Mini-camp invitees
Hawks rookie point guard Jeff Teague will make his on-court debut with the Hawks in a mini-camp next week at Philips Arena.
HAWKSVILLE - While most of the rookie/free agent attention is focused on the happenings in Las Vegas, the Hawks don’t have a summer league entry in Sin City.
Therefore, the only chance we’ll get to see rookie point guard Jeff Teague in action this summer is during the Hawks’ mini-camp next week at Philips Arena (it’s not open to the public, sorry, and is barely open to the media – we get to see the last half hour of action everyday, which usually consists of cats shooting free throws and trying half court trick shots).
There is good news, though. Intriguing news, even, when you consider who will accompany Teague on the floor during these mini-camp workouts.
If the (tentative) invite list I glanced at today doesn’t change between now and Monday, recent second-round picks Sergiy Gladyr (last month) and Cenk Akyol (2005) will also be in town for the workouts. I know how much you guys love to examine the web-footage of these guys to determine what you think of their games. But I’m looking forward to seeing them in action and on the floor with guys who could potentially be their teammates some day in the future.
Also joining the party will be blog-fave/road grader Garret Siler, the 6-11, 305-pound big man from Augusta State. We only got a chance to see a glimpse of what he can do when he was in for a pre-draft workout with the Hawks. Now we’ll see what he looks like in game-type action during mini-camp. Then and only then will it be clear if he has any chance at all of coming back for training camp and trying to make the Hawks’ roster (which remains a distinct possibility, from what I’m told).
Other names to chew on the next few days as we get ready for the mini-camp include: G-David Huertas, G- Dionte Christmas, G-Sundiata Gaines, F-Shawn Taggart, G-Corey Williams, G-Anthony Goods, G-John Lucas III, F-Yaroslav Korolev, F-Ivan Harris, F-Frank Robinson (a returnee from last summer and one of my favorite cats), F-Leo Lyons and C-Chris Taft.
I know this is a slight detour from our recent free agent/trade conversations, but this mini-camp should be an interesting study in where youngsters like Teague, Gladyr and Akyol are in terms of when they can be expected to contribute to the Hawks.
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487 comments Add your comment
Nookah
July 17th, 2009
5:15 pm
For all the well informed Hawk fans I have a question. Why was Dionte Christmas not drafted? I just saw a few clips of him on youtube and he looked to be a decent shooter, could this be the overwhelming factor?
Weaknesses: Shot selection can be much better (at times he takes contested shots). Can be turnover prone … Must work on his ball handling ability, cut down on turning the ball over, which is usually a function of trying to do too much … Improving his dribbling ability would allow him to be better creating off the dribble and maximize mid-range potential … Should also learn to play with his back to the basket and post up smaller defenders better.
Can I have some feedback please from anyone who may have some info?
Go Hawks!!!
Nookah
July 17th, 2009
5:16 pm
Just thought I’d post the other side to maintain balance:
Strengths: Very talented player with a complete offensive arsenal … A very smart player offensively who rarely forces anything … Uses screens well to get himself open for jumpshot (most frequently he will catch and shoot coming off of screens) … Possesses outstanding elevation on his jump shot, with a quick release and nice follow trough … Effective around the basket on out to the NBA 3 point line … Dionte has improved his mid-range game and appears to be a much better shooter off the dribble than last year … If his shots are not falling, he’ll look to other methods of scoring: attacking the basket … Dionte can put the ball on the floor and create his own shot from anywhere on the floor (has an effective crossover that he uses well and a solid first step) … If he gets into a rhythm, he is very difficult to guard … Knows where to spot up and move offensively in order to position himself for shots … Very unselfish player with solid passing ability … Recognizes the double-team every time and finds teammates … His shot is very difficult to block due to his long arms … Solid defender with good lateral quickness and length … His basketball IQ is well above average for a college player and being a four year guy only helps …
Go Hawks!!!
Wabe
July 17th, 2009
5:20 pm
I agree with the offense needing to be modified, but don’t yall think JJ’s at his best with the ball in his hands creating for himself? Or maybe its just because this is what I’m accustomed to seeing him do…
Mark
July 17th, 2009
5:21 pm
Hello,majority of hawks fans.I’m so glad that you guys,aren’t talking about that Anderson guy that went to Houston.And can anyone tell me why we haven’t signed Wilcox or Gooden?What are we waiting on?Also,we can get rid of Marvin and sign Barnes , Green,and Thorton for the same money that Marvin is looking for.Tell me what you guys think.Wilcox is my choice because he’s more physical.
Ariose
July 17th, 2009
5:42 pm
Wabe, no. Part of the reason Pheonix was so good was because JJ led th leauge in 3pt FG%…. When he’s not drawing attention to himself and he’s under the radar(crawford can provide this) he’s at his most dangerous.
Mike B.
July 17th, 2009
6:37 pm
Why all this talk about Siller? If he was so important to people, he would have been drafted. Why talk of trading for Camby and his price tag? If given the time to play, I think Solo can be a Camby clone. I can’t wait to see the roster we come to camp with (guess at this rate I have no choice). P.S. It would be funny for the Greek team to have Robinson, Chills, and Lee.
JSS
July 17th, 2009
6:46 pm
Thank you for the explanation… SO, does that mean that Josh Smith (among others) is a disinterested screener and see no benefit from in picks and follows from them? Have a great weekend!
JSS
July 17th, 2009
7:02 pm
It is simple Mike B. (in regards to Garret S-i-l-e-r). For those of us who saw him play more than once at Augusta State (especially when traveled to UGA and in the D-II Elite Eight’s of 2007 and 2008), he is a bon-a-fide sleeper! 5 years of organized basketball and he has always grown and gotten better.
I’m no homer, I can care less if he’s from nearby. Nevertheless, you never pass up a bargain if it can help you possibly… For all of craziness, Dennis Rodman had potential… Now tell me who had the more productive NBA career, Cliff Leviningston or Rodman?
By the way, where was Ben Wallace drafted when he graduated from Virginia Union?
Have a great weekend!!!
Najeh Davenpoop
July 17th, 2009
7:13 pm
“Najeh,
Did Ando bet y’all $5 that we’d be trading Bibby?”
I think he was willing to bet everyone on the blog that the Hawks wouldn’t win over 40 games. At least one other person in addition to me and Lacsho were willing to take him up on his bet.
Ariose
July 17th, 2009
8:04 pm
Yah, Anpd owes qwuite a few people some change lol. No wonder he pulled this longer than normal dissapearing act hehehehe….
Ariose
July 17th, 2009
8:41 pm
Marquis Daniels commits to Celtics . . .
(Gooden or Wilcox), Matt Barnes, Solo, Flip= Hello ECF…don’t quote me…
Coach
July 17th, 2009
10:09 pm
Enter your comments here
Publix
July 17th, 2009
10:14 pm
Anakin Joe, you are very knowledgeable. Have you ever seen the man play? He is better then every big man we have except Horford. He is cheap on top of all of it. With a good coach he would be great. Look him up some time, and I will provide your medication
Coach D
July 17th, 2009
10:18 pm
S. Gaines is a player. He’ll most likely take the Will Bynum route: Eventually he’ll get a chance to play in “The League” and will prove to all the doubters that he can play the game.
G. Siler – from what I’ve seen – reminds me of a “Super-sized” RandMo.
Hopefully the Hawks will do something worthwhile before playoff time next year, because I don’t see them getting past the second round again next year if we have the roster we have now.
Also, re: the ESPN writer having Smoove coming off the bench.. That writer doesn’t have a clue. Smith would throw his worst tantrum yet, Woody would buckle under again and we’d lose 5 games because of lack of team unity until Smith gets back in the starting line-up.
I know Crawford can score, just hope he fits in as well as Flip did last year.
Sekou,one question: Why doesn’t Flip get any love? He obviously can play. Any inside scoop re: this. How is his attitude, etc? Thanks, love your blog!!!!!!
Ariose
July 17th, 2009
10:47 pm
Gainse is Good but he’s no Will Bynum(I was pissed when he didin’t get drafted & then when he was cut by the Warriors)
O'Brien
July 17th, 2009
11:36 pm
If Celtics resign Big Baby, their front court will be:
KG (6′11″), Rasheed (6′11″), Kendrick Perkins (6′10″, 280), Big Baby (6′9″, 289), Brian Scalabrine (6′9″ shooter).
The Magic also have:
Dwight Howard (6′11″), Gortat (6′11″), Bass (6′8″, 250), Rashard (6′10″ shooter) and Ryan Anderson (6′10″).
Who do the Hawks have? Horford (6′10″), Josh (6′9″), ZaZa (6′11″), and RandMo (6′11″, 275). (RandMo doesnt really matter, and I’m not sure Solo (6′10″) does either). Plus we have no shooters in our front court.
My point is, I hope Sund realizes we need SOLID depth in our front court (as AJ points out). Siler and Randmo and Solo and those guys will not cut it. Because there is no way Josh, Al and ZaZa can keep up with these guys. And with Bibby’s lack of ball pressure, our front court will be picking up a lot of fouls.
Give me Drew Gooden (6′10″, 250 and can hit the mid-range), and a wide body, like Adonal Foyle (6′10″, 270) or Jamaal Magloire (6′11″, 265).
Ariose
July 17th, 2009
11:55 pm
http://w396.wrzuta.pl/sr/f/175zIyXYco8/digable_planets_-_the_may_…
Ariose
July 17th, 2009
11:58 pm
…..don’t mind me lol…..didn’t actually think that would work lol…experementin’…hehehe…
Melvin
July 18th, 2009
12:00 am
Not sure if anyone posted this earlier but here it is quotes from the man himself…. If the player was willing to come back and the coach welcome him back the what the heck happen??????????
http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_12861776?nclick_check=1
Hoops
July 18th, 2009
12:16 am
August 11 will bring some answers!!!
Ariose
July 18th, 2009
12:17 am
http://mzkr.wrzuta.pl/sr/f/83S2fSgluGo/digable_planets_-_rebirth_…
Ariose
July 18th, 2009
12:19 am
http://westandeastcoastrap.wrzuta.pl/sr/f/aNwHkq0QtwW/nas_-_nas_i…
Ariose
July 18th, 2009
12:24 am
http://themahoganyblog.com/audio/Soul%20Of%20Mischief%20-%2093%20…
Ariose
July 18th, 2009
12:38 am
http://w180.wrzuta.pl/sr/f/34zi44P1f97/usher_-_what_s_your_name.m…
Ariose
July 18th, 2009
12:43 am
http://onairdivas.com/TheStrangeFruitCrushOnYou.mp3
JSS
July 18th, 2009
12:48 am
Well Ladies and gentlemen, he can play with foul trouble Picked 5 fouls before the 8 minute mark of the 3rd …Still played substantial minutes with 5 fouls… Siler scores 3 of the final 5 points in Minnesota victory while grabbing 2 key defensive boards… Seals the game with 3 of 4 FT shooting in the final 30 seconds…
http://www.nba.com/summerleague2009/games/playbyplay.jsp?gameId=1520900039
Have a great weekend!!!
Ariose
July 18th, 2009
12:49 am
…August 11th????? Arghh!!!
Hoops
July 18th, 2009
12:52 am
I feel your pain Ariose!
Ariose
July 18th, 2009
12:56 am
http://www.fileden.com/files/2007/10/13/1508582/03-strange_fruit_…
Ariose
July 18th, 2009
1:01 am
http://www.fileden.com/files/2007/10/13/1508582/12-strange_fruit_…
Najeh Davenpoop
July 18th, 2009
1:03 am
Damn, Melvin beat me to that Mercury-News link… I can’t entirely blame Sund for playing hardball if he did, with the other salary commitments he had to make, but it is reassuring to know that bringing Childress back here is not out of the question.
Ariose
July 18th, 2009
1:18 am
….still childress thinks he should command a lot more money than zaza, and that simply isn’t true. THAT’s the problem, he values himself higher than the reast of the team does. I thinkhe should get about 1-2mill less than whatever Marvin is going to get, and that’s being nice.
Ariose
July 18th, 2009
1:27 am
http://www.hiphopmp3downloads.com/downloads/Japhia%20Life%20feat%…
Ariose
July 18th, 2009
1:29 am
http://fragilestone.podomatic.com/enclosure/2007-04-24T12_28_47-0…
Ariose
July 18th, 2009
2:06 am
http://www.radivizija.com/andric/ukhiphop/theory%20hazit-my%20fav…
niremetal
July 18th, 2009
2:17 am
Sickest move ever by a big man comes at the 0:40 mark in this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmLR_VgbqAA
Problem is, you can’t teach that combination of quickness and balance, and you can’t really teach instinct. Best coaches are usually the ones to whom this stuff doesn’t come easy.
But wow…sick move.
niremetal
July 18th, 2009
2:19 am
(The move is actually a travel if you watch carefully…buy he’s so damned quick that there’s no way to tell when you play it at full speed)
Ariose
July 18th, 2009
2:20 am
http://koshica.wrzuta.pl/sr/f/06X3kUo4a4n/08_adele_-_right_as_rai…
Ariose
July 18th, 2009
2:35 am
IDK nire, he dribble the ball as soon as he picked up his pivot foot. I don’t thike he travled….at first I did lol..
Yeah, Hakeems got that filthy/sick stuff. It’s on a whole ‘nother level from Flips vicious/goon-like behavior
Ariose
July 18th, 2009
2:37 am
If Smooove was comitted to staying in the post, he’d get there. Weve seen josh deliver some nifty hakeem-like moves b4. We just need it on a consistant baisis. Horford…..no he’s too mechanical. Smoove could really be something if he buckles down though.
Ariose
July 18th, 2009
2:50 am
http://sybil37.wrzuta.pl/sr/f/0W3KUM4JQTw/nas_-_film.mp3
KevinA
July 18th, 2009
7:51 am
Josh Childress said Friday the Atlanta Hawks’”hardball” negotiations forced him to return for a second season in Greece with Olympiakos.
“I knew I didn’t have a ton of time and honestly didn’t want a ton of time,” Childress said, referring to this week’s deadline with Olympiakos.”If (the Hawks) wanted to get something done it would get done early.”
The Hawks will again retain the NBA rights to Childress after next season. Childress said”it’s not out of the question at all” for him to return to Atlanta.
“I just think there needs to be some kind of agreement where both parties meet in the middle,” he said.”This idea of hardball is kind of old. I’m not the type of guy that’s gonna bad mouth and do all the other things. I’ve kind of been the kind of guy who wants to move forward and get something done.”
Hawks coach Mike Woodson said on Monday he would welcome the return of Childress.
“I’d accept him with open arms, without a doubt,” Woodson said.
Childress said he was open to a return to Atlanta.
“The Hawks were definitely in my scope,” he said.”I spent four years there. I’m familiar with the team and the organization. I’m familiar with the city. I still have a home there. I think it just came down to whether or not I felt like negotiations would move forward with them. I really didn’t, just being quite honest.”
terrell barron
July 18th, 2009
8:03 am
Stretch, Josh Smith as the 6th man? Yeah right. So I guess Marvin will be the 7th man? lol! Scoop is nuts if he think that’s going to happen. Maybe in some situations, but Josh and Marvin are starters. You think JJ is tired from guarding pg’s, just imagine how tired he’d be trying to stay with the Lebrons, the Pierces etc.. And what happens when Zaza and Horford get into foul trouble?(That’s 2 fouls if you ask Woody) Who would we put in, Randawful Morris? Please!
Duval Hawks Fan
July 18th, 2009
8:47 am
Garret Siler Garret Siler Garret Siler Garret Siler Garret Siler
vava74
July 18th, 2009
8:48 am
Drew Gooden will want more minutes than what we can give him.
Magloire and Foyle are old.
If his knees are fully healed, I would go for Robert Swift. Cheap, big 7′1” 270pounds and Sund drafted him.
I think he could still develop to be a good mix of Chris Andersen and P’billa.
The Truth
July 18th, 2009
9:05 am
KevinA
Your comment made by Chill about Sund:
”This idea of hardball is kind of old”
What a coincidence, sounds like one of my recent descriptions of him
Melvin
July 18th, 2009
9:52 am
Be careful The Truth, Sund’s attorney may come after you for slander…lol
dos hawkquis
July 18th, 2009
10:26 am
What are the vitals on S. Gladiyr and Cynk Akyol? Will they be able to do MORE than “Handsoff” Morris? If so, bring them aboard. So our bench is Crawford, Teague, Zaza, Mo Evans, _______, ______, “Ransoft” Morris? Do we know what’s going on with Solo, Mario, Othello? Will they be back?
Does it cost the Hawks to send players to the developmental league? I don’t understand why they won’t send guys like Othello et al to the D-league to get reps in, rather than getting splinters on the bench.
“I don’t always watch basketball, but when I do, I prefer the Hawks. Stay thirsty my friends!”
dos hawkquis
July 18th, 2009
10:38 am
DUVAL,
Garret Siler = “Randsoft” Morris. Why would you want 2 unproven big men on the bench is beyond me. “Randoff” is making 800k and I guess you would GIVE Garrett Siler 400k? The Hawks would be better served giving that 1.2 million to the Boys Club of Atlanta.
“I don’t always laugh at big men, but when I do, I prefer ‘Randoff Sorrys.’ Save your money my friend. This is your last year in the league.”
dos hawkquis
July 18th, 2009
10:50 am
Those were some good clips of HAKEEM OLAJUWON…
BUT, IF JORDAN HAD NOT RETIRED, WOULD HOUSTON HAVE WON BACK TO BACK CHAMPIONSHIPS? WOULD WE BE WATCHING THESE HAKEEM VIDEOS?
“I don’t always laugh at big men, but when I do, I prefer “Randsoff” Morris. Save your money my friend. This is your last year in the league.”