Atlanta Hawks: Lawal gets close look from Hawks
Lawal wants the Hawks. They might want him, too. (Johnny Crawford/jcrawford@ajc.com)
Gani Lawal, out of Norcross High School and Georgia Tech, hopes the Hawks draft him next week. It could happen, too: Word is he’s one of five players the Hawks are considering selecting with the No. 24 overall pick.
Lawal was at Philips Arena today to work out. He said it was his 13th stop on the predraft workout circuit and he’s still not done. Lawal put his name on the early-entry list in 2009 but decided to return to Tech for his junior season.
“I needed to go back to school,” he said. “I don’t think it was a bad decision to go back. I felt confident, and I feel like it helped me. It may not jump out on the stat sheet. [But] my understanding of the game increased and improved and I’m glad I went back.”
When he got back his 2009 draft evaluation, in what areas did NBA personnel types tell him he needed to improve?
“Passing out of the post, playing through double teams, my anticipation on defense, my free throws, ballhandling, shooting,” he said.
Lawal looked smaller than I expected. Maybe that’s because I spend so much time around NBA dudes but, well, that’s what he’s trying to be, right? Draftexpress.com says Lawal’s wingspan measures 7 feet but when I saw him I didn’t immediately think, “There goes an NBA power forward.”
I’m not going to pretend I watched him play a whole lot this past season (I’m more of a Big East guy), so better to trust those who did. NBADraft.net says Lawal is a “strong, athletic and lengthy 6′9 forward (in shoes) . . .who has been able to use his physical tools to gain the advantage over whoever guards him” but notes “his faceup game and [outside] jumper will both need to improve if he wants to play real consistent minutes at the next level, as he won’t be able to use his body in the pro’s the same way he uses it in college.”
Lawal is among those prospects who left school early despite no guarantee they’d be selected in the first round and get a guaranteed deal. It seems there’s a new breed of guys who decide to get on the workout circuit and show what they can do.
“At this point you’ve got to have confidence in yourself,” Lawal said. “If you don’t, nobody else will. What somebody puts on a piece of paper two months from the draft my change drastically once the draft gets around.”
– The Hawks have said they’d like to get a wing with shooting ability or a center out of the draft, but L.D. said today: “Realistically, at that area [No.24] in the draft, you are looking at the best available player.” Already, it seems like player-development will be a focus for Atlanta going forward, so don’t be surprised if the Hawks draft a player at a position where they seem set and then bring that prospect along for the future.
– Jordan Crawford was supposed to work out for the Hawks on Wednesday but canceled for unknown reasons. I think the Hawks were disappointed not to get another close look at Crawford, who seems to fit their desire for a catch-and-shoot type wing player. Crawford blossomed into a productive player at Xavier after a lost season at Indiana.
– The prospects who’ve come through so far say the Hawks have been less focused on physical contact in the workout sessions and more concerned with seeing their skills.
MC
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
243 comments Add your comment
drmaryb
June 18th, 2010
9:47 am
FOR SALE by OWNER
Many of you bloggers have been clamoring for ASG to sell their teams –
You spoke – They listened! And, they should sell – as a matter of fact?
They should have never bought in – period!
You wanted a new HC – anyone would be better than Woodson!
Another wish granted!
Gee – we must have a Jeanie in a bottle! We’re on a roll …what’s our third and final wish?
We’ll probably get that too.
Like I have been saying all along, joe will NEVER see 4 & 60 again, ever!
His value has diminshed over-night and the financial world is rocked by an IED.
Many teams are strapped for cash and the Players league is quickly becoming an Owners league once again.
There are always cycles and trends in ALL market places! The entire world is ion financial despair and
Basketball Players just aren’t that important in the grand scheme of things!
There are more effective and cheaper ways to be entertained!
darrell starks
June 18th, 2010
9:52 am
Philps arena and the hawks, and thrasher is up for sell wow!!!!! is it possible the hawks could be moving 2 another city.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!
darrell starks
June 18th, 2010
9:53 am
M.C we need more info. on this.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!
darrell starks
June 18th, 2010
9:56 am
The hawks lost 20mill. and thrasher lost 30mill, ASG MIGHT BE BROKE, and the hole time us fans was thinking ASG was just being cheap.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!
dap01
June 18th, 2010
10:09 am
It is hard being a Hawks fan. You don’t know who they are working out while getting ready for the draft. You don’t know that the team is being sold. You have to hear over and over that there is no one to draft. You have to hear over and over that there is no possible way to get a center (even though other teams have two or three). You have to hear that rookies can not contribute even though they do for other teams. You have to hear that bench players can’t be utilized. You have to go through an offseason not knowing what the team is trying to do. You have to pretend that the management has a plan yet there is never any evidence that it does. You have to never hear obvious questions asked like: (Coach, have you noticed that teams take advantage of your switching defense?). You have to pretend that you are happy to draft another 6′9″ forward with lots of athletic ability but poorly refined skills and little basketball IQ.
doc
June 18th, 2010
10:11 am
jss yes it was
chuck thanks for the lead, must admit got a little dustracted by the megan fox pictorial to the right of it. yes i clicked and paused there for a bit.
back to reality, ramon says they have lost a bundle. well yes and no gate receipts could make up for that kind of loss if it is real.
yes, they got the most bang for the buck on performance for cash outlay, have said that myself. they also got a few years of desultory results with 38 mil spent, too i might add and still expected enthusiasm and the turnstiles to turn. we also dont know if those are funny numbers or real dollars, creative accountants can make gold into clay from what i have seen in my lifetime.
Big Ray
June 18th, 2010
10:12 am
Ramon ,
Perhaps I should have been more specific. “One or more possessions” does not make a trend or pattern, and the very next play those guys were going at it. The same cannot be said of some of our guys (most notably Josh Smith, who I am a big fan of), who have let something like that affect their play for a quarter, half, or even an entire game.
I’m not saying the Celts and Lakers were perfect out there. But they were infinitely more focused than our guys tend to be. I’m just calling it like I see it. This was my exact statement:
And, he has to keep his head screwed on straight, instead of pouting and whining when calls don’t go his way, and getting lazy or out of control on either end of the floor. Leaders don’t do that.
They don’t. But too often we’ve seen Josh get mad about something and then play like crap for several minutes. Sometimes it’s foul calls on him. Sometimes it’s foul calls he thought he should have gotten. The issue isn’t his passion, it’s his inability to remain focused for stretches of time when his passion overcomes him. Sometimes he gets to the point of trying too hard to make something happen, when he’s trying to make up for losing focus. That’s called being out of control. It doesn’t happen all the time, and it certainly happened a lot less this past season. But it still happens too much. And Josh isn’t the only one, he just has the biggest impact when he does it. Again, I’m a Josh Smith fan, so take it for what it’s worth.
Furthermore, I mentioned “loafing”, as in playing lazy for no reason. Loafing is not arguing a call or pouting. It’s simply taking a plays off. How much did you see that happening last night?
For the record, I consider Odom and Wallace role players, not leaders. Fisher is part leader, part role player in my mind. Ray Allen is the same. Just my two cents worth. I’m not a Laker or Celtic fan. But I would like to see our team acting more like a TEAM, such as those two teams do.
Big Ray
June 18th, 2010
10:17 am
And I would dare to say the Hawks have gotten the more bang for their buck than any other NBA team. In the last 2 seasons, Atlanta was the lowest payroll team to make it to the 2nd round of the playoffs.
I guess that’s the real world business perspective. For some reason, I have trouble getting the taste of that postseason playoff performance out of my mouth. Especially when we set a new record for number of total points lost by in a playoff series…
Big Ray
June 18th, 2010
10:36 am
Looks like the ASG is calling it quits as soon as they can get somebody to buy the team.
But of course, the team isn’t worth buying because the fans are crap….right?
doc
June 18th, 2010
10:44 am
Another source in the sports business said, “There will be more foreclosures. In five years you’ll have a lot fewer teams and buildings will go dark.”
Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/atlanta_sports_woes_nFWtCfbmsxk5uXjNim4q1O#ixzz0rDRsf0Ew
think there wont be a work stoppage in football and basketball at about the same time?
now where is the book on how to understand soccer on my book shelf?
gtlinz
June 18th, 2010
10:55 am
The thing to remember is that this kid has not really been coached. Hewitt has had many players improve after going into the NBA because his coaching skills stop at recruiting. So there may be large upside to Lawal.
DavidDecatur
June 18th, 2010
10:59 am
Untie your panties the pick has not been made…hold your horses on your fake reactions
Ramon
June 18th, 2010
10:59 am
Big Ray, I agree. I think the biggest problem is that all of those players have been on a team that had another teammate to cuss them out on the court, in a huddle or anywhere else if their mind wasn’t in the game. Josh hasn’t really had anyone on the court with him that would chew him out about not being focused. To be honest, second only to Al, Josh is a leader on this team and a pretty good one. Al’s 3 year in college were more educational with Donovan, than Josh’s 3 years with Harrington, Joe, and Woody. Remember how Garnett and Pierce used to chew out Perkins and Rondo. Or remember when Eddie Jones and Fisher would pull Kobe to the side, Jordan had it in Bill Cartwright and Oakley. At the moment the Hawks doesn’t (and hasn’t) have any player(s) to keep the rest of the team accountable. And that’s not something that comes from the coach but from other players.
steve brown
June 18th, 2010
11:00 am
Atlanta’s sports woes
Owner puts Hawks, Thrashers & arena up for sale
By JOSH KOSMAN
Last Updated: 5:44 AM, June 18, 2010
Posted: 12:49 AM, June 18, 2010
Comments: 0
| More Print [Follow Us on Twitter]
Today the National Basketball Association has a 2009-10 champion, but for the Atlanta Hawks the real battle has just begun.
The Atlanta Spirit, the group that controls the team, has put it on the block and, in recent days has started to solicit buyers for the franchise in a package with the Philips Arena where the team plays, according to sources with direct knowledge of the process.
The Spirit is also selling its Atlanta Thrashers franchise of the National Hockey League.
The Hawks posted an operating loss of roughly $20 million last year before servicing debt. The Philips Arena made $10 million.
NBA’s Atlanta Hawks, the NHL’s Thrashers and the Philips Arena are for sale.
AP
NBA’s Atlanta Hawks, the NHL’s Thrashers and the Philips Arena are for sale.
That means the package together is losing money, and if one bought the Hawks and tried to move them out of Atlanta it would trip a clause in the financing deal that would accelerate the remaining debt payments owed on the 11-year-old arena.
So a buyer would likely need to keep them in town, sources said.
As for the Thrashers they are being sold separately and lost about $30 million in the last 12 month, according to figures compiled by the Spirit, the source said.
The owners have hired the Raine Group, a New York investment bank, to sell the teams, which both just completed winning seasons.
This dilemma is part of a deeper problem the NBA faces in that its teams posted an overall loss of $400 million, according to Commissioner David Stern.
At the same time, many of the team owners who were very rich have lost money in the recession and cannot afford to keep funding money-losing teams.
Owners too have a quickly depleting number of wealthy financiers to whom they can sell their teams.
For example, the money-losing New Jersey Nets searched 18 months for a buyer until they got lucky and found billionaire Russian Mikhail Prokhorov, the source said.
Another source in the sports business said, “There will be more foreclosures. In five years you’ll have a lot fewer teams and buildings will go dark.”
In other industries you would see mergers and cost cuts, but in sports salaries are fixed, the other source added.
The Atlanta Spirit could not be reached for comment.
In 2004, the group paid $250 million to buy the basketball and hockey teams, along with Phillips Arena, from Time Warner.
Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/atlanta_sports_woes_nFWtCfbmsxk5uXjNim4q1O#ixzz0rDTXjHYz
Bravesfan79
June 18th, 2010
11:11 am
As a long time GT hoops fan, Lawal would be a above average shot blocker, and a decent post player. Id take him over most of the current Hawks bench of big men any day. I still think he would of been better off coming back to GT for his senior year.
Bravesfan79
June 18th, 2010
11:12 am
Lawal has good touch on his bank shot, thats important for a big man.
Samuel
June 18th, 2010
11:16 am
This is who we need on the Hawks. We got too many “CHARACTER” guys. We need some “HOOD”.
http://www.nba.com/video/channels/playoffs/2010/06/18/20100617_artest_nbatv.nba/?ls=iref:nbahpt2
darrell starks
June 18th, 2010
11:18 am
Economy is getting worst and player asking for more money and owner ship are charging 2 much for tickets, basketball, football, and baseball are going 2 have make tough decision in order 2 save the games.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!
darrell starks
June 18th, 2010
11:20 am
As it have been reported more people are losing there jobs and home, it’s not getting better and years on down the road player will be playing for free.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!
Samuel
June 18th, 2010
11:24 am
Ken,
Why are people wearing coats in South Africa in the Middle of June?
G-MAN013
June 18th, 2010
11:30 am
Samuel
it is winter in SA
darrell starks
June 18th, 2010
11:42 am
The NBA lost over 400mill this year this is unreal.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!
Samuel
June 18th, 2010
12:13 pm
I knew that
GT Alum
June 18th, 2010
12:14 pm
Big Ray, the interesting thing I saw in last night’s game that relates really closely to the Hawks is how in the third quarter, with a good lead, the Celtics’ offense basically devolved into iso-Paul. Pierce wasn’t getting good looks out of the isos, and that gave the Lakers a lot of the defensive stops they needed to get back into the game.
The problem with relying on isos is no matter how good a player is, it’s always easier to play lock-down defense on one guy than 5 guys.
O'Brien
June 18th, 2010
12:30 pm
I wonder if David McDavid is 1) still interested and 2) has the money.
If the Hawks are really up for sale though, I think we can kiss JJ goodbye. Why would he want to come here, and why would we want to pay him the max?
I would like to see some more official reports though.
@ MC,
Have you heard anything?
Hawk fan
June 18th, 2010
12:37 pm
Let Lawal pass….Just say No!
Ramon
June 18th, 2010
12:40 pm
O’Brien, ASG would still sign JJ because JJ on the roster guarantees a playoff spot next season. Long as the Hawks are still a playoff team, they’ll be easier to sell and more valuable on the market.
Justafan
June 18th, 2010
12:42 pm
Don’t blame Lawal from not going back to Paul Hewitt for senior year. I wouldn’t play for Bewitt, nothing to learn there. Fire Paul Bewitt!
GT Alum
June 18th, 2010
1:34 pm
As far as the team being up for sale making free agents think the team is unstable, NBA analysts have been saying that the whole legal battle and the ownership being a multi-headed monster instead of having a single decision maker would make players question the team’s stability, so I honestly don’t know that putting the team up for sale would make the perception any worse. Players might assume the ownership situation could only get better.
d.carter
June 18th, 2010
2:11 pm
sign and trade with memphis for Rudy Gay and maybe a throw in player… or New Jersey who will be more than willing when they dont get LBJ.. maybe Yi Jainlian and Devin Harris or something to make the numbers work…. Then offer Rudy Gay… Also draft wise would love to see B.Zoubek from Duke a 7-1 270lbs banger who sets great screens and plays good post defense and rebounds and maybe later J. Schayer a proven 3pt shooter
Sautee
June 18th, 2010
2:17 pm
d. carter,
What if Joe doesn’t WANT to go to Memphis or NJ?
Remember that Joe is UNRESTRICTED. It’s HIS call (or his agent’s) where he chooses to go. All we can do is try to work out a S&T with whomever that is.
drmaryb
June 18th, 2010
2:39 pm
Keepin’ it Real!
drmaryb is going to always keep it real! I have bee telling you guys this for the past four weeks that
JJ will Never see 4 & 60 0million again, here or anywhere! The Suns are also broke and Amare will sound find that out as well.
These Players have been living in X-BOX 360 world for so long until they are out of touch with reality!
The team is an asset to the owners as long as the turn-stiles are turning and merchandise is selling.
However, IT’s the Economy – STUPID! The Global World Economy is in financial Peril and we just blog along and dream of fantasy trades all day and all night long. But, the reality is that All of the small market teams will likely be blacked out arenas. The Hawks may survive because our product is good and the payroll is one of the lowest league wide and we live in a highly and densely populated city where the media is alive and in tact. But, that alone may not be enough to save the franchise!
“I AM LEGEND” starring WILL SMITH may become a world reality – literally as we near The End ! And,
The Conclusion of this System of Things! And, approach our Last Days as we all knew them to be!
I know, that is deep and everyone wants to become the dumbest bird alive – an Ostrich!
But, burying our head in the sand will NOT alter the THRUTH! So, enjoy the Hawks while we can
And for the Love of God! Be grateful and remain humble!
BTW, the Lakers are also scaling back the purse strings!they are asking Phil to reduce his salary from
12 Million per year to 5 Million per year – or WALK! That HC Elite Salary Market is also a thing of the past!
The reason is financial Losses by these owners in The Wall Street Markets and Re.al Estate Markets
drmaryb
June 18th, 2010
2:50 pm
OBRIEN
David McDavid I believe is filing or has filed Bankruptcy. He was a Texas car dealer ships owner!
He lost hi shirt during the Wall Street collapse and GM, FORD, CHRYSLER bail-outs!
Remember that?
drmaryb
June 18th, 2010
2:57 pm
OBRIEN
Had David McDavid bought the team? He would likewise be looking a buyer right about now as well!
Joe, really should have signed that Hawks offer, before his game declined in the play offs!
He’s damaged goods now. Granted, some team may pay him and it may even be the Hawks to maintain the product level, buÞ it’s hard to say or see for me right now.
There is so much better talent available, with all the smart ELITE players opting-out, they are also taking a huge risk as well with the “Bird in the Hand -vs- Two in the Bush”. analogy!
The Truth
June 18th, 2010
5:35 pm
testing one two three
Ken Strickland
June 18th, 2010
5:50 pm
Isn’t it funny how some fans claim the ASG is too cheap to spend money, then these same fans complain about the ASG spending too much money for certain players. Didn’t the ASG spend what it took to acquire JJohnson, MBibby and JCrawford? Didn’t they spend the money to match the offer to JSmith and resign last yrs FA’s, MWilliams, MBibby and ZPachulia?
There’s a difference between being cheap and being stupid with your money. Suns GM Steve Kerr is out as their GM right now because he spent too much money and got too little results. Just look at the NY Knicks if you want a perfect example that spending money alone doesn’t even guarantee you a chance of winning, let alone winning a championship.
DRMARYB-you are absolutely correct. Even teams with major cap space aren’t going to waste it on a player unless he has draw appeal and can put butts in the seats. Players like DWade, LJames and KBryant have that quality, but players like CBosh, DHoward and JJohnson don’t. They can make a team better, to varying degrees, but they don’t inspire fans to come out just to see them.
Therefore, it doesn’t make much sense to pay a player max money if that player doesn’t have the star power to generate enough revenue over the length of his contract to make it profitable. JJohnson makes us a better team, but he simply doesn’t have the star power, personality or WOW factor in his gm to put A$$’s in the seats by himself. Win, lose or draw, people what to see Kobe, Lebron and DWade do their thing.
Our budget already includes the $15M we paid JJ last yr, so adding another $1-3M won’t break the bank, which makes us the only team that can sign JJ without eating up a sizable portion of our cap. Teams that don’t have a lot of talent to surround JJ with won’t get their money’s worth out of him, especially if they sign him to a max of near max contract.
When all is said and done, I believe he’ll resign with the Hawks, and new HC LDrew will have a solid nucleus of talented players to work his magic.
Matt Jones
June 18th, 2010
10:57 pm
nononononononononoononono!!!!Nooooooooo!
Halsey
June 18th, 2010
11:06 pm
The Hawks have positional needs, but the most important thing is they get someone who can be a valuable contributor in the NBA. A good player who doesn’t fill a position of need is better than a guy who does fill a need, but is just going to warm a bench in the NBA. Remember, Acie Law filled a need and Horford was considered to be just another 6′8 forward by some fans.
PaulieOldschool
June 19th, 2010
8:45 am
Why, in the name of all the great NBA centers of the past, would we consider drafting ANOTHER Billy Knight-type “long”? When do you have enough 6′9″ forward types? And, no, we can’t pick up a genuine big “in the later rounds” or “undrafted.” Damn!
Elliot Garcia
June 19th, 2010
9:15 am
We need a real center!
Lawal Likes Hawks. Feeling Maybe Mutual? - True Sports Core Forums
June 20th, 2010
10:56 am
[...] focused on physical contact in the workout sessions and more concerned with seeing their skills. Atlanta Hawks: Lawal gets close look from Hawks | Atlanta Hawks Interesting and not a bad pick but…….WE NEED A CENTER [...]
i_am_soulstar
June 21st, 2010
10:21 am
MC,
Any word yet on who the other 4 players are receiving serious consideration?
Michael Cunningham
June 21st, 2010
11:22 am
@soulstar: not yet, hope to have something later today.