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
The Truth
June 25th, 2010
12:25 pm
Just food for thought: There are two kinds of teams in the NBA, those that have sizeable cap and cash to freely sign quality FA players and those that don’t. A quick test for the dreamers; which type does the Hawks fall into? This mention that somehow the Hawks will get themselves a quality center from the FA market with their limited budget and cap space is a pipe dream. Remember our last year promise got us Collins. Ok it is also fair to doubt that the available centers in the draft are not NBA ready now. But the motivation for drafting prospects is not just about winning for the immediate moment but also to build your team’s future. It is very narrow-minded to pass on players because they will not make an immediate impact. Ok perhaps that is what the French-pick was all about. Then the real augment is that we invested our future on the 54th pick instead of at the 31st pick and then sold out for cash. Unless he’s an unusual steal to be a UFO, Go Figure!
bigdave
June 25th, 2010
12:27 pm
interesting.. Sekou feels that if the Hawks offer Joe the max.. he stays.
hmm.. what do we do?
bigdave
June 25th, 2010
12:27 pm
http://www.790thezone.com/instantreplay/Episodes.aspx?PID=1348
wayne
June 25th, 2010
12:29 pm
The Hawks are the only team that can go into a draft and come up with nothing. Out of all the players available world wide, they get NOTHING. ATLANTA HAWKS AND CARTOON NETWORK, ONE AND THE SAME.
bigdave
June 25th, 2010
12:29 pm
if Joe stays things will be very interesting.. Jamal Crawford comes in play.. Sekou also feels that Chilly-O could be persuaded to return to the Hawks..
if this pans out.. im pleased..
KevinM
June 25th, 2010
12:30 pm
Reviewing last night, did anyone really expect better than a C? I did not, for I was really hoping for Orton, who would eventually give us a defensive presence. Like Crawford, Orton cancelled his workout with us.
We get Crawford IMO just in case, JJ doesn’t return. There is no other way to see it.
We ignore Orton and any other big man because we don’t have a coach who can improve our big men. Orton lucked out going to Orlando and learning from Ewing and Howard.
Now watching the NBA review last night, they showed Damien James as a 2G. Is that the case, and if so, why doesn’t he fit in nicely here whether JJ comes back or not? His strengths are defense and rebounding.
I like that better than Crawford and 3M.
Time will tell what Sund visions as getting vets on this team. We haven’t played more than 8 regularly and we were lucky to be so healthy all year.
I think we have peaked with the current roster and until we improve our interior and perimeter defense, we aren’t going anywhere. 6′4″ Crawford doesn’t improve our defense.
KevinM
June 25th, 2010
12:32 pm
bigdave, I hope you want more than what you have seen being built so far here under Woody.
There should be a couple more moves to make that improve our front 5 heading into next year, or we simply just look like Utah of the East.
Melvin
June 25th, 2010
12:34 pm
Hawks draft grade per NBADraft..
http://www.nbadraft.net/2010-nba-draft-grades
Oh well, countdown to Harrison Barnes has started. 364 days to go…
Hawks get their man as Spirit Group continues miserly ways « control+ATL+delete
June 25th, 2010
1:00 pm
[...] Sund says he wants to add more veterans, so it’s clear we’re not done dealing yet. Forgive me though if I’m tempering my [...]
Maurice Fanning
June 25th, 2010
1:10 pm
This is my very first post…..I normally love to read but I had to say something. It is really amazing that Whiteside was there for us late in the first round. He was there early in the second and we didn’t take him. It was a gift from God and we sneezed at it. That is the difference between good teams and championship teams. You have to know when to take advantage of opportunities!
Michael Cunningham
June 25th, 2010
1:11 pm
@ Sean Williams: “Sounds like the frenchman has a shot at the rotation? MC am I crazy, or naive for thinking that?”
i think making the roster as a developmental project is a more realistic hope.
Rufus1
June 25th, 2010
1:12 pm
Trade Bait…
The Hawks have 16-18mil in expiring contracts and trade assets(ja. Crawford, J. Chill and Mo Evans)…
I have faith that Sund will make a VERY GOOD TRADE.(i.e, Crawford for Lamar Odom). Lakers are trying to cut salary.
PS.. How many players do we have whose first name begins with “J”…WOW 7.
“In Sund I Trust”….I remember the Jamal Crawford trade.
Michael Cunningham
June 25th, 2010
1:12 pm
@cp: “So Pape is 6′7 and long enough to play pf and center? Damn how long are his arms? He must have some crazy kind of reach or Drew is fooling himself. I guess we have to wait till the summer league to see what he can do. MC when will the summer league rosters be announced?”
this has been fixed. looking at my notes again, i think LD actually meant he’s long enough to play small forward. sorry, it was at the end of a long day by that point.
summer league rosters should be finalized by Monday.
Michael Cunningham
June 25th, 2010
1:14 pm
@_sturt: “First, how do you know that the Hawks have NOT given Chilz that permission? And, what reason would they have to NOT give it to him? It’s to their advantage for Chilz to return to the NBA, either as an asset on our roster, or as an asset that we’ve been able to trade and gain another asset.”
because people in, Atlanta, Washington and Chill’s camp all say it’s not so. that doesn’t mean it won’t happen eventually, either with Wiz or another team, but it hasn’t happened yet.
Michael Cunningham
June 25th, 2010
1:19 pm
@ Mike Bibby: “Actually MC, Pape stated in an interview that he played a little PG in france. Didn’t you see the highlights? This kid is going to be good, very versitle. Now Marvin “Duck Butt” Williams can be demoted to the bench! HE IS NOT A PF EVER!”
yeah, i misunderstood what LD meant. tough to get a read on this kid. he apparently flew under the radar.
Rufus1
June 25th, 2010
1:20 pm
Championship Teams
Only one NBA team in the last 10 years has built the core of their team thru the draft…San Antonio Spurs
SO PLEASE STOP COMPLAINING ABOUT THE DRAFT!!!!!
Fred.
June 25th, 2010
1:20 pm
I am so disappointed in the Hawks not drafting a Center, It would have been nice to draft the Kid Varnado from Miss state or Mississippi. The message to Hawks Fans was not a good one, it is time ASG try and sell the team to someone with the financial means to run a Franchise.
cp
June 25th, 2010
1:22 pm
Some of you guys are overreacting as usual. You cant grade a draft the next day. You grade a draft a few years down the line. I remember seeing teams get an A the day after the draft then a few years down the road none of the players they took pan out. You have to give it time. I like the Crawford pick…….Alabi fell in the draft because of a medical red flag. There is a story on it online. The information about the condition was given to all teams. Whatever the condition is, it was enough to scare almost every team away from him. And seriously can we get some info on Pape. Dude is long enough to play pf and c? I just don’t see it. He looks like he can play some guard and sf… Whats up with the summer league roster?
cp
June 25th, 2010
1:24 pm
My bad MC i didn’t see that you had answered before I asked again. Thank you for the info.
bigdave
June 25th, 2010
1:25 pm
KevinM…
i absolutely want more. however, my angle is more geared towards getting quality bench depth vs our starting 5. if there was an immediate concern to the eye it would be @ the SF and PG position. however, im a believer that Teague can get it done. i also can say ive never question’s Marvin’s effort. i think the kid tries hard. im eager to see what he can offer when given the opportunity to be an active piece in our offensive attack. vs just a guy who doesnt see the ball unless he’s playing bail out man needing to hit a jumper when you dont even get touches. i think Marvin needs to make an assertive effort to attack the rim. he has a respectable jumper now and which would aid him in beating a defender off the dribble. we couldnt witness this b/c Marvin was limited to iso play which isnt his strength. im actually one of the very few that feels Al Horford is a true center, just in a PF’s body. id like to add a specialist or 2 rather free agency or trade.. for example, Anthony Morrow with his shooting prowess.. effort and hustle bigs..
dave dumphy
June 25th, 2010
1:29 pm
I am from Cincy and watched Jordan Crawford this past year at Xavier. To me Atlanta is getting the best #2 guard in the draft. He averaged 29 points in NCAA. His range is phenomanal. When Sean Miller was at Xavier (the year Crawford sat out after transferring from Indiana) he said that if Crawford stayed a few years he would be the best player ever to come out of XU. XU has had David west, James Posey etc. Atlanta you got a great value at #27!!!!!
Michael Cunningham
June 25th, 2010
1:33 pm
@Astro Joe: “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?”
nice. yes, LD is supposed to get down to work on his staff. he wants his top assistant in place before the rookie minicamp on July 9.
O'Brien
June 25th, 2010
1:34 pm
Section 303,
I think you misinterpreted what Sekou was saying. He is saying if people thought Jordan Crawford would help offset the loss of JJ, they are kidding themselves. He does think Crawford is a good asset to have, and he will contribute.
Bigdave,
I would not offer JJ a 6 year max deal ($115 mil or so). I would offer him a 5 year max deal (similar to what other teams can offer, $90 mil or so). If he leaves, hopefully we can work out a sign and trade. If he leaves and we don’t get anything in return, the Hawks will take a step back this year. But I would take that chance.
If we lose JJ, bring back Chills, use the full mid-level to find a productive big, and use the bi-annual to add another solid bench player, the Hawks should still be a playoff team this year (even if they are competing for spots 5-8).
And next year, Rick Sund just needs to be creative. Next offseason, Crawford expires, Mo Evans expires, and Bibby will be an expiring deal (although Horford will be due a HUGE extension).
jroc
June 25th, 2010
1:37 pm
MC how do you feel the Hawks did on draft day and do you have any updates on what move JJ is going to make.
jroc
June 25th, 2010
1:40 pm
I don’t know if he is availiable but if Baron Davis can be brought in go get him if JJ walks.
vava74
June 25th, 2010
1:47 pm
From ESPN’s Bill Simmons:
“Crawford was my last “I think that guy could be in a nine-man rotation on a good team” pick. Really like him. Scorer, gamer, head case … I’ll put up with the last one if I’m getting the first two. And now that he’s off the board, I’d take the 6-foot-9 tennis player who just won a 70-68 fifth set at Wimbledon over any of the remaining guys on the board. I’m not even kidding”
He is mostly entertaining rather than technical, however, his “fan-insight-commentaries” are usually pretty solid when evaluating talent (this is the moment in which our very own niremetal starts twitching in his chair and starts rumbling about Kevin Love, a known Simmons’ pet love niremetal loathes).
Najeh Davenpoop
June 25th, 2010
1:48 pm
“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”
Possibly. Again, my earlier post didn’t reflect what I think should happen; it’s just one plausible scenario I could see happening. As O’Brien pointed out though, there’s not a lot of incentive for Salmons to sign a long term deal with the Hawks at the same rate as his previous contract.
Michael Cunningham
June 25th, 2010
1:57 pm
@jroc: i’m not a fan of the “instant analysis” of drafts. but the Hawks like scorers and they got a good one late in the first round. so from their perspective, mission accomplished. but they do have a glut of 2-guards now if J.J. returns: Evans and the two Crawfords on the bench. in getting the perimeter scorer they wanted and also selling the No 31 pick, the Hawks passed on some centers with potential. if they use the extra cash on the right veterans, then it will turn out to be a good move. as for Pape Sy, don’t know anything about him but Hawks’ recent history suggests they won’t keep him around to develop.
i’m posting something on J.J. later today.
jroc
June 25th, 2010
1:59 pm
One thing i do like about the Hawks roster is that it has a lot of young guys with upside on it. It will be interesting to see how things pan out this summer. With all the mistakes that Sund made in the past he might pull the right triggers this season. With experience comes wisdom. Lets see if Sund will make it happen. And Drew can coach this young squad up. Lets Go Hawks!
jroc
June 25th, 2010
2:00 pm
Thanks MC can’t wait to see what you got
fudd21
June 25th, 2010
2:01 pm
Skyhawk,
OMG! Did you really just throw out a starting 5 of Teague, Chillz, Smooth, Bosh and Horford. Comical. Teams could play a zone against us and pack eveyone inside the lane cause Teague and the Joshes cant shoot a lick!
doc
June 25th, 2010
2:24 pm
huh?
“Most of you have lobbied to have Allen Iverson, Rasheed Wallace or Latrell Sprewel become a member of the Hawks at the end of their careers.”
i can only think of one blogger who would have done this …. one.
big false blanket there casual.
hittman jamillion
June 25th, 2010
2:24 pm
first off i’m undecided on who is more full of shiy?
the spirit or you sometimey ass hating unlogical bloggers, i would say fans but you guys are not fans.
to be a fan you have to know and love the game,and most of yall just flat out don’t.
everyone screams we need a center?
but actually get over it dominate bigmen are few and far between, the best you can do is get a good powerforward and push.
elite centers are a thing of the past
the days of hakeem,kareem, patrick , the admiral are over
you have dwigt howard and yao ming those are the only,let me say this again only true allstar caliber centers, the rest of these centers are less than extrordinary
you guys let your emotions cloud your decisions.
someone name me three yes three top flight pure centers in this league, hell zach randolph plays powerforward and was the only big man in the west to avg, 20 and 10
you guys act like it’s easy to win over 50 games in the nba hawks had the 5th let me reinterate it again the 5th best record last year with losy coaching and no offensive system.
these hawks have 4 allstar worthy players on this roster all we have to do is add a proven vet or two. these guys won 53 games off pure talent alone,
would i like a center ?yes but there weren’t any who could produce who could a been drafted.
this game is won on match ups,
it’s the reason cleveland is outstanding in the regular season and a quick exit in the playoffs,
we were killed for one reason. jameer nelson penetration to dwight howard.
which reults from a poor defensive shceme,bibby couldn’t stop nelson from penetrating t,he defense weakens ,someone doubles leaves there man, and walla onpen three to a shooter, but vs boston rondo stops nelson makes him ineffective and everybody stays on there man cause noone on that team can create their own shoot and walla orlando gets blown out in two of there 4 losses
me myself i say the hawks trade jj,(duck, and bibby in a package) cause his imagine is shot,you can’t disrespect a entire city, you not good enough to say what you said.
ad bring in another shooter, and a strong big or a dirk nowitzski. hell he’s a free agent
that’s my wish a front line of dirk,al,ans josh a be incredible,no need for bosh he can’t spread the floor, plus dirk is 7ft and can play the small forward on offense while josh guards the small forward on defense on the wing.
no luo deng, no danny granger hell danny is just marvin as a number one option, laugh if you wanna but duck doesn’t have plays ran for him. and chills is a killer i watched him aingle handedly take those garbage stanford teams to the elite 8 everyyear great slasher and easily gets to the rim and finish.maybe a kapono or mike miller, or rip hamilton who can hit shoots off the screen and run aroud you need players like that it makes the defense work. let these guys play and support the team
is it things i wish they would have done better? of course but it is what it is
peace
Volman
June 25th, 2010
2:24 pm
Hey dolts, we aren’t going to sign Chris Bosh…. we’d only have maybe what…7-8 million to sign someone if Joe bolts?
I don’t know how many times this needs to be explained. This isn’t NBA Live guys..geez.
Volman
June 25th, 2010
2:25 pm
Clyde,
How is Sean Williams doing?
Grandad
June 25th, 2010
2:45 pm
Well we have a Grandad, may as well have a Paps’.
I know exactly how lame that was.
If either of my boys read the blog today,
they’ll hold their heads in shame.
I still ain’t over $ selling $ Pau Gasol. [redux]
Paps’ :::
I’ve read everthing from 6-3 to 6-10.
w-span = 7 +++
He’s somewhere between *Tony Parker / Boris Diaw / or ”Nique”
*[size & or ability]*
*remembering – Hawks history:
*Alain Digbeau – drafted in 1997
*also from France, *dubbed – (the French ”Jordan”)
*As far as I know – we never saw him / he may never have existed.
jroc
June 25th, 2010
2:51 pm
Great Post Hitman but you got me with the Dirk comment. Captian Dirk plays no Defense but is a great scorer and has no chance of coming to the Hawks. Come on Hawks you had the second best home win record in the nba. Lets move forward with or without JJ.
Will
June 25th, 2010
3:03 pm
There hasn’t even been a complete day since the draft and already everyone is bent out of shape over who was or was not selected. I suppose all of you could have done a better job at putting together the team. How many years ago was it that you were all crying in your milk because ATL was losing all the time and Bobby Knight was drafting the current players that all of you are now saying can’t make it to the playoffs. Short memories. Give the team some time. They haven’t even had an opportunity to complete the off season and complete the trades etc that surely will be happening esp. if JJ doesn’t resign. Quit crying you bunch of know nothings and let the process run its course. If ATL doesn’t make the playoffs and Drew falls flat on his face and everyting goes to hell then you can scream. Now isn’t the time!
Will
June 25th, 2010
3:06 pm
There is a way to sign a big free agent if JJ bolts. It might mean finding a way to get rid of Bibby and Marvin etc but with the trades that could be made it is possible.
Mike is back
June 25th, 2010
3:21 pm
Well Sekou just cut to the chase. These rumors are just rumors…we still have a chance to sign JJ and Chill. If Sund is not proactive the first week of FA coming up with a deal to lock these cats down…I look for one those long protracted wait to see who offers on JJ, but something quicker regarding Chill.
However, he also said if LBJ is quick with his decision…everything could be over with fast with JJ. I hope that is the case…I can’t take another one of those summer…where we wait to sign one guy…while all the talents in the FA pool dries up.
I’m not made at JJ…as bad as I hate to admit it…Sekou is right about paying JJ max dollar. If there is a way to bring JJ back…we need to do it. He is not LBJ or Wade…however there are only 2 of those guys…if you have the next best thing…why let it get away????????
For me, I look at JJ where the franchise was when he came hear, and where it is now…not just his comments made in the heat of battle. Also, I heard someone allude to amount minutes he logged the last five years…Surely that had to have some type of impact on his performance. I’m curious see how he would perform in a motion offense.
I said previously…fine…if JJ goes…I would also like to add…fine…if JJ stays. After listen to Sekou…If JJ wants to resign with the Hawks…I’M ALL FOR IT…get it done…don’t drag it pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease. lol
I am under no illusion that this kid Crawford can replace JJ…However I love the pick…he will be a good rotation guy. If we bring JJ back…I look for us move JC and another player for something…the problem with ASG…you don’t know what that something will be.
You love JC’s persona and his scoring abilities, However you understand why he has played for so many different teams.
@Sund, I’m still pisssssed off…we didn’t take a Big with the 31st pick. We were basically getting a lottery pick from next year draft…nuff said.
northcyde
June 25th, 2010
3:22 pm
D21
June 25th, 2010
8:29 am
“Drew said he thinks Sy is long enough to play center as well as power forward”
???
Did he really see him at workout ? Or who said such a thing ?
Pape Sy started to play with Le Havre team in Pro A (best french league), and he played PG and SG.
How is it possible that he can play C or PF in NBA ?
Maybe in Billy Knight dreams… but in reality, he can’t
*************************
Maybe Drew thinks that Pape is the next Boris Diaw.
Mike is back
June 25th, 2010
3:37 pm
MC, did you have any idea what you was getting into when agree to cover the Hawks. Well at least there is no shortage of laughter…maybe money…but certainly not laughter…It’s never a boring day with these owners.
Even Stevie Wonder can see we needed to select a Big with that 31st pick. lol
truthspitter
June 25th, 2010
3:37 pm
Picking Crawford over Whiteside will hunt the Hawks fans just like Marvin over Paul or Williams, but Sund want care because he will get fired and move on with his life down at the gay bar with his shirt tied up in the front
bigdave
June 25th, 2010
3:38 pm
“fine…if JJ goes…I would also like to add…fine…if JJ stays.”
exactly how this long time Joe supporter feels.. its nothing we can do.. this will be all up to Joe Johnson..
Mystikal
June 25th, 2010
3:38 pm
UNDRAFTED PLAYERS
Guys that I hope we get in next week: Jerome Randle, Brian Zoubek, Manny Harris, Mikhail Torrance, Charles Garcia, Denis Clemente, Sylven Landesberg, Michael Washington
Jordan Eglseder, Jeff Foote, Chas McFarland, Omar Samhan
truthspitter
June 25th, 2010
3:44 pm
Sund is one stupid mutherphucker, get ready for bags over your head, how can you pick some little bitty combo guard that will never start in NBA over Hassan Whiteside, ignorant mutherphucker
bigdave
June 25th, 2010
3:45 pm
O’brien…
i feel you. question.. hypothetical… etc. just something to pass time until MC updates us on Joe..
what are the chances Al Horford is 3 time All Star approaching the final year of Dwight Howard’s Orlando contract.. ? our Hawks remain competitive in the East but can’t get over the hump?
hmmm.. are you pondering what im pondering? any chance history repeats itself?
drmaryb
June 25th, 2010
4:04 pm
PG or C
Come on nit-pickers. Of course the comment re: Pape Sy playing C was a mis-qoute!
How many times per minute do we see typos on this blog?
Let that go – please. It’s obvious the kid can’t play center.
JoJo the Godfather
June 25th, 2010
4:07 pm
We need to take Bibby & Evans ($8M total salary) and trade them for something productive….any ideas??? My first choice would be Anderson Verejao. We might have to throw in a future pick to get that done though, unless Cleveland decides to rebuild.
EB
June 25th, 2010
4:31 pm
I’d say Crawford will be taking over for JJ for sure cause his days are numbered with the Hawks. Now we just need to get rid of Bibby!!