Atlanta Hawks: NBA draft live blog (Update: Hawks select Oakland U. center Keith Benson)
The Hawks are not on the verge of being sold. Josh Smith has not been traded yet, unless Rick Sund made a deal right before I just saw him get some chicken here in the team’s offices.
This is the place to talk about these things and any other developments throughout the night.
Oh, yeah, there’s also the draft. The Hawks have the No. 48 pick.
UPDATE: The Hawks selected Oakland (Mich.) University center Keith Benson.
Here’s his NBADraft.net profile. DraftExpress has an interview with Benson.
Below are some excerpts from Benson’s teleconference with reporters. I’ll update the blog after Sund comes out to talk.
UPDATE II:
- Sund said the Hawks explored trading into the first round but didn’t want to get into specifics about those discussions, including the reports about Smith and the Timberwolves.
- Hawks assistant GM Dave Pendergraft said the team had Benson rated as early second round. He said there wasn’t much temptation to draft Josh Selby because several other players who were available were rated above Selby and those players also better fit the team’s needs.
- Pendergraft said Benson’s strengths include his athleticism, shot-blocking ability and scoring touch. His weaknesses are his strength, though Pendergraft said Benson is “wiry strong” and could put on some more weight. “I don’t think he will ever be 250 or 260 but he could be 235 or maybe a little bit more,” Pendergraft said. “The trend in the league is is more long, wiry athletic types.”
- Pendergraft said he’s not concerned with the level of competition Benson faced because Oakland played a tough non-conference schedule. “It’s not like he’s just going to be overwhelmed,” Pendergraft said.
- Hawks coach Larry Drew said Benson can play power forward and center.
KEITH BENSON
(questions about strength)
“I’ve been out in Vegas working out with the weight trainer there and getting stronger. I’ve put on about five pounds since the Chicago event. I’ve been working out three times a week, working every day to get stronger.”
(potential to add weight)
“I think I have the frame to put on a lot of weight. My game will really increase once I put on that weight and some strength. I think I can put on 20 or more pounds.”
(what he knows about the Hawks, why he thinks he’s a good fit and which Hawks does he look forward to playing with)
“I’m looking forward to playing with Al Horford. He’s developed into the really good ‘bigs’ in this league. I like watching Joe Johnson. They are an athletic team and I think I can contribute to that. They have some youth and like to get up and down. I watched them a lot this year.”
(how much did he weight when he got to Oakland, and what does he weigh now)
“I was 190 when got to Oakland, and 6-9. I grew a couple inches. And I’m about 224 now.”
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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967 comments Add your comment
Buddy Grizzard
June 24th, 2011
12:37 am
Don’t expect much, Hoops. Not looking for salvation at pick #48. Should have traded up for Thompkins though.
THE EER
June 24th, 2011
12:39 am
i saw the WVU-Oakland game.Benson was a beast. I think he had 22 points and 15 rebounds. Most of it in the second. WVU’s center, Deniz Kilici is 6′ 10” and weighs 265. Benson ate him up. WVU won the game but it wasn’t easy. Oh yeah, the dude really runs the court and was always back on defense.
N.D.T.K.A.
June 24th, 2011
12:43 am
Benson has plenty of skill and seems to be a pretty good rebounder and shot blocker. The only question is how much weight can he put on and will he play with energy and effort? The biggest question is will he get in pt. with Drew as head coach or will he spend most of his time in the Developement league this season?
SUND SUX
June 24th, 2011
12:50 am
WE have one of the worst GM’s in the league
Michael Cunningham
June 24th, 2011
12:51 am
Blog updates with comments from Sund, Pendergraft and Drew.
oranjucejonz
June 24th, 2011
12:56 am
Just watched the youtube video on Keith Benson…95% of his shots were off balance,awkward and honestly looked like answered prayers.Jon Diebler and Josh Selby were still on the board at the time and both carry more trade value than this guy so that tells me the the Hawks plan on keeping him……..Al will still be at the 5 spot next yr…..I like smoove,but if you wanted to move him,I think Greg Oden and Andre Miller would have been a nice move,Here we go again Hawks fans
JSS
June 24th, 2011
1:14 am
Love the pick, even Sund could not screw it up! Go watch his play against Michigan State. Izzo had no answer for him… I rather have “answered prayers” over not scoring at all, we had that the whole Chicago series. Shoot, Ron Artest has made a career of that mess…
Anyone hoping for Oden, well that speaks volumes… The man has not spent anytime on a NBA in more than 2.5 years…
The U
June 24th, 2011
1:25 am
Ok its homework time Mr. Sund. You want size and toughness, go here Colonial Athletic Conference and look for Frank Hassel Old Dominion University. 6′9″ 240 PF. A lefty with good rebound fundamental and a good low post game. This is a gift on me he’s a steal with more heart than any of those stiffs at the end of your bench now.
Terrell
June 24th, 2011
1:36 am
For those knocking the pick. Dwight Howard was 225 coming out of high school. Benson has said he put on about 5 pounds so that would put him at about 222. Yes I know this was Dwight right out of high school, but he put iin the work to build his frame, and I believe Benson will do the same. He is only 22 years old so he can put on that extra weight. I lived in metro Detroit so I saw some of his games, and because Oakland isn’t too far from where I lived I heard a lot about him.
Columbus
June 24th, 2011
1:53 am
Dikembe was skinny….if this guy can jump, he can block shots like him cuz Mutombo had no air…this guy is gaining weight and pumping iron…remember Dikembe when he would go up defensively against a much bigger guy? Man he would spread his legs so far apart for leverage…that WIDE base…this guy needs to watch Dikembe’s game….he probably has.. Might be his idol for all I know. Who is going to teach him to play center is what I want to know.? I will say this for the Hawks. We already had Collins so another slow big guy to fill the lane was useless really. They got a center, he should be quick, can play defense which is what it’s all about in the playoffs(that and scoring on great defenses!) Hawks can score so I hope with Teague and this guy POSSIBLY, may be able to help on D immediately. Maybe we got a sleeper….now lets get rid of ASG before the season starts….
EmirS.
June 24th, 2011
2:12 am
“2) Don’t let him out of the weight room. Put a bed and a refrigerator in there, then lock the door.”
LOL awesome.
Atleast now we have something forward to look for. Can’t wait to see what the kid has on an NBA floor!
Grandad
June 24th, 2011
2:18 am
We didn’t need Diebler, we already have Gladyr !
Than
June 24th, 2011
2:22 am
Wow hawks fans are fakes…….. what more can you exspect from the 48th pick. this is a obvious steal. even if he turns out bad. (oh well it was just a 48th pick).
i really have high exspentations for this guy. he does need about 10-20 more pounds but its okay.
long as he has good worth ethic and TEAM WILLING TO GIVE SOME PLAYINGTIME….
EmirS ("One of my main objectives this summer is to take a very aggressive defensive approach" -Larry Drew)
June 24th, 2011
2:29 am
“One of my main objectives this summer is to take a very aggressive defensive approach”
-Larry Drew
Something else to look forward to! I’m really excited to hear that. We’ll see if it really pans out in such a manner.
I’m gonna keep that quote as part of my name until opening day!
EmirS ("One of my main objectives this summer is to take a very aggressive defensive approach" -Larry Drew)
June 24th, 2011
2:32 am
Opening night*
Grandad
June 24th, 2011
2:32 am
Najeh
Lucas Noguiera pulled out of the draft last week.
hawks_4_life
June 24th, 2011
2:43 am
This is a pipe dreams but why not have Dwight come home if he wants to play with Josh so bad.
Michael Cunningham
June 24th, 2011
3:29 am
blog updates with link to draft story.
good night, blog people. or good morning. or something. hell, i’m tired.
Worldwide Clyde
June 24th, 2011
3:43 am
I’d rather have Benson at center than Horford.
Najeh Davenpoop
June 24th, 2011
4:08 am
From MC’s game story:
“The NBA said it’s the first time four players with no NCAA experience were selected in the draft lottery.”
If the NBA said this they need a refresher on their own history. The 2001 NBA draft had six players (Kwame Brown, Tyson Chandler, Pau Gasol, Eddy Curry, DeSagana Diop, Vladimir Radmanovic) who didn’t play any sort of college basketball plus Kedrick Brown who only played at the junior college level.
Najeh Davenpoop
June 24th, 2011
4:08 am
That’s only for the lottery portion of the ‘01 draft.
realnbafan!
June 24th, 2011
5:18 am
did you 4 no real reason lebron haters know that him and sprite are teaming up 2 rebuild playgronds in 40 cities across america ,was’nt really that big on him until, I’VE SEEN SO MANY HATERS 4 REAL IT’S MORE 2 TALK ABOUT FAR AS A GREAT PLAYER, WHO DID WHAT EMPLOYERS DO 2 US EVERYDAY ,HOW MANY OF U OUT THERE WANNA REALLY TELL YO BOSS HOW STUPID HE IS & THAN QUIT WITHOUT A NOTICE, i know i would LOVE 2, MEDIA SURE KNOWS HOW 2 BUILD SOMEONE UP & TAKE HIM DOWN did you even know he put his boys thru COLLEGE ALSO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!BUT U HATE HIM, them BOYS helped him seal a deal w/ partially owning a SOCCER TEAM ONE OF THE HOTTEST SPORTS IN THE BIZZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!can anyone say WORLD CUP $$$$$$$$$$$$ STOP LISTENING 2 THE MEDIA SMALL PERCENT OF THEM MADE IT 2 THE LEAGUE, those the real WIMPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BAMA dude
June 24th, 2011
6:42 am
Two things:
1) Benson’s 09-10 highlights are impressive, especially in the Kansas and Pitt games. Good shot blocker and shoots the baby hook with either hand,
2) That 5:18am post is one of the more incoherent and illiterate things I have read.
O'Brien
June 24th, 2011
7:13 am
Najeh,
I think what they meant to say is its the first time 4 “international” players….
As for Benson, I never saw any of his highlights, so I’m not sure what to expect. But in his senior year in college at South Florida, Solomon Jones averaged 13 and 10 if I’m not mistaken.
That being said, I have very little confidence that LD will give him PT when he has Hilton Armstrong and Rolle on the bench.
As for the Hawks core, I will not be surprised when the entire team comes back next year.
deron
June 24th, 2011
7:19 am
The Hawks did the best they could in a shallow draft. Kyrie and Derrick are good players, but I don’t think they would be drafted in the top 5 of most drafts. Maybe the foreign players will surprise us 5 years from now. There will be a lot of hole-filling in this draft, no franchise-changing players.
http://theresastatforthat.blogspot.com/2011/06/deepest-draft-classes-since-1981.html
Coach D
June 24th, 2011
7:21 am
The same player as Hilton Armstrong from the little video I have seen… Guess you can’t expect much from the 48th pick. Hopefully he’ll surprise us, seems like a good kid.
Ray
June 24th, 2011
7:37 am
Okay I stayed up last night to watch the draft up until the #50 pick I saw the hawks select Keith Benson. If there is anything I can say I watched a few games of his on ESPN. I just will say this it’s one thing to me if Dick Vitale is saying some good things about and during the games he was. At that point Benson was suppose to be a 1st rounder.
Another thing I take from this is we now have Zaza, Collins, Rolle, Armstrong, Benson.
Which leads me to believe two of these guys are eliminated most likely it will be Rolle and Armstrong or at least Rolle will have a shot to join, but Armstrong is all, but gone.
Now as it stands
Starters
Teague
Joe
Smith
Horford
Zaza(I’d rather he be the starter than Collins)
Bench
Kirk
?
Marvin
?
Collins
ntrigue
June 24th, 2011
7:48 am
TYou all don’t know basketball you can’t go off what scouts sat about a player all the time unless you’ve seen the kid play yourself. I’ve seen this kid play and will definitely help us next season. Let him hit weight room hard and throw him in there with josh and al and our interior defense improves drastically. No one will want to come in the paint and he will probably Avg something like 8pts 8 rebs 1.5 blocks a game if he gets the mins needed.
robert
June 24th, 2011
7:57 am
Josh Smith should NOT be traded.Trade Joe some how some where.If they do trade Josh I hope its to Orlando.I’ll then be an Orlando fan and forget about the Hawks and sorry management.
robert
June 24th, 2011
8:02 am
Oh! realnbafan,Lebron is hated because he is a piece of crap with no integrity.It’s players like him that ruin the league.
Youalreadyknow
June 24th, 2011
8:07 am
That’s right Atlanta, go ahead and give up another potential super star. I don’t know what it is with this franchise, if it don’t work out in 3, 4, 5 years time to give up on a guy and send him somewhere else only to watch him hoist an NBA CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY a few years later. I really hate being a sports fan in this town, has to be the worse place in America to be a sports fan.
JoJo the Godfather
June 24th, 2011
8:18 am
Collins and Armstrong are unrestricted free agents. I’m not sure why everyone keeps assuming they will be back. Right now, we have Teague, Hinrich, Johnson, Sy, Williams, Smith, Horford, and Pachulia, with the rights/option on Benson and Rolle. I expect 2 of Sy, Rolle, and Benson to be active each game without any impact from a trade or new CBA.
drmaryb (*_*)
June 24th, 2011
8:22 am
X-Mas Wish!
All I asked for @ #48 was:
Size
Rebounder
Defender
I’m stoked! Yeah!
JObJO
June 24th, 2011
8:22 am
GOOD DRAFT PICK!
NOW REST UP AND GET READY FOR ANOTHER SEASON.
SHOOT LOTS OF SHOTS. STRETCH ALOT.
HERE WE GO.
ILL-Logical
June 24th, 2011
8:35 am
http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Keith-Benson-5712/
SteveW
June 24th, 2011
8:41 am
Terrell – Dwight was 18, and weighed 240. This guy will be 23 in a couple of months, and weighs around 220, so don’t go there. No comparison.
Columbus – Mutombo was a legit 7-1, 7-2 with the shoes on. Benson is 6-11 with shoes. No comparison.
SteveW
June 24th, 2011
8:51 am
I actually like the Hawks new direction. We had been trying to get experience and locker room voices at the end of the bench: Powell, Etan and those types.
Now we’ve decided to go young (and cheap, but exciting as well) with Rolle, Sy, Benson and maybe Armtrong.
And it’s pretty obvious Benson’s slot, at least what it looks like to me, is:
1) A backup to Josh Smith. He’s gotta be at least as good as Powell, maybe better. Long, protects the rim, can run the floor.
2) A match up at 5 if needed, if we need longer than Horford, but not as big as ZaZa or Collins (if he’s back, hope he is), this kid can do the trick.
And again, I’m glad we’re getting back to our “roots”. The Hawks are at their best in transition. We are a young, fresh, athletic team, and I think getting Rolle and Benson re-enforces that strength, and if Teague runs the PG, watch out!
I’m glad we’re not trying to stuff half court BB into our strength, which is athleticism, but it looks like we’re going to make teams play to our strength.
3 straight EC semi’s, it’s about time we developed our own identity.
In ‘10 the Suns almost beat the lakers in the playoffs with “their” style of play. Glad we’re going back to what we do best it seems, at least by the recent player moves
SteveW
June 24th, 2011
9:03 am
Of course, you could always say the reason ASG did not use next seasons 2nd round picks to get into this years 2nd round is because the 2nd picks next season will be paid about 20-33% less than this years 2nd picks, depending on the new CBA.
But that would be a cynical way to think, that the Hawks would be concerned about that kind of money to the possible detriment of the team. Oh well…
SteveW
June 24th, 2011
9:06 am
What a day yesterday!!
Josh to the Timberwolves for Enes Kanter – Not!!
The Hawks sold in a surprise move that even their own executives didn’t know about it according to SI – Not!!
So we keep the #48 pick, and life goes on.
gomabman
June 24th, 2011
9:07 am
Decent pick. Now if the Spirit will do us all a favor and complete the sell of the Hawks, it would be much appreciated. We need an owner interested in winning and not filling his/her pockets. The Spirit group has been a colossal mess from Belkin to Billy (Knight). They blew it on getting Avery Johnson, etc. (Still need a coach) This team has been on autopilot since Woody left. They should have never let Woodson go. Seriously, they haven’t a clue nor an interest in building a winning basketball team in Atlanta. Let’s be honest. Thanks, but no thanks…bye, bye, Spirit!
SteveW
June 24th, 2011
9:15 am
I think we probably go into next season looking alot like this barring a major trade or somthing (and I think we re-sign Collins and Wilkens):
Center – Al/ZaZa/Collins
PF – Josh/Rolle/Benson
SF – Marvin/Wilkens/Sy
SG – JJ/Wilkens/Sy/Hinrich/FA
PG – Hinrich/Teague/maybe a FA
That’s 12 players. We will probably get another combo G. I’d invite Hansbrough, Lighty, McCamey Wanamaker, Diante Garret and Hopson (wing) to camp as soon as possible. And for another big, I’d invite Greg Smith out of Fresno St.
Sign one or two of these camp invitees, and your at a 13 to 14 man roster.
SteveW
June 24th, 2011
9:22 am
Draft Express had Benson as their 39th best player. NBA Draft.Net had him at 46 or 47. We had him in the 30’s somewhere according to Pendegraft, so we drafted a marginal bench guy, and that’s about what you get in a good case scenario at #48.
SteveW
June 24th, 2011
9:25 am
Marc Gasol was drafted #48 a few years back, so you never know about this guy….
SteveW
June 24th, 2011
9:26 am
I wouldn’t care if we re-signed Hilton Armstong. I just hope he’s working on his game and getting stronger over the summer. Vet. Min. of course
SteveW
June 24th, 2011
9:27 am
If Benson is at 224, and working out in Vegas like he says, if he’s doing it correctly, he’ll be 230 easy by the time Sept rolls around.
O'Brien
June 24th, 2011
9:40 am
Stev W,
How many legit playoff teams would be expecting contributions from guys like Sy, Role and Benson off the bench?
Astro Joe
June 24th, 2011
9:43 am
OB, I’m pretty sure that Armstrong is a UFA so we need to re-sign first. And I’m not sure that Rolle is guaranteed anything. IMO, they are both projects (Rolle and Benson) and will need to compete for token time. Ideally, they would need to out-produce a productive vet in order to move into the top 10 on the depth chart. If we build our depth chart assuming that one of them is a rotational player, then we’re in deep, deep trouble.
I know blog folk won;t be patient, but my guess is that adding 25 pounds of weight AND learning the rigors of playing in the NBA doesn;t all happen between now and November. Don’t blame LD if this guy takes a minute to produce. I’m betting that the percent of center prospects drafted after #40 who become rotational players is fairly low.
DJ
June 24th, 2011
9:48 am
I like the pick, I dont expect much though with it being the 48th.
I’ve been watching video and reading reports on him and I keep thinking of Solomon Jones. Skinny. Tall. The only difference I see with this guy is that he has a better mid-range shot. Hopefully, he will be able to come off the bench get, maybe, 3ppg and 4rpg in the next year or too.
On the Josh Smith trade rumors. The only trade that I can think of that I would like would be to the 76ers. Get Elton Brand or Andre Igoudala and like one other pieces and a draft pick in the future. Smith to Houston, I dont see anybody I would want, maybe Scola but he is not enough in my view. With the Minnesota rumors, I was so glad I didnt see that trade happen. Im not a fan of europeon prospects. If there was a trade with the twolves than Al Jefferson is the only person I like.
gomabman
June 24th, 2011
9:48 am
Can we say bye, bye Spirit!
ICECOLD
June 24th, 2011
9:49 am
marvin williams has 2 years left on a reasonable contract and can come off the bench for any team.. so he is tradeable.. I dont know if we can get talent for him but we can package him with somebody for a trade … al horford is getting all this praise so if we trade him now we can get dwight howard if they are afraid they are going to lose him… he wouldnt want to come here without josh smith being here. that wouldnt make any sense.! ! kirk hinrich has a nine million expiring contract, thats attractive to people.. we just drafted a decent back up big man who could be a starter one day… so if you have to throw zaza in that trade with for dwight howard!!! al horford zaza , and marvin williams and kirk if you have too for DWIGHT HOWARD , RYAN ANDERSON and CASH! !!!!
then we can spend the cash on Jamal Crawford contract!!!
starting five would be
Jeff Teague
Joe Johnson
Josh Smith
Ryan Anderson
Dwight Howard
bench
( get a vet point )
Jamal crawford
Damien Wilkins
Magnum Rolle
Keith Benson , Hilton Armstrong , Jason Collins
playoffs
same starting five
jamal crawford
Damien Wilkins
Keith Benson