.
Sign Rafer Alston then draft Toney Douglas for backup. then the PG is settled. trade Acie Law & do not re-sign Bibby.
Sign Richard Jefferson and trade Marvin Williams.
Sign Rasheed Wallace.
2009 Starting Lineup would look like.
PG: Rafer Alston/Toney Douglas
SG: Joe Johnson/Flip Murray
SF: Richard Jefferson/Mo Evans
PF: Al Horford/Zaza Pachulia
C: Tyson Chandler/Nazr Mohammed
HawkKingBibby
June 22nd, 2009
1:16 pm
I love the new blog on Physco T its a must read. Niremental, Kind of makes you think though when you see Smooves trade # after July 1st macthes up almost perfectly with a Certain Toronto Raptors pf salary #.
reedeak
June 24th, 2009
11:50 am
I think we should do whatever it takes to get Bosh. It would be interesting if we traded Al,Acie,and 19th ick for bosh. Trade marvin and speedy for Coran Butler. Sign and trade bibby for Rafer. Resign Flip, Zaza and Solo. Hope that Toney Douglas falls to our 2nd round pick.
PG:Rafer,Flip, Toney Douglas
SG:Joe, Flip, Toney Douglas
SF:Coran, Mo
PF:Josh,solo
C: Bosh,zaza
That front line could be pretty dangerous.
reedeak