Atlanta Hawks: Crawford, cash and a mysterious Frenchman
Crawford to Hawks.
When the night was over the Hawks had made a trade, saved some cash, earned some additional cash and drafted Xavier guard Jordan Crawford and Pape Sy, a mysterious prospect from France.
First, the deal on Crawford and the cash. He was one of a handful of players the Hawks liked who were still on the board. They weren’t sure he would be there if they traded down but had three other players in mind if he wasn’t (one of them was Dominique Jones, who was picked at No. 25).
Rick Sund said Atlanta had the “luxury” of deciding on a shooter, wing, guard or a big project center.
“We decided to go with the best available player,” he said.
Moving down three spots in the first round saves the Hawks about $190,000 for the two guaranteed years of Crawford’s contract. They also sold the rights to German center Tibor Pleiss to Oklahoma City for close to $3 million, the maximum amount allowable under salary-cap rules.
While the Hawks could have selected a project center or wing with that pick, Sund suggested the money earned from selling the pick would be used to add proven players to the roster.
“I think we need more veterans,” he said. “We are one of the youngest teams in the league still. I think we need to fill out the rest of the roster with veterans.”
Atlanta selected Texas forward Damion James with the No. 24 pick and traded him to the Nets for the second of their first-round picks (No. 27 overall) and their second-round pick (No. 31). The Nets selected Crawford for the Hawks at No. 27 and Pleiss at No. 31.
Sund said Crawford is a shooter and scorer. He said the Hawks didn’t make the pick with the thought of losing J.J. but acknowledged he could provide a bit of insurance
“The [27th pick] is not going to replace Joe,” Sund said. “[Crawford] does give us some options. But that didn’t enter into our analysis at all.”
Crawford led the Atlantic 10 in scoring but might have gained his most fame for dunking on LeBron James.
“People always bring it up, but I don’t really like talking about it because I don’t like living in the past,” Crawford said by phone.
And now about this Pape Sy dude. When he came in for a Hawks workout, so little info was available about him that no one could come up with a bio or detailed statistics. Not only was he not included in any of the mock drafts, there didn’t seem to be any evaluations of the guy out there. I saw him listed as 6-7 in one place, 6-10 in another.
But Atlanta’s European scouts saw Sy playing for Le Havre in France’s Pro A League. So Sy came in for a workout–paying his own way, according to L.D.
“I’d never heard of him,” Drew said.
Sy was in a workout session with Darington Hobson and Stanley Robinson.
“I thought those guys would eat him up,” Drew said. “But this guy challenged those guys. He didn’t back down.”
Drew liked Sy so much that he was nervous other teams would figure out his potential. The Hawks weren’t sure if Sy had worked out for any other teams.
“I was very impressed with him,” L.D. said.
Drew said he thinks Sy is long enough to play center as well as power forward can play both the wing and power forward.
– Couple Chills notes: The reports about Washington negotiating with him are false because, as I said, he can’t talk to another team without permission from the Hawks. Also, the Hawks officially extended the qualifying offer of $4.8 million to retain Josh’s rights and the ability to match any offers he receives as a restricted free agent.
MC
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215 comments Add your comment
ryan
June 25th, 2010
9:21 am
I think the Pape Sy gets traded in package deal because you can not have this many forwards there just no room. I think it was good they got cash now they can use it to clear cap space or resign Joe Johnson.
Chicken Little
June 25th, 2010
9:22 am
The sky is falling! The sky is falling!
The Hawks didn’t draft the player I wanted them to draft.
The sky is falling! The sky is falling!
Big Ray
June 25th, 2010
9:33 am
Interesting. I didn’t think Pape Sy was all that big when he walked up to the podium. Either that, or Adam Silver is a tall guy.
Larry Drew likes the kid, was “impressed” by him. Hmmmm.
Long enough to play some center? He’s got to be at least Boris Diaw’s height with a huge wingspan for that to be possible.
Nobody seems to know anything about him. I’m very curious…
Get Real
June 25th, 2010
9:35 am
You guys sound like sissies! Shelden Williams, Marvin Williams and Acie Law are bad draft nights! Childress too since he isn’t here!
Sund just got a scorer and 3 million in cash to spend on a veteran, how in the hell is that a bad draft night? None of you idiots know anything about international players anyway.
Sund did a good job last night period.
Steve Shelby
June 25th, 2010
9:44 am
Hawks draft success?? Call me crazy but how does Jeff Schultz celebrate the Hawk’s draft when… they pass on the guy they rally wanted, to pick a guy whom they hoped to be able to trade, 3 picks later, for the same guy they said they wanted in the first place plus another pick. They could have had their guy 3 picks earlier, except now they save an estimated $190k in salary. With the new pick, they choose the wrong (Pleiss instead of Alabi) ‘big man’ (something that they, really, really need!) only to sell that pick for more cash ($3 mil). Then, with their final pick they get a player from… Senegal? This is worth celebrating?
Sautee
June 25th, 2010
9:44 am
It’s funny to me how a couple of weeks ago, there was a lot of speculation, based on Pendergraph’s comments, that we would sell our 1st rounder. People were up in arms.
Sund makes a sensible trade down and gains an extra pick. He sells THAT pick and keeps his 1st. He got the best of both scenarios. For THAT he’s being roasted?
We got a player who fills a need. Let’s hope he pans out, like we would be hoping ANY player picked 27th pans out.
This blog has lots of panties in a wad over nothing.
Swingman912
June 25th, 2010
9:57 am
You idiots who think this wasn’t a good draft for the Hawks, are ignorant. Us taking frail body Whiteside or mechanical bad foot Alabi would have made us spend money on lifetime back up Centers. If they were the best available, then why didnt either of them go until the second round??? Others teams would have at least snatched them up for trade bait….No matter what Sund said, Crawford’s a scorer, and in the event JJ leaves, Jamal would get the start and Jordan would take his role as scorer off the bench. They may not get the production that Crawford had last year, but with a new offense in place, we wont need as much. Plus $3mil for the 31st pick. In case you’re unaware of the financial situation, but money is something we definitely need, not project C’s that end up like Priest Lauderdale……..Good moves, and they’re not done…….1…………….CHUUUUUUUUCH
Just-A-Thought
June 25th, 2010
9:57 am
So why didn’t they draft the big guy from Texas…….I think his name is Pittman. He a big strong kid who could stand to lose a 25 LBS, but he could be a very servicable center.
cp
June 25th, 2010
10:08 am
Can we get some more info on Sy. How tall is he really and whats his wingspan. He didn’t look very big to me either. He might be a steal. I think the kid comes over this year. I don’t see him paying his own way to workout for the Hawks only to go back to France. I see some teams are announcing some guys they have for the summer league. It would be nice to know who we are picking up to play.
Truth-Serum
June 25th, 2010
10:12 am
NBADraft.net
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Updated Jun 25, 2010 6:15 AM ET
Another year, another crazy draft.
Thursday, June 24, 2010, will go down as the day John Wall was officially drafted and a million trades – none as substantial as rumors suggested – were made. Picks were swapped left and right, a general manager was fired, and it was a mess trying to sort it all out.
NBA DRAFT
NBA draft
John Wall was the first pick of the NBA draft. Then what happened?
* Draft Tracker: Check out every pick
* Goodman: Draft winners, losers
But after digging through the final results of draft day, we’ve come out with a set of winners and losers.
But it’s easiest to break it down team-by-team:
Atlanta Hawks: C-plus
Picks: Jordan Crawford (27), Pape Sy (53)
Neither of these players were tremendous value picks, but both have the potential to be good contributors down the road. Crawford is a bit of a redundancy with Jamal Crawford, an eerily similar scoring combo guard, already on the roster. But if Joe Johnson leaves, as many have speculated, there will be enough playing time available that Crawford could find a rotation spot, too. Sy is a project, but if he’s left abroad for a few years, he could be a nice point-forward type one day. The Hawks get a bonus plus on their grade for a trade that got them No. 27 and No. 31 (which they traded to Oklahoma City) for No. 24, even if they didn’t use the picks perfectly.
Grandad
June 25th, 2010
10:18 am
I predict we regret selling Pau Gasol / whoops = T.Pleiss.
-out-
crabapplejoe
June 25th, 2010
10:21 am
The Hawks draft Poppy Seed a 6′1 or 6′7 PG, PF, or C who nobody but JSS has ever heard of……that’s gonna put some butts into the seats next year…LMAO at the stupidity of this team’s management.
Ced
June 25th, 2010
10:25 am
Stop complaining! Until we get the finished product and see the team on the court we should hold back on the complaints. Im holding out hope that we will make a move or two that will be benificial and make us a top tier team. We need to do something to keep up with all the moving around that is sure to happen when free agency starts. Even if we keep Joe we still need to be creative in adding a new piece and if we don’t keep him we most definitely need to do something to fill that hole, something significant. But if we don’t make any breath taking moves Im going to hold my complaints and wait until the season starts and see if there was a method to the madness, as we all should do.
Mitch
June 25th, 2010
10:25 am
Hawks International—A String of Strikeouts?
Let’s start with perhaps one of the greatest blunders in Hawks’ history:
1. 2001 The Hawks draft C Pao Gasol of Spain (#3 of Rd. 1) and trade him to the Grizzlies for Shareef Abdul-Rahim.
2. 2002 The Hawks draft C David Anderson (Rd. 2) of Australia who is now playing for the Houston Rockets (2009-2010 stats: 13.6 min/g; 5.8 ppg; 45% 2FG; 35% 3FG; 3.3 rpg.).
3. 2004 The Hawks draft F Viktor Sanikidze (Rd. 2) of Georgia who plays for La Fortezza Bologna (Italy). 2009-2010 stats: 21 mpg; 6.9 ppg; 62% 2FG; 40% 3FG; 5.6 rpg.
4. 2005 The Hawks draft G Cenk Akydol (Rd. 2) of Turkey who plays for Alv Avellino (Italy). 2009-2010 stats: 25.6 mpg; 11.8 ppg; 48% 2FG; 40% 3FG; 85% FT; 1.1 apg.
5. 2009 The Hawks draft G Sergiy Gladyr of Ukraine who plays for Suzuki Ki Maresa (Spain). 2009-2010 stats; 19.4 mpg; 10.0 ppg; 56% 2FG; 34% 3FG; 87% FT; 1.0 apg.
6. 2010 The Hawks draft G Pape Sy of Senegal who plays for Le Havre (France). 2009-2010 stats: 14.1 mpg; 5.2 ppg; 55% 2FG; 41% 3FG; 1.7 rpg; 1.3/1.2 a/to ratio pg.
Will any of these players ever don a Hawks’ uniform, let alone make an impact?
“Insanity is making the same mistake over and over again,” (Albert Einstein)
Truth-Serum
June 25th, 2010
10:27 am
Championships are won in the off-season from the management down. Yes, you can see where a team is going by the direction it is traveling. Hawks are headed south.
skyhawk
June 25th, 2010
10:32 am
Teague and Jordan Crawford in the same back court could be fun to back court if they ever live up to hype.
Jamal, JJ, Bibby, and Mo Evans all have been excellent contributors but ASG’s motives are more fiscal.
I didn’t really understand the 2nd round strategy or selection. I kind of find it disgusting that our GM believes in 6′7 center and signing veterans. When other GMs are clearing cap space trying to sign 2-3 high priced Free Agents. We’re not that that far off ASG don’t give up now.
PG Teague JaCrawford
SG JChill JaCrawford JoCrawford
SF JSmoove JChill
PF C.Bosh JSmoove Horford
C Horford Ty Chandler
N.D.T.K.A.
June 25th, 2010
10:33 am
Maybe Jordan Crawford is a good pick, no arguments there. Has a history of putting up numbers in college at a competitive college program that preaches defense. What I don’t understand in watching the other teams draft is that a lot of teams such as Washington, OKC, Miami,Sacramento, and even the LA Clippers got a lot more athletic and bigger up front. Hawks are a team that depends on a combination of athleticism, speed and size to win basketball games. Would it not have behooved the Hawks to take a flyer on a guy like Whiteside or another big who could get up and down the floor? Did not Drew say the Hawks would get up and down the floor more this season? Hawks had trouble this season with OKC because of OKC’s athleticism which matched the Hawks. ZaZa at backup center is not very athletic, he is purely a hustle guy who regressed somewhat this season. Teams like the Spurs, draft players from overseas and find diamonds because they know how to develop talent and have the luxury of waiting on players. For example Spurs have Tiago Splitter coming over this year, he will start at power forward besides Tim Duncan this season and need I say anything about Dejuan Blair. Why hire a coach and even a GM who cannot find and develop talent? Hawks need to get bigger up front? What free agent center out there can run, rebound, and defend in Drew’s new system? There was no liability in drafting Whiteside or Alabi? I keep thinking about guys in the league who are now starters and getting meaningful minutes in the NBA who were drafted in the second round: Gilbert Arenas, Rashard Lewis, Carlos Boozer, Montae Ellis, Anderson Varejao and Carl Landry. Hawks can neither afford or attract any of these guys? So why not draft and develop your own talent? If the Hawks are working under budget constraints should we not expect them to challenge the coach to develop young or 2nd round talent? Why not find guys for Drew’s system? The point is for the Hawks not to take any steps backwards. When you see slow cheap indecision as the norm as a fan you question everything. Hawks still need size up front and the question remains who can the Hawks bring in that will cost less than a second round draft pick that will be younger, coachable, and more athletic?
BigTimeTECHFan
June 25th, 2010
10:36 am
Hawks did nice – They only wanted one player from this draft ended up with Crawford who’s a very nice player and some extra cash.
We may lose JJ and I don’t think we will get D Wade or Lebron.
If JJ leaves, Jamal Crawford can start at 2 guard and can average 25 points a game. not bad.
Plus we have extra money to sign a 2 tier Free Agent (not Bosh, James, Wade, Boozer).
Player like:
Udonis Haslem ( very nice pickup for Hawks, would be banger inside)
Memo Okur – (very nice player, can step outside and open up paint for J Smith and Hortford)
or offer the likes of Bibby, M Williams for Sign and trade deal for Bosh, Boozer, Ginobli types.
lot of things can happen, Hawks did nothing last night to hurt them, drafted a player that a pretty good player in Crawford.
Tyrone Shoelaces
June 25th, 2010
10:38 am
Attention all DOPESMOKERS: Chris Bosh is NOT coming to Atlanta, EVER!
Tyrone Shoelaces
June 25th, 2010
10:42 am
Well except for road games….
Mike in Marietta
June 25th, 2010
10:42 am
Isnt this the kid that dunked over Lebron a couple summers ago?
Tyrone Shoelaces
June 25th, 2010
10:44 am
youre ALL over it, aint ya mike?
dap01
June 25th, 2010
10:47 am
I think that it is great that the Hawks got $3.0 million in cash. That is great.
Who needs a 7 foot center who is a good athlete? Heck he may not even be good for a year or two. Who needs to worry about a year or two from now? We have Joe Smith.
Other teams simply don’t understand the NBA like the Hawks, they think that you need players.
Silly other teams.
THE HAWKS SUCK!
Terrell
June 25th, 2010
10:52 am
Najeh Davenpoop,
You thought one us drafting Jo. Crawford to probably trade Ja. Crawforod has just one hole in it. We know we need a big center. There is nobody in the league that would worth packaging Ja. Crawford and somebody else to get. We are better off with picking up a so-so center in free agency. This is Jamal Crawford’s final year in his contract and he comes off our books if we choose to let him go.
Ken Strickland
Horfod has made it clear that he would prefer playing the PF position as opposed to the center position. We still need a big man.
Terrell
June 25th, 2010
10:56 am
dap01
All the top centers in this draft are projects with upside. They are not pro ready, so why spend the money on them when the demand is to win and win now? You use the extra $3 million to pick up a guy who can contribute in the rotation right away.
ASHCAN.
June 25th, 2010
11:04 am
Ms dee you let false spitter rail you in.You can tell by his comments he wanted to start something to get a response from someone.Let him be hatred and dumb by his/herself.
BigCaliDawg
June 25th, 2010
11:06 am
This was written by Chris Willis on 6.15.10. Apparently, the Hawks worked out Sy twice…..so they must have liked somethin’. He is listed anywhere from 6′3″ to 6′7″. Yet another SF, SG.
We should just play organized games of 21.
Here it goes…..
Day two of Atlanta Hawks 2010 NBA Draft Work Outs. Today three players are supposed to work out highlighted by UConn Small Forward Stanley Robinson. New Mexico Small Forward Darington Hobson is also set to attend along with Pape Sy a small forward from France.
Atlanta Hawks Draft Work Out Schedule
Day 1 Work Out Preview
Individual Day 2 Player Breakdowns after the Jump
Darington Hobson
Six Foot Seven inch Small Forward from New Mexico. He is a JUCO player that only spent one season at New Mexico. He is versatile and athletic with a 6′9″ wingspan. His areas to improve are his weight as he is slightly built at 205 pounds. He lacks consistency in his long range perimeter game but has done enough to stay as a late first round possibility.
Stanley Robinson
Robinson is the biggest name on the docket for the June 15th workout. He is intriguing as well because he is an all world athlete. He possesses the ability and skill to be a nice player but sometimes has shown a lack of focus and has been very inconsistent. He is the type of player that could score 25 points on game and then 2 the next for no apparent reason. He projects as mid to late first round and I would be surprised if he fell into the second round. Someone will take a chance on all of that athletic ability.
Pape Sy
Sy is a six foot seven inch small forward from France.
JoJo the Godfather
June 25th, 2010
11:11 am
We have 9 players under contract: Teague/Bibby/Ja. Crawford/Jo. Crawford/Evans/Williams/Smith/Horford/Pachulia.
We also hold the restricted rights to Josh Childress, the bird rights to Joe Johnson, and the contractual rights to our current and former second round picks.
Our roster is currently pretty full. If we’re going to add a couple free agents and try to re-sign (or trade for players) Childress & Johnson, then our roster is full.
JSS
June 25th, 2010
11:13 am
@ Crapapple…
I hope you and Big Ben are enjoying your vacation on Lake Oconee…
Manny
June 25th, 2010
11:23 am
I don’t get the Pape Sy pick. Maybe you didn’t want to draft a center, but there are limited chances of getting a good FA center. But you picked Jordan Crawford. A guard. And some money. And another forward that’s not ready to play in the NBA.
I don’t get it. Pape Sy isn’t trade bait. He’s not going to play for you. We’re rich in forwards. We have no NBA center. We have a PF that does his best (God Bless him) and a couple of projects that isn’t working out. Pape Sy?
The Hawks doesn’t want to win. They want to run the team down so it can be attractive to sell. Winning 53 games and getting better just wasn’t in the plan, so they fired the coach that did that grievous offense. They said that they needed a different voice- then hired the same old voice that’s been there and just elevated him.
And you know what happened? The media did something that I thought wouldn’t be done: They almost completely ignored it! That’s even worse than going ballistic! Larry Drew’s hire was a non-story that showed the irrelevance of a team that went to the playoffs 3 consecutive years and won over 50 games that last year. They thought “Shoot! Since they don’t WANT to win, why should we cover them?”
This isn’t building. This is tearing down. This is laughingstock stuff!
We are going to remember Mike Woodson’s time with the Hawks with great fondness and longing. People had their “Fire Woody!” chants going and blaming him for everything wrong with this team- they are going to wish that Mike Woodson would have stayed and that the Spirit didn’t listen to them.
In short, I do not wish for the upcoming season. I hope that they sell the team to someone who can afford it.
ASHCAN.
June 25th, 2010
11:24 am
Ms Dee i think you ran those fake basketball wannabees off the keyboard.I think this was a good draft considering there(Hawks management)not finish, mentioning there looking for prooven veteran help.Free agent starts july 1st so before we slam the hawks lets wait and see what they do then.
O'Brien
June 25th, 2010
11:28 am
From what I’ve been reading, fans are not complaining that they drafted Crawford instead of a big. Fans are complaining because they sold the #31 pick instead of drafting a big.
However, from a business standpoint, it was a great move. If the Hawks had drafted Crawford at #24, most people would have been okay with that. Instead, the Hawks got Crawford, made $3 mil, and saved $180K or so. I am okay with the move, under one condition. Use that money to improve the product on the court.
My recommendation to my fellow bloggers would be to wait and see what other moves Sund makes this offseason. What if he goes out and signs Haywood to the mid-level? Or he trades Jamal for a veteran center? Would it have mattered who they took at #31? Nobody will even remember #31.
Hopefully Sund and the ASG will spend the money to get the veterans they have mentioned on multiple occasions (not over the hill guys).
Ray,
Sy and Drew has me confused. He has played some minutes at guard, and he is listed at 6’7”. But Drew said he can play some PF and Center?
Manny
June 25th, 2010
11:30 am
What veteran help can we get in Free Agency? With those FAs out there, who fits well with the Hawks and who can we afford? And who would want to come here? Jordan Crawford was a good pick, but we’re not in consideration for anyone who can help us beat the Magic. We have no strong man inside. Who are we going to get in free agency that’s going to help us beat them?
Nick C
June 25th, 2010
11:33 am
I doubt Joe Johnson sticks around. Jamal Crawford replaces JJ as a starter and Jordan Crawford comes in off the bench. Hawks are hedging their bet that JJ doesn’t come back. Sy seems like a project because the front office doesn’t want to put forth the money for a quality center.
crabapplejoe
June 25th, 2010
11:37 am
@JSS….I’m a Lake Lanier kinda guy…..never been on Lake Oconee. I was just listening to Brandon & Woolvey on 790 the Zone. They spent about 20 minutes joking about the Hawks picking Poppy Seed….one even went so far as to say he didn’t believe that Poppy Seed really existed. When your home sports radio station makes a mockery of your draft you have problems as an organization.
The Face of Ignorance
June 25th, 2010
11:38 am
PG Teague JaCrawford
SG JChill JaCrawford JoCrawford
SF JSmoove JChill
PF C.Bosh JSmoove Horford
C Horford Ty Chandler
Smoove is no 3 and horford is no 5 (as he himself has said), Bosh aint coming here.
Even if he did what you have is still a very weak defense under the basket that wont be able to stop anyone when it counts.
Stop publishing stupid aysse shyyte like this, please.
Nick C
June 25th, 2010
11:40 am
Here’s the stats on Sy from LeHavre for the 2009/2010 season:
In 30 games, he averaged 14.2 min/game, scored 5.2 pts/game, 54.7% FG avg, shot 41.4% from 3 pt land, 71% from the line.
I’m not exactly impressed with those stats in EuroBasketball league.
Section 303
June 25th, 2010
11:43 am
I just heard Sekou interviewed on 790 The Zone. I have to say, I disagree with him about Jordan Crawford. Sekou basically dismissed Jordan Crawford as a nonfactor this year. He said people would be “kidding themselves” if they thought otherwise.
First, I agree that there is almost no chance Crawford comes in and wins Rookie of the Year. But, I think he could contribute. The guy can score. If he comes in here and shoots the ball like he did last year at Xavier, then he could get some time on the floor.
I’m not dancing in the streets because Crawford is here, but I’m not going to just dismiss him, either. I think Sekou is not giving him enough credit.
Co-sign!
June 25th, 2010
11:44 am
Manny
June 25th, 2010
11:23 am
Mitch
June 25th, 2010
10:25 am
The Face of Ignorance
June 25th, 2010
11:38 am
J.J.M.
June 25th, 2010
11:45 am
Im still wondering why people keep saying we have a center in al horford when hes clearly an power forward…why do you want to keep him as center so that howard can keep destroying him?
Co-sign!
June 25th, 2010
11:46 am
J.J.M.
June 25th, 2010
11:45 am
Horford dont stop anybody either!
Mike is back
June 25th, 2010
11:53 am
These guys take frugality to a new level.
Nevertheless, if you can get 3mil for a project second ROUND pick, you have at leased maximize your return on that pick.
If You have a legit young center…that deal makes since…we no that is not the case with the Hawks.
The word on Orton is…he is projected to have less skill than RandMo.
I would have taken the Kid out of FSU or Whitehead with that pick. I will just have to see what these cheepies do in FA.
They drafted as though they are preparing for the post JJ era. I will have to mercifully wait to see how this all plays out.
@MsDee and @OB, I agree you in theory…I like the moxie you are showing…standing your ground on this draft. If IT wasn’t for the dubious past of ASG…I would feel the same way.
That is what I like about this blog…doing the darkest hours…someone always step up to carry the torch for team. Keep doing yo thing folks…PEACE OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@ASG, please sell the daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaam team,”ALREADY!” HEH HEH
ToeKnee
June 25th, 2010
11:53 am
Looking back at some posts on Real;GM from April there was talk of the Hawks trying to sell their first round pick for 3Million to save cash for Joe. Also, it says they were looking to hire a coach for cheaper to also save money for Joe. This report has been out since April and it ended up working out pretty well, as a fan how can you complain? We were able to get a pretty good coach for the price, Drew has NBA experience, point guard specialist, and knows the team well, and players like him including Horford; and were able to get a solid 1st round pick in Jordan Crwaford AND still sell a second round pick for the 3million. And Pape Sy is the underdog of the draft.WHO IS THIS GUY??WHY IS HE SO HAPPY TO BE ON THE HAWKS??I LOVE IT!!!!!HE PAID HIS OWN WAY TO GET HERE!!HE WAS AT THE DRAFT!!!!! SERIOUSLY SOMEONE TELL ME WHY THIS GUY WAS AT THE DRAFT!!ITS INCREDIBLE, I WILL BE FOLLOWING HIM CLOSELY. Best of luck to you Pape Sy. We got a good 1st round pick, a prospect in the 2nd, and saved cash to try and keep Joe, hard to complain.
Go Hawks!
JoJo the Godfather
June 25th, 2010
11:53 am
(In my opinion) the hawks need to add: a starting PG, a starting SG, a back up SF, a back up C, and a 5th big (PF or C).
The assets I would use to make it happen: Bibby, Evans, Johnson, Childress, the MLE, the bi-annual, and veteran minimum contracts.
I’d like to see Teague, Ja. Crawford & Jo. Crawford as the back-up guards this year (part of a 5-guard rotation). All 3 can handle PG duties, but none of the 3 should be starting at PG or SG for a playoff team.
D Cal
June 25th, 2010
12:00 pm
I actually thought we were going to at least get Brian Zoubek from Duke with our last pick. Sund, we can still sign him as a UDFA. You can make this day up by getting Zoubek or signing Brendan Haywood. GET TO IT, SUND!!
darrell starks
June 25th, 2010
12:01 pm
For all you people on here who is stick up for this owner ship and gm, SHOULD BE A DAM SHAME OF YOUR SELF WITH THIS PIECE SH!T THAT WAS DISPLAYED LAST NIGHT.
In what way does any of the draft picks benefit the hawks?
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!
darrell starks
June 25th, 2010
12:03 pm
Owner ship need 2 sale the team period.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!
Astro Joe
June 25th, 2010
12:04 pm
I’m loving that we drafted a point forward who can play PF AND C. WOW! 4 positions covered by one guy at #53… talk about cost savings, he can sit on the bench and fill 4 seats. ASG can go with 10 players, knowing that Poopsey (oops), I mean Pape Sy will handle roster slots 10-13. COOL!
MC, now that the draft is behind us, do you expect any news on Drew’s coaching staff in the next few days? Or can Pape Sy handle that too?
Manny
June 25th, 2010
12:06 pm
OK, I’m trying to be optimistic here. This is a best-case scenario for the Hawks given how it went this year.
OK, Joe Johnson is gone. You sign and trade him. To the West Coast. You take that money and get that Channing Frye kid from Phoenix. And work with him on defense.
Why Channing? Because he’s an offensive threat that can shoot away from the basket. And he have a nice 3-point shot. And he can run and gun. And he’s not skinny. Also, check on Tyson Chandler to see if his wheel will ever get good enough to play and stay healthy. If so, he may be the Hawks’ Troy Glaus. Any of these guys can do well at center and move Al Horford to PF. That front court would be scary.
OK, now on to the backcourt. I agree that Jordan Crawford isn’t going to help you much this year. He should get some touches and minutes throughout the season, though- but not significant. And Joe Johnson’s gone, which may be a good thing. Here’s what I would do:
Send Josh Childress a copy of the Financial Times or Wall Street Journal. He definitely isn’t going to play for Greece next year, so make sure he stays here. Why? Because he’s 27, 6-8 and can is a combo guard. He can give relief for Jamal Crawford and Jeff Teague (Mike Bibby should come off the bench.) Or he can be your #2 guard and platoon.
That may be a nice move because people beat the Hawks with speedy PGs and big men, playing inside-out basketball. If we can get some defensive pressure on the PG, an athletic, busy center can frustrate a big man.
So if I see them talking to Channing and/or Tyson and getting in that mix, I would actually be kinda pleased.
The Big Guy
June 25th, 2010
12:20 pm
Wow, terrible draft in my opinion. The best player we picked, Tibor Pleiss, we traded for cash…cold hard cash. Wow, that kid is going to be a beast and we just let him walk out the door. I like LD’s statement on Pape Sy:
“He wouldn’t back down, he really challenged them.”
Why the !#@$ did we not draft one of the guys he was “challenging” then?! Doesn’t that imply the other players were better?! Good God this is awful. ASG sure made a great hire to keep their costs low in Sund, but wow, are we just destined to screw up drafts?