Atlanta Hawks: Could these draft prospects help the Hawks now?
Could this be Atlanta's next 'Nique? (Atoyia Deans, St. Pete Times)
Before you can begin to examine the players the Hawks will consider drafting with the No. 24 pick on Thursday, you first must understand the competing philosophies at play.
As they wind down their draft preparations, GM Rick Sund, assistant GM Dave Pendergraft, Hawks scouts and L.D. must decide if they want to draft a player with a skill (or skills) that can help the team now but with limited upside, or take a prospect who likely won’t see minutes early but could develop later into a good NBA player. The Hawks are compiling a list of players in each pool.
“First, we have to decide which way to go,” Pendergraft said. He declined to name names but he and others provided enough clues for me to make some educated guesses. I fully expect to be hated on when the Hawks inevitably don’t draft any of these guys.
Once the Hawks determine their strategy, they then have to figure out which prospects are likely to be there when they pick. Considering the league office had a tough time completing its list of 15 players to invite to the “green room” in New York, you know how much guesswork goes into the Hawks figuring out which players will be there at No. 24.
“Do we figure out who is drafting who?” Pendergraft said. “Or do we try to continue to evaluate the players on tape and do background info on them? You want to know exactly who is taking who, but you are not going to get it [down] to the team anyway.” He said the Hawks have done “a bit of both” as draft day approaches.
Pendergraft was optimistic about the depth of the draft during the college season but grew pessimistic early in the postseason draft process. With the draft a couple days away, he’s somewhere in between.
“I think we will be glad to get a guy we are happy to have,” he said.
A look at the players that could be available at No. 24 that the Hawks might consider, from among the “could help them now” pool. I’ll have stuff on the long-term potential guys in a later blog post.
NBA skill now
Gani Lawal, F, 6-9, Georgia Tech
“One thing I think always translates from the college game to NBA is rebounding,” Pendergraft said, and that explains Atlanta’s interest in Lawal despite his projection to play power forward, where the Hawks have Smoove, Al and Zaza as options.
Lawal ranked 25th in the NCAA in pace-adjusted rebounds, according to Draftexpress.com. Lawal ranks seventh in that stat among sure-fire and possible first rounders, behind DeMarcus Cousins, Cole Aldrich, Larry Sanders, Hassan Whiteside, Al-Farouq Aminu, and Jarvis Varnado.
Trevor Booker, F, 6-7, Clemson
“Booker is a heck of a rebounder,” Pendergraft said. “Both of them [Booker and Lawal] have the physical presence. They are not going to get crushed.” Booker projects as a power forward and is undersized for the position, but according to NBADraft.net he “shows the ability to step out on the perimeter and knock down the jumper, even showing three point range at times” and “can also use his handle and quickness to blow by bigger defenders.”
So perhaps Booker could provide the Hawks more than just rebounding.
Jordan Crawford, G, 6-4, Xavier
Crawford canceled his workout with the Hawks and Pendergraft isn’t confident he will still be available at No. 24. DraftExpress.com has has Crawford going 27th to the Nets, so it’s possible Atlanta will have a shot at him. If he’s there and the Hawks want a scorer, Crawford might be the guy.
“He’s like a miniature version of Jamal [Crawford],” Pendergraft said.
Says DraftExpress: “[H]e is efficient in virtually every situation, and shouldered a heavy load for Xavier, but his inability to get to the foul line prevents him from standing out as much as he probably could. The second most efficient player in our rankings overall (1.014 PPP), Crawford gets fouled on his 5.1% of his shots (3rd last). A highly ranked catch and shoot player with or without a hand in his face, Crawford’s inability to draw fouls renders him as a below average finisher at .993 PPP.”
Dominique Jones, 6-4, G, South Florida
Jones, whose stock reportedly is on the rise, is another scorer: DraftExpress says he’s “both a high usage and high efficiency scorer, which is a rare combination to find.”
Pendergraft said Jones gets his points less by shooting well and more by getting to the basket. “He will find a way to score,” is how Pendergraft put it. “He’s such a great ballhandler. He’s so strong. He can get in the paint, and anytime you can get a guy in the paint [on] the dribble-drive, something good happens.”
Terrico White, 6-3, G, Ole Miss
Whits is a scorer like Jones but a better shooter. “Terrico White eventually is going to be a good enough shooter that the coach is going to run plays to get him open,” Pendergraft said. DraftExpress knocks White’s aggressiveness: “For a player with such excellent physical tools, you would have liked to see him get to the rim or draw more fouls than he was able to at Ole Miss.”
MC
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282 comments Add your comment
Big Ray
June 23rd, 2010
7:27 am
From Draftexpress.com:
West Coast Workout Swing Part 1: BDA Sports Los Angeles
May 13, 2010
The leading shot blocker in NCAA history, Jarvis Varnado is also looking to diversify his game here in Los Angeles, while preparing himself for a likely necessary transition from the center to power forward position at the next level.
Varnado is spending a lot of time here working on his jump shot, which looks to be showing some good progress, considering he took only 11 jumpers in his entire senior season. Varnado was hitting his shot pretty well from the 15-20 foot range on spot-up jumpers and pick-and-pops, while also showing pretty good form. The work he’s put in on this in a short period of time is impressive, and adding this ripple to his game will go a long way in helping him find a niche in the NBA.
Varnado had a tough match-up in the post going against Jerome Jordan, which led to some mixed results for his back-to-the-basket offense. Varnado showed nice agility and range on his moves, using a good variety of running hooks and turnaround jumpers, but at times Jordan’s length was just too smothering, not surprising given the 4 inches Varnado is giving up. This is a large reason while Varnado will likely have to move to the 4 in the pros, and the good agility he showed on his moves should help going against smaller defenders.
Defensively, this wasn’t really the best setting for us to gauge much about what Varnado will need to do at the next level, as how he will be able to defend stretch fours will be his biggest concern entering the pros, and there weren’t many opportunities for perimeter defense going against Jordan. He did a good job using his length to make things difficult in the post for him, however, and there’s little reason to believe Varnado’s shot blocking won’t translate to the next level.
Weighing just 195 pounds when he was a freshman, Varnado has done a great job adding weight to his frame in his four years of college, and it appears he’s been doing some more of that in the offseason, looking to be in the best shape of his career, and working on continuing to add lower and upper body strength.
Like Jordan, Varnado will compete for a spot in the late first round, but his stock too could fluctuate greatly over the next few weeks, where he could impress in workouts by knocking down mid-range shots, showing defensive versatility, and playing hard-nosed, aggressive basketball. Varnado’s rebounding and shot-blocking give him two NBA-ready skills already, and adding to that by becoming a reliable mid-range jump shooter and a more versatile inside-out defender should make it pretty easy for him to find a niche in the NBA.
Scott
June 23rd, 2010
7:31 am
You telling me that there aren’t 24 players in the WORLD that can’t help the Hawks right away !!??
O'Brien
June 23rd, 2010
7:34 am
Based on how our team is constructed, and the fact that we have a first time HC, I think we should draft a guy who is able to contribute right away if called upon.
I would stay away from the Center position. Chances are, those guys will take 2-3 years to fully develop, and we’ve seen guys like Thabeet, Aaron Gray and BJ Mullen who just haven’t panned out. I think we’re better off signing a guy like DJ Mbenga or Johan Petro in free agency and giving them a chance, rather than drafting a center and waiting for them to develop.
I think we should get a PF, and Booker would be my choice. We have seen what undersized PFs who have been drafted late can do (Amir Johnson, Carl Landry, Paul Milsap, DeJaun Blair), and I think Booker can provide minutes off the bench immediately.
drmaryb
June 23rd, 2010
7:52 am
Blue-Ray
(Clear Image)
What’s up with that Seurum? How many dang names does he post under?
Calm down Truth – Serum? Man, you attacking the man’s Character, but stick to the
Opinions! Don’t hate the Player – Hate the game.
MC & Blue-Ray are blogging ICONS and give us outstanding blog topics,
Passion, Fire, Perspective, Leadership, Stats, Facts, Intellectual Stimulation relating to the NBA and
most of all – a following of other veteran bloggers (like myself) and You too!
We don’t always agree with one-another, but we love and respect one-another!
Let’s keep it real! Real Fun! At the end of the day? We all want the
same thing! A Winner!
Truth Serum! Let’s Go!
drmaryb
June 23rd, 2010
8:01 am
Center – Piece!
At #24 you must take the Best Big available. Hopefully a 7 footer who can clog it, rebound it and block it!
Unless, you see MJ, Wade, Carmello or LeBron sitting at the #24 spot? You go with a fundamentally sound BIG who can do those three aforementioned things best!
We can get wings and things in FA! Role players are we are actually looking at from our pick selections at
#24 and #53
tony
June 23rd, 2010
8:05 am
What is wrong with some of you people? 6′4 is too small to play sg in the nba? That is completely illogical.
Ray Allen (sg) 6′5
Kirk Hinrich(sg) 6′3
Arron Affalo(sg) 6′5
Dwyane Wade(sg) 6′4
Ben Gordon(sg) 6′3
Should I go on? Use logic people.
drmaryb
June 23rd, 2010
8:22 am
Tony
Co-Sign that! Perimeter players have been very successful playing the PG/SG positions!
Didn’t someone in the Hawks front office, lament that CP3 was too small? That is a cop-out IF I ever heard one! Allen Iverson never allowed his size to keep him out of the paint either.
Nate Robinson, said it best, “You can scout energy!”.
I will add to that, “How do you judge the Heart of a man?”
K. Salinger
June 23rd, 2010
8:24 am
Ray I have to agree with truth serum. I dont normally blog here but read on occasion. You can find me on hoops if you are interested in my views.
I do notice that any criticism of Horford who is merely a good player, not a great one seems to solicit negative and demeaning response from you and other who seem to me is some type of idiotic cult following with Horford.
Ive looked at the numbers and I have to agree with the many voices here who say that Horford is a power forward who is very week from a defensive stand point and its impossible to win a championship with him as your center.
You called truth serum a hater for suggesting that Horford be traded and now you complain when he comes back at you with strong words. You reap what you sow. Ray.
Now I saying that I agree with the position that truth serum takes and would trade horford in a heart beat. Further i also read the Associated Press feature interview where after getting a feel for what horford views were wrote that Horford felt it would be better if the hawks got “a real center”, and allow him to move back to power forward.
For posting that link and sharing the Horford interview you again insulted truth serum rather than deal with what Horford is saying.
Finally I have also seen your tactics.Accuse every one who disagrees with the obvious view that the Hawks need to upgrade,(not compliment) defensive post play in order to advance, of being truth serum, In your arguments you prefer to attack the person and not the sound premise to which you believe that if you discredit the person no one with look at the views.
So before you begin to you that lame tactic, Let me say if you will be so kind as to post your email address I will email you mine.
This site has potential but let me encourage you to be more open,less narrow. Practice objectivity. Finally, Horford is little more than an average joe who averaged 13 pts in college, had Woodson run special plays for him to which he averaged 14 pts and his career average is 12pts.
12pts,9rbs and no defense from your center will get you 1 and done every time.
Im waiting for your email address.
Kevin
K. Salinger
June 23rd, 2010
8:37 am
excuse my syntax. that should read weak not week and the other correction is should be before you begin to use that lame….
have a nice day.
JoJo the Godfather
June 23rd, 2010
8:45 am
Saw a rumor (ESPN) where Portland was looking for a late 1st round pick and was offering the 34th pick and up to $3M cash. Hawks should jump all over that….I still like Dexter Pittman, Trevor Booker, Greivis Vasquez, and Sherron Collins.
Michael Cunningham
June 23rd, 2010
8:45 am
@truthspitter: “That’s the list and anyone that says otherwise is just as incompetent as the Hawks front office including Cunningboy”
i agree. you should probably be a GM. you might notice i mentioned there is another list forthcoming. who knows, perhaps some of the players you name will be on that list. if so, would my competence level surpass your reading comprehension?
drmaryb
June 23rd, 2010
8:48 am
As BIG as it Gets!
You can coach a lot of things, fundamentals, etc.
You can coach Size and Heart! Since, no man can judge a Heart? You have to judge the Size of a player!
Size matters. And, the Orlando Series screamed – We NEED size in the paint!
The Celtics got through with the size of: Perkins, Shrek & Sheed – only to find Gasol & a one-legged Bynum waiting in the paint! Perkins & Bynum injuries negated one another, so here goes the #1 to the #4 players.
We likewise, Need that same size to do the same!
Where’s the BEEF?
Ramon
June 23rd, 2010
8:51 am
Indiana might would take Bibby and Marvin for the number 10 pick. They’re really searching for an establishing PG, and some GMs still do like what Bibby brings to the table.
Bibby, Marvin, and #24 for #10 and Jeff Foster.
Tyrone Shoelaces
June 23rd, 2010
8:57 am
Get Hassan Whiteside.
Michael Cunningham
June 23rd, 2010
8:59 am
@truthspitter: oh, now i remember why i recognize your name. how could i forget the guy who once posted this inaccurate, self-righteous nonsense? but i am sure your info on draft picks is spot on, so i’ll give you a pass on your glaring lack of knowledge about the NBA salary cap.
“Your wrong, if the cap is going to be $56 million which has been reported then they will have 10.8 million to work with after they make Mo opt out. They currently have 47.6 million tied up for next year, if Mo opts out of his $2.5 million contract that will leave them with $45.1 mill or so on books. They will have $10.8 or so million to spend. They could sign Rudy Gay to a contract comparable to what Josh and Danny Granger are getting which started with about $10 there 1st year. They could then go over the cap to sign there own guy Joe. I hate when reporters, writers, and even the front office lie to fans, they are lying if they say what I type is not true I do my research.”
doc
June 23rd, 2010
9:05 am
ray:
“1. Actually, there is debate on how smart it is to trade an all-star player still on his rookie contract, when you can’t get anything even remotely of similar value (salaries have to match).”
no ray, there is no disagreement outside of saying it would be the stupidist thing the hawks could do straight up. it would not make sense to trade the guy who you get the most bang for your buck for unless you were including him with someone else to get similar value. straight up, it wont happen as i think there are few players at horford’s salary that can do as much as him or have such up side. no debate ray. i might add anyone directly arguing the fact is obsessed as well. stop responding and the individual will have to find a new horse to beat on which could bring more comic relief.
Progeny
June 23rd, 2010
9:14 am
Well, looking for value, I think Dominique Jones might be a safe and solid pick at 24, especially if JJ leaves town. To be honest I am very interested in our second round pick. Several mock drafts have Dexter Pittman being within our range. He is a hard worker with focus and good character. (His brother was murdered and has still kept it together enough to go through the workout process. His commitment to loosing weight is documented (draft express reports that he was over 400 pounds coming into college and is down to 303). I’ve thought for the past couple of months that the hawks need a really physical guy who is hard to match up with. doesn’t have to be a 7 footer, just a Glen Davis-ish, old school Elton Brand type of player, a guy who can carve out space. I think at pick 23 in the second round Pittman would be a good value.
i_am_soulstar
June 23rd, 2010
9:19 am
Ramon,
The Pacers don’t have any available cap space, so they’ll have to make some kind of deal to retool the roster. Why not go for Troy Murphy? 6′11, 245, veteran, averages a double-double. We’d be ferocious on the boards with he, Al, and Smoove in the front court.
Fantasy Island
June 23rd, 2010
9:20 am
“Your wrong, if the cap is going to be $56 million which has been reported then they will have 10.8 million to work with after they make Mo opt out. They currently have 47.6 million tied up for next year, if Mo opts out of his $2.5 million contract that will leave them with $45.1 mill or so on books. They will have $10.8 or so million to spend. They could sign Rudy Gay to a contract comparable to what Josh and Danny Granger are getting which started with about $10 there 1st year. They could then go over the cap to sign there own guy Joe. I hate when reporters, writers, and even the front office lie to fans, they are lying if they say what I type is not true I do my research.”
WHAT A WASTE OF INK! NONE OF THAT ADDRESSES THE HAWKS WEAKNESS IN THE MIDDLE. IT ADDS SCORERS BUT DOESNT STOP ANY ONE IN THE PAINT WHICH IS THE REASON THE HAWKS DID NOT GO FAR.
ADDRESS THE PROBLEM
i_am_soulstar
June 23rd, 2010
9:23 am
I’d take an established player over a pick any day, because you never know with these drafts. Smoove was the arguably the 2nd best player in the 2004 draft (behind Dwight Howard) and he was selected w/ the 17th pick.
darrell starks
June 23rd, 2010
9:28 am
M.C the hole year every one have been screaming we need a center and length in the paint now come draft i dont here the sound of a center, people are saying get the best player available, thats crazy and not logic at all when your talking about the 24# when this team is so desperate for a big man, IF RICK SUND DONT DRAFT A CENTER WITH THE 24# PICK THEN HE SHOULD BE FIRED.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!
Ramon
June 23rd, 2010
9:29 am
Doc, I wouldn’t trade Horford’s rookie contract for hardly anyone in the league. But I would trade Horford’s rookie contract (which only has ONE more season on it before he goes to over $13 mil) for a Hall of Fame caliber point guard, especially if it means tagging Marvin or someone else along with it to make the salaries match. Horford is a really good player. But I’m not one who believes he will be a better PF than Josh. As I said, Horford made the All Star game as a center. He wouldn’t even have been in the mentioning at the forward position. I’ve always said at most, MOST, I see Horford being a Carlos Boozer type. And yea that 20-10 will be great to have. But I’d rather have 20 points, 12 assists, and 2 steals out of my PG. There are quite a few PFs/Cs who can get you 8.5-10 rebounds. But I repeat Chris Paul is the only player (realistically) that I would trade Horford for. Its just my belief a team that has Paul, Joe, and Josh Smith on it will be one of the top defensive teams in the league.
Progeny
June 23rd, 2010
9:30 am
@i_am_soulstar
Troy Murphy makes more money per year than josh smith. We would NEVER take on that contract.
Ken Strickland
June 23rd, 2010
9:33 am
Some people get an idea in their heads and run with it no matter what, even though the facts prove them wrong. Take this obsession with thinking shot blocking is somehow the epitome of playing good DEF. All one with a clue has to do is follow the career of Marcus Camby, one of the NBA’s premiere shot blockers.
Look at how often he’s been traded over the last several yrs, and how little impact he’s had on his teams ability to win and play better DEF. The Denver situation should be all the evidence one needs to realize it takes more than the ability to block shots to be a good DEF player or team. Hell, Mark Eaton, Manute Bol and Gheorghe Muresan were 3 very tall, very slow and very unathletic premiere shot blockers that only a complete moron would consider good DEF players.
A premiere shot blocker would help compensate for MBibby’s matador approach to DEF, but it doesn’t mean your team or the shot blocker is good really defensively. Smoove is a good help defender, but his man DEF is below average. Howford isn’t as strong as Smoove on help DEF, but he’s a much better man defender. They compliment each other well, when not forced to defend PG’s and SG’s.
Progeny
June 23rd, 2010
9:37 am
@darrell starks
That’s the same mentality we had a couple years back and ended up with Sheldon Williams while passing on Brandon Roy. Come on. Don’t get infatuated by a guy who is 7 feet tall just because he’s 7 feet tall when better guys are available at the 24th pick. Thats why I think that Pittman kid would be a good value at pick 53. He’s not the answer to our prayers at Center but a intriguing prospect. Thats all you can hope for at the end of the second round.
lewis
June 23rd, 2010
9:38 am
too many names with truth in them.
too hard to follow.
I sincerely hope the Hawks give us one, up-tempo, offensively entertaining and defensively consistent season before the impending 2011 lockout which will no doubt void the majority of our current speculation.
NBA is in trouble.
i_am_soulstar
June 23rd, 2010
9:47 am
Al Jefferson can be had. The Timberwolves are ready to blow it up.
Progeny,
Actually, they both make about the same. Both pull in about 11 million I believe. Not that I’d want to trade Josh Smith for Troy Murphy, but we could definitely send some other pieces. Just saying.
All World
June 23rd, 2010
9:52 am
FSU’s Alabi is a good shooter and better defender. Was doubled-teamed and zoned in college ACC action but will be better in pros. Best free throw shooting big man in draft.
i_am_soulstar
June 23rd, 2010
9:53 am
Progeny,
I agree, everyone who’s just saying get a big no matter what, is either extremely optimistic, or just isn’t considering the history of bigs in the draft. Do some research. At #24, you have to go with the best player available regardless of position.
Jason Collins was as big as they come and still couldn’t hold his own against the more dominant NBA centers.
BigTimeTECHFan
June 23rd, 2010
9:58 am
We sould just pass on the draft and sign:
D Wade
LeBron James
C Bosh
C Boozer
Then we could start:
D Wade PG
L James SG
C Bosh C
A Hortford PF
J Smith SF
Then Bench
Boozer
Crawford
Teague
Bibby
M williams
ZaZa
That would be sweet lineup, should get Hawks past 2nd round in the east
Fantasy Island
June 23rd, 2010
9:58 am
One of the most meaningless stats was the double double With the exception of Rondo, neither the Lakers nor Boston had a top ten play with that stat during the regular season. Also if you subtract Howard , (Rondo and Nash are guards) none of the conference finalist feature a top ten double double player.
BLOCK SHOTS TOP 32 PLAYERS JOSH WAS #4, AL DID NOT MAKE THE LIST!
Al did not make the list
32 top shot blocker in the league
our center
not
on
the
LIST!
dap01
June 23rd, 2010
10:03 am
Ken Strickland: Who would you suggest we draft?
Fantasy Island
June 23rd, 2010
10:05 am
Here this is for you sautee and you Boo Ray!
THANKS FOR THE SHOUT SALINGER! AND THE SUPPORT CHECK YOUR PAGE
2009-10 BLOCKS LEADERS : Blocks Per Game
PLAYER NAME, TEAM NAME GP MPG BLK
PF BLKPG BLKP48M
BLK/PF
1 Dwight Howard , ORL
82 34.7 228 287 2.78 3.85 .79
2 Andrew Bogut , MIL
69 32.3 175 222 2.54 3.77 .79
3 Greg Oden , POR
21 23.9 48 84 2.29 4.59 .57
4 Josh Smith , ATL
81 35.4 172 240 2.12 2.88 .72
5 Brendan Haywood , DAL-WAS
77 30.6 158 209 2.05 3.22 .76
6 Marcus Camby , POR-LAC
74 31.3 146 161 1.97 3.03 .91
7 Chris Andersen , DEN
76 22.3 143 171 1.88 4.05 .84
8 Samuel Dalembert , PHI
82 25.9 151 252 1.84 3.41 .6
9 Pau Gasol , LAL
65 37.0 113 152 1.74 2.26 .74
10 Brook Lopez , NJN
82 36.9 139 251 1.7 2.2 .55
11 Kendrick Perkins , BOS
78 27.6 132 219 1.69 2.94 .6
12 JaVale McGee , WAS
60 16.1 101 122 1.68 5.01 .83
13 Roy Hibbert , IND
81 25.1 131 285 1.62 3.09 .46
14 Marc Gasol , MEM
69 35.8 109 254 1.58 2.12 .43
15 Tyrus Thomas , CHA-CHI
54 22.6 85 129 1.57 3.34 .66
16 Joakim Noah , CHI
64 30.1 100 198 1.56 2.49 .5
17 Emeka Okafor , NOH
82 28.9 127 218 1.55 2.57 .58
18 Anthony Randolph , GSW
33 22.7 51 92 1.54 3.27 .55
19 Tim Duncan , SAS
78 31.3 117 152 1.5 2.3 .77
20 Andrew Bynum , LAL
65 30.4 94 193 1.45 2.28 .49
21 Joel Przybilla , POR
30 22.7 43 95 1.43 3.03 .45
22 Erick Dampier , DAL
55 23.3 77 153 1.4 2.89 .5
23 Andrea Bargnani , TOR
80 35.0 111 215 1.39 1.9 .52
24 Joel Anthony , MIA
80 16.5 109 158 1.36 3.96 .69
25 Jermaine O’Neal , MIA
70 28.4 95 212 1.36 2.29 .45
26 Andris Biedrins , GSW
33 23.1 44 117 1.33 2.77 .38
27 * Serge Ibaka , OKC
73 18.1 97 194 1.33 3.52 .5
28 * Hasheem Thabeet , MEM
68 13.0 89 162 1.31 4.84 .55
29 Al Jefferson , MIN
76 32.4 98 205 1.29 1.91 .48
30 Ronny Turiaf , GSW
42 20.8 54 98 1.29 2.97 .55
31 * Taj Gibson , CHI
82 26.9 104 282 1.27 2.26 .37
32 Theo Ratliff , CHA-SAS
49 16.5 61 87 1.24 3.63 .7
Fantasy Island
June 23rd, 2010
10:08 am
ID TS FOOLISH TO THINK THAT JOSH IS ANYTHING BUT A 4. HE WILL NEVER BE A 3. AL WOULD BE A BETTER 3 THAN JOSH.
DICTIONARY
June 23rd, 2010
10:14 am
WORD
IGNORANT;
lack of knowledge or understanding, a blanket statement not supported with facts or evidence just opinions i.e:
Look at how often he’s been traded over the last several yrs, and how little impact he’s had on his teams ability to win and play better DEF. The Denver situation should be all the evidence one needs to realize it takes more than the ability to block shots to be a good DEF player or team. Hell, Mark Eaton, Manute Bol and Gheorghe Muresan were 3 very tall, very slow and very unathletic premiere shot blockers that only a complete moron would consider good DEF players.
A premiere shot blocker would help compensate for MBibby’s matador approach to DEF, but it doesn’t mean your team or the shot blocker is good really defensively. Smoove is a good help defender, but his man DEF is below average. Howford isn’t as strong as Smoove on help DEF, but he’s a much better man defender. They compliment each other well, when not forced to defend PG’s and SG’s.
No stats or reviewable evidence. Pure propaganda from one persons opinion
do it
June 23rd, 2010
10:18 am
greivis vasquez
d oit
June 23rd, 2010
10:19 am
greivis vasquez
drmaryb
June 23rd, 2010
10:23 am
Cousins
Everybody has one or two or t three & once you sign a multi-million dollar contract?
Hundreds!
I would pass on Cousins in the Lottery!
drmaryb
June 23rd, 2010
10:30 am
Cousins is Lazy!
And – so are mine.
Hawk n the Ham
June 23rd, 2010
10:32 am
Look at MC putting it down on the ‘Tooth-Spitter’!
bigdave
June 23rd, 2010
10:35 am
“bigdave, statements like yours are the very reason why we don’t have a championship team in Atlanta and the reason Atlanta is call the worse sports town in America.”
of course Tony.. im the reason. just like Lawal is a selfish player because of his low assist avg. not Techs offensive scheme. not his defined role. its b/c he’s just selfish.
“I beat you will be sweating in your seat like heck if Gain Lawal was at the free throw line with 2 second left in the game down 1 point?
im sure he’s “sweating in his seat” like me, on the bench, while Josh is at the line. he’s probably not in the game. no argument on needed improvement from the line. as i stated on the 17th:
“bigdave
June 17th, 2010
3:55 pm
not a lot of Lawal support i see. surprises me.
tough.. rebounds.. motor..
smh. we need toughness and heart.
he commits himself to increasing his free throw %”
so Tony.. don t fall victim to your sweeping statements.
newkid
June 23rd, 2010
10:38 am
MC, who is this guy Pendergraft, and what’s his track record in identifying talent?
doc
June 23rd, 2010
10:57 am
ramon, i agree with you and it is exactly what i said. straight up there are very few people that for the price give you what horford gives you. if you could get cp3 for horford and marvin and what you meant then i would consider it. unfortunately, you better have jj in hand before you pull the trigger because you essentially have put all your eggs in one basket and that would mean cp3 is playing without any weapons. that would mean we are sub 500 and looking at lottery again. three of your starers are gone and you have three point guards on your payroll.
sorry, ramon unless you get a big in the deal that can start one would be a fool to move horford. again, i dont see anyone of equal value straight up to come in and help the hawks right now at his position of equal value to make up for the loss of one of your best and consistent players on a 53 win team. people can belly ache all they want but horford is money in the bank and one of the imponderables at this junction and time. he is not the broken piece on this hawks team. the very short sighted or delerious say otherwise in the context of this team as a whole. not saying horfod doesnt have limitations but what frigging player doesnt/didnt except maybe MJ or kareem and they arent in the league any longer.
newk the same guy who gave us a bench player with our pick last year at 17. now why should we expect him to find us a rotational guy as a rookie at the 24th spot? yawn, wake me up when the draft is over.
Ken Strickland
June 23rd, 2010
11:07 am
DAP01-It would depend on several factors.
1-the teams assessment on the potential to resign JJ,
2-the teams assessment on the potential to resign or trade JChildress,
3-the teams assessment on its ability to sign a serviceable FA Big, like MJ MBenga. I’d much rather sign MBenga, who’s 7′, athletic and agile than drafting a project. We aren’t drafting high enough to expect to get a center capable of becoming an effective starter within the next few yrs, unless we’re insanely lucky.
4-The teams position on whether it wants to resign JCrawford.
5-The teams position on whether keeping AHorford at Center will hinder it’s ability to resign him.
While everyone is giving their 2 cents worth on who we should draft, there hasn’t been enough thought given to certain decisions the team has to make before making the selection. Why draft a center project if your greatest need is to replace JJ, and you can get a young center through free agency?
On the other hand, if you can get a replacement for JJ through FA, as well as a young FA center, why not draft a SF or PF. Don’t rule out a possible JSmith trade next yr for a starting center that will allow AHorford to move to PF, which just might be the key to persuading him to resign.
Bottomline, until any, or all, of these questions are answered, I don’t have a clue who I’d draft.
Hawks73
June 23rd, 2010
11:14 am
Have any of you guys considered that the Hawks may select the most sign-able player at their slotted pick? I mean with all the other discount bargain moves this joke of ownership group has made, has anyone stopped to consider this possibility?
Big Ray
June 23rd, 2010
11:37 am
drmaryb ,
I don’t know what precisely that cat’s problem is. Whatever it is, he has to deal with it on his own time.
Doc ,
I know, but I allow for the idea that there is some debate. Why not? We all have our opinions. Some of us are GROWN UP enough to debate them like intellectuals.
Some have to post under other names to defend their opinions and insult laden falsehoods. It is what it is.
N.D.T.K.A.
June 23rd, 2010
11:44 am
The big men available for the Hawks are either limited in ability or are too small to matter against most of the NBA bigs. Lance Stephenson or Damion James would be very good picks for the Hawks as day one contributors and as rotational player at the 2 or 3. Even the bigs the Hawks would have to trade up for like Hassan Whiteside is a project and weighs only about 235 lbs for a 7 footer. Whose to say if a guy like Darren Collison had been drafted by the Hawks would he not be in the same shape as Jeff Teague under the developement of Woodson? Will the Hawks develop whoever they draft with the intentions of allowing the player to contribute this season? Hawks need to get an athletic big to compete with the likes of D. Howard. That is a must. Free agency maybe the way to go in this regard. Hawks should think about guys like Dexter Pittman or Jerome Jordan in the second round as developemental backup center. Both have NBA bodies and can bang and rebound with NBA bigs. Stephenson and James maybe gone by Hawks pick.
Ramon
June 23rd, 2010
11:47 am
Doc, I agree that you have to know you have someone who can man the C position with that deal. And you have to know Joe is going to re-sign. I’ve said for a while the only way you trade Josh or Horford is if its from someone who you know is clearly better than either. Josh is my favorite player on the team, but I would ship him out for Chris Paul also. I just look at 5 or 6 years down the line when Paul is still able to guide a team. The Hornets team he took into the playoffs really didn’t have much. David West is overrated, Chandler only caught the occasional lob pass. And Peja was on one leg. The Hawks biggest problem hasn’t been the defense in the post. Their biggest problem has been the defense on the perimeter.
Big Ray
June 23rd, 2010
11:51 am
Ramon
Such a well-thought out post clearly separates you from an individual with an inane agenda.
I understand what you’re saying about Chris Paul. My only hesitation would be if CP3 can get fully back to his old self, and if he could maintain that health. Other than that, he’s a superstar, plain and clear.
I quibble with one tiny detail. I believe you said that you figured a team with CP3, JJ, and Josh Smith would be one of the to defensive teams in the league. I’d say that this would make us one of the top OFFENSIVE teams in the league. We would still then need to find a serviceable, if not good center with some good size, as Zaza would be the only true center type under contract still.
So if we did a deal like that, who would we add in the center spot, and how would we get them? Interested in your thoughts on the matter. The next question is who steps into the SF spot vacated by Marvin Williams? I have no issues with the way you’re thinking, I just wonder what your complete thought on the subject is.
For center, I wouldn’t mind grabbing Tyson Chandler, but he may cost more than the Hawks are willing to pay. For the SF spot, I’d like to sign both Ronnie Brewer (very good defender) and Anthony Morrow to come off the bench as a sniper at the SG spot.
JSS
June 23rd, 2010
11:53 am
@ drmaryb…
I thought that the Orlando series showed that this team had no idea of the importance of perimeter or transition defense… Just my opinion…
@ Grandad…
Thanks for putting the Kibosh on that Cole Aldrich suggestion… He’s good college player…