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
Ken Strickland
June 26th, 2011
4:39 pm
THERE IS NO ONE BLINDER THAN HE WHO WON’T SEE. No matter how much logical, common sense information and facts you present, he only tries to rationize it into something else.
I decided to take a look at Horfords stats against the Bulls, since so many of you seem to think he went soft, digressed and single handedly caused us to lose the series against the Bulls. HORFORD(JAMAL) GAME 1:
PPG-9(22), RPG-13(1), APG-4(3), BPG-2(0).
GAME 2
PPG-6(11), RPG-14(0), APG-6(1), BPG-1(0).
GAME 3
PPG-10(7), RPG-8(2), APG-2(3), BPG-0(0).
GAME 4
PPG-20(12),RPG-5(1), APG-5(1), BPG-1(0)
GAME 5
PPG-12(2), RPG-10(1), APG-3(4), BPG-2(0).
GAME 6
PPG-7(8), RPG-4(1), APG-1(2), BPG-0(0).
Horford’s combined playoff production ranked him 5th in scoring(11.3PPG), 1st in rebounding(9.6RPG), 1st in assists(3.5APG) and 2nd in blocks(1.0BPG).
Oh he!! yes, we must get rid of this soft, regressing, deadly jumpshooting natural PF playing out of position AHorford as soon as possible. How can anyone with an actual IQ, or without personal issues, compare Horford’s playoff production to Jamal’s and claim Horford was the Hawks major problem? Actually, how can anyone compare his playoff production to any other Hawk and say he was the problem?
doc
June 26th, 2011
5:12 pm
slim the reality is if dw is as good as you say he is why would they soend nore for something of less value. get real?
Ray
June 26th, 2011
5:13 pm
I think blog monster ate me post.
doc
June 26th, 2011
5:16 pm
spend more
KevinM
June 26th, 2011
8:31 pm
We can’t expect much from a 48 pick who was the last center chosen in this draft. Let’s not get our hopes up for much of a contribution. Truth is, Randolph Morris was thought of more highly than Benson. I hope he beats the odds, you’re talking about a rookie with a coach who is not privy to developing rookies.
OB and Ken S, Cousins and Dalembert are at 2 diff places in their careers. I haven’t yet seen a team with Dalembert that has had much success. While Cousins has had poor team results last year, he would be an excellent fit here based on talent alone….not to mention his annual costs to a team. I think Cousins needs a vet team show him the ropes. I feel had we gotten him last year, we might be talking about a totally different approach heading into this season. Sund wasted an entire season/summer to improve as so many werent convinced Cousins could mature and produce. His best games are in front of him and he could end up being the top center in the West next year.
We aren’t in a position to outbid or offer a better deal than another team.
Perhaps we sit a year.
Perhaps Sund and Drew’s contracts expire at the same time.
Perhaps we have new owners
The roster as is will not be a threat for anything past the 2nd round. It’s been proven that the makeup of this lineup has some serious flaws.
KevinM
June 26th, 2011
8:33 pm
And I do realize it’s not realistic for Snd to bring in a Cousins or Monta Ellis. He places too much value with the pieces we have.
Trading Sy and Horford for Rocket big men and #14 + 23/2nd rounder picks for Donatas & M.Thomas
June 26th, 2011
10:12 pm
Kevin Garnett is a 7′0 power forward with 7′6 arms
and I guess we’re the Timberwolves?
“Grandad
June 24th, 2011
6:47 pm
Keith Benson
Aspires to be like Kevin Garnett.
There will be those who scoff & or excoriate
the young man for setting such high goals.
As for myself, it shows courage and confidence
to aim that high.
*[very similar body type] to KG
If he can mold his body into something resembling KG;
-then…..perhaps- ?”
KevinM
June 26th, 2011
10:42 pm
NYTimes reporting that Odom, Iggy, and Josh Smith will likely be traded.
Crank up the deals this week….it might be awhile before anyone tips it up.
Slimjr
June 27th, 2011
7:40 am
drmaryb, it will be interesting to see if the Hawks can truly improve toward contending for an ECF..
Two indicators will give us some insight:
1- Will they take that abysmal 13-26 record against +.500 teams and flip that? Say 26-13?
2- Will they be able to compete out West and come away with a winning record against that superior conference..
I say no to both if the core is still intact to lace it up next season…
Slimjr
June 27th, 2011
7:56 am
“Also, everyone says Al is a better defender one on one than Josh. But Josh has a bigger impact on the game defensively than Al. So how is Al a better defender? In my mind at BEST for Al they’re a wash offensively (even though I think Josh is a better play maker and passer). Al has a better jump shot of course. But Josh is a better post player and seems draws more fouls than Al and Joe combined. They’re the same age. And truly in the last 3 years you can say Josh has improved more than Al has. I truly don’t see Al being more than Okafor, except for with a jump shot. So if one must go, he goes first.
Also everyone questions Josh’s IQ. But if Al can’t see he’s CLEARLY more productive at the center position than when he’s at the PF position.
Also anyone who thinks that Chicago designed a defense to stop Horford is on something serious. Chicago just played Horford up tight and gave him the drive with Carlos Boozer. If Horford can’t beat Boozer off of the dribble consistently, then what other PF can he beat from the elbow?”
@Ra’mon, interesting observation..You nailed it Sir!!
Some will never get it, IQ and all..Pride has a way of blinding…But its their right to dream on about this dude….
Josh is a superior defender. Sund should have shop All NBA for that #2 pick!
Ken Strickland
June 27th, 2011
9:31 am
There are several things that must take place if the Hawks intend to become serious title contender.
1-HC LDrew has to do more than pay lip service to start demanding player accountability with action rather than words,
2-He has to start judging and playing his players, especially his PG’s, based on ability, productivity, skills and team needs, rather than experience alone.
3-He has to recognize that his beloved MOTION OFF won’t work the way he envisions as long as ISO Joe remains the focal point of the OFF and is allowed to disrupt it by taking control of the ball whenever he wants.
4-He has to recognize if we wants the Hawks to become a serious title contender, we can’t continue trying to be a half court, guard dominated, jump shooting OFF, especially with the guards we have.
5-JSmith has to be held accountable for becoming more consistent, and it’s going to take more than conversations and lip service from Drew to get it done.
6-We have to become an inside out team, which requires Teague, Horford and Josh to become more involved in running and/or participating in the OFF.
7-LDrew has to start looking at our younger players, like Pape Sy, MRolle, JTeague, HArmstrong, KBenson etc, and determine what they do best and utilize them the way he utilized JCollins. When it comes to veterans he seems to have the right idea. He got productivity out of veterans JCollins, who’s limited in every area but providing physical one on one DEF, and DWilkins, who’s OFF limited. But when it came to rookies and younger players, he followed in MWoodson’s footsteps and gave excuses for not playing them, or just ignored them all together.
8-Certain players have to adjust their attitude and approach. We can’t have anymore of the mental and/or physical let downs that characterized the team last yr, and lead to so many blowouts.
9-If the Hawks are to ever play up to its potential, LDrew has got to:
(A)-allow this team to play to it’s strengths. That means we can’t continue focusing primarily on his half court oriented MOTION OFF, rather than running at every opportunity,
(B)-stop relying primarily on shooting jumpshots, rather than penetrating and getting to the FT line more often,
(C)-stop relying on OFF and OFF minded players to bail us out when we need DEF and DEF minded players.
10-Sund has to add a shooter to replace Jamal, and hopefully a DEF minded Big.
JUST FOOD FOR THOUGHT.
DinasaurFenton
June 27th, 2011
11:41 am
THE HAWKS SHOULD FIRE LARRY DREW TODAY!!!! THEN QUICKLY REPLACE DREW WITH ONE OF THE GREATEST MINDS AND BASKETBALL COACHES THE NBA HAS EVER SEEN. THIS GUY IS THE BEST UNEMPLOYED COACH GOING RIGHT NOW AND I’M SURPRISED THAT NO ONE HAS CALLED HIM FOR AN INTERVIEW. THE HAWKS NEED A HIGH-PROFILE COACH TO CONTINUE THEIR ASCENSION TO THE TOP OF THE NBA MOUNTAIN. THE HAWKS FINISHED ONLY T-W-O WINS AWAY FROM THE EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS AND ONLY 10 WINS AWAY FROM WINNING THE ‘GOLD BALL’. Look when you’re that close, you need a legendary coach to hoist you over the top. There is a guy available who would be a perfect fit for the Hawks. He’s a guy who has about 50 years of coaching experience and he can handle punks like Josh Smith and Zsa Zsa Pachulia. He can handle malcontents and moody players like Joe Johnson and Jamal Crawford (guys who occasionally dog it and decide to not show up and give half-ass efforts. THIS COACHING GIANT IS DESTINED FOR THE HALL OF FAME AND HE CAN HANDLE ANY DIRT THAT THE HAWKS CAN THROW AT HIM. TRUTH BE TOLD, IF HE IS HIRED, MOST OF THE HAWKS WILL THROW EVERYTHING AT THIS GUY INCLUDING THE REFIGERATOR, STOVE, KITCHEN SINK, ETC. AND THIS LEGENDARY COACH WILL HANDLE IT WITH GRACE AND GRACIOUSLY GUIDE THE HAWKS TO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE. THE LEGENDARY COACH WHO I AM REFERRING IS JERRY SLOAN.
KevinM
June 27th, 2011
12:02 pm
No way the Hawks dump the cheap Drew despite the average results he put up during the season. Like Woodson, Drew was lucky to have a decent playoff run to give him a chance to return.
Had they gone down 4-0 to the Magic, I still think both he and Sund return.
I see a wasted year trying to figure out what pieces fit together and tyring to get more out of the existing roster. Doesn’t work for me; we need improvements in the starting lineup and we aren’t getting them by drafts an FA pickups.
I would think after watching this same roster compete for 3 straight years, Sund would want to revamp 2 or 3 areas instead of just verbalizing that things were discussed, but nothing enough to warrant a change. The CBA is his excuse to not provide any information to the fan base.
Only when these 2 guys are gone will we be moving in any direction other than stagnant. Wanna bet Sund comes out and says we are in position to compete for a Top 4 playoff slot next year?
KevinM
June 27th, 2011
12:05 pm
Oh, and with Sund’s desire to bring back Collins, does anyone think he is competing against anyone? He is basically saying he will bring back Collins if he will play for the minimum again.
Sund is so shrewd with his words.
KevinM
June 27th, 2011
12:07 pm
Haha, Al and isolation…so now we have 2 guys that want plays to go through them?
DinasaurFenton
June 27th, 2011
2:06 pm
I’m I the only person who feels that former Jazz great coach Jerry Sloan is the PERFECT COACH FOR THE ATLANTA HAWKS? Jerry is an OLD-SCHOOL coach who is known for being a no-nonsense, hard-nosed, tough-as-nails, SOB that doesnt take any crap from anyone. WHEN THE FANS SAW JOSH SMITH CONTINUALLY HOISTING UP THREE-POINTERS THAT NEARLY COST US THE ORLANDO SERIES AND THEN WHEN JOSH CONTINUED THROWING UP THOSE BRICKS IN THE CHICAGO SERIES, most fans were scratching their heads saying, “I wonder why the coaches wont tell smith to stop shooting from half-court where he has no chance of making the shots.” If Sloan was coaching the Hawks, every time Josh launched a jumper from 10 feet BEHIND the three-point line, SLOAN WOULD MAKE SURE THAT JOSH WAS FINED $100,000 EVERY TIME HE SHOT AN ILL-ADVISED SHOT. Josh would quickly get the message to cut it out and stop hurting the team. Josh has done this repeatedly for his eight years that he has been a pro. Josh also, due to force of habit, loves to dribble the ball downcourt as though he is a guard, right before he turns the ball over and coughs it up to the other team. SLOAN WOULD GET JOSH TO QUIT DOING THAT AS WELL. SLOAN WOULD SIT JOSH DOWN AND SAY TO HIM, SON, IF YOU WANT TO DRIBBLE THE BALL LIKE A GUARD, THEN GET OFF THIS TEAM AND PLAY FOR SOMEONE ELSE WHERE YOU ARE THE STARTING GUARD. BUT AS LONG AS YOU ARE A FORWARD, YOU EITHER PLAY LIKE A FOWARD OR GET KICKED OFF THE TEAM. Jerry Sloan doesnt take any CRAP from anyone. JERRY SLOAN IS THE PERFECT COACH FOR THE HAWKS FOR THREE REASONS. #1:Sloan has groomed ordinary players into hall of famers (Malone, Stockton and Deron Williams); #2:Sloan’s teaching techniques have helped develop hall-of-fame results with three of his students:stockton, malone and williams; and #3:Sloan doesnt take any garbage from anyone and if you dont play up to your maximum potential, you will swiftly get kicked off the team. JERRY SLOAN IS THE PERFECT COACH FOR THE ATLANTA HAWKS. FIRE DREW, AND GET SLOAN AN INTERVIEW IMMEDIATELY AND SIGN HIM TO A LONG-TERM CONTRACT.
DinasaurFenton
June 27th, 2011
5:18 pm
The apathy to hire a head coach is the same mindset the Falcons took when they were hiring a head coach. When the Falcons hired Smith, they could have gotten someone much better, someone like either John Madden, Joe Gibbs, Bill Parcells or even Hank Stram. But instead the Falcons opted to hire Mike Smith and although the Falcons were the #1 seed in the NFC last year, they fell flat in the playoffs and lost to the eventual champion Green Bay Packers. Now the Hawks have the LUXURY of there being a HALL OF FAME COACH AVAILABLE waiting for his next job. Instead of jumping at Sloan and quickly scooping him up, the Hawks act as though Larry Drew has greater coaching skills than Red Auerbach and Phil Jackson combined, WHICH MAKES ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE WHATSOEVER. JERRY SLOAN WILL MAKE JOSH SMITH WORK HARD. JERRY SLOAN WILL DEMAND THAT JAMAL CRAWFORD ALWAYS PLAYS LIKE THE “SILENT ASSASSIN” that he is and not the guy who disappeared in the playoffs against the Bulls averaging about 9 points a game. That Jamal Crawford is WORTHLESS. JERRY SLOAN WILL LIGHT A FIRE UNDER JOE JOHNSON AND DEMAND THAT HE PLAYS LIKE THE FUTURE HALL OF FAMER THAT HE IS. JERRY SLOAN IS THE PERFECT GUY FOR THE ATLANTA HAWKS COACHING VACANCY. I SAY VACANCY BECAUSE LARRY DREW SHOULD BE GETTING FIRED ANY DAY NOW.