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
hawksfancents95
June 23rd, 2011
9:27 pm
@jeje- definitley #2. id rather watch the hawks for an extra two weeks and see how they falter in the 2nd round than watch plenty of great players on the board and us blow it with a mediocre player and continually pay them
pacers trade kawhi leonard for george hill.
N.D.T.K.A.
June 23rd, 2011
9:29 pm
George Hill is a good p/u for the Pacers…..
Najeh Davenpoop
June 23rd, 2011
9:29 pm
Brad Miller is going to Minnesota for Jonny Flynn.
Najeh Davenpoop
June 23rd, 2011
9:29 pm
There goes Motiejunas. Hopefully this is the last time his name gets posted on this blog.
Big Ray
June 23rd, 2011
9:30 pm
I see the Spurs made their move…
Grandad
June 23rd, 2011
9:30 pm
San Antonio just proved why their the Best.
Good job Najeh with the scoop.
jason
June 23rd, 2011
9:30 pm
George Hill switching area codes!!
Najeh Davenpoop
June 23rd, 2011
9:30 pm
They just called him a “conscientious objector on the glass”. LOL
Luke Cage
June 23rd, 2011
9:31 pm
I say before the lockout there will be a flurry of trades
Najeh Davenpoop
June 23rd, 2011
9:32 pm
“Good job Najeh with the scoop.”
I just follow the right people on Twitter, haha. @WojYahooNBA, @SpearsNBAYahoo, @KBerg_CBS, @chadfordinsider, @johnhollinger, and @SekouSmithNBA give me 99% of my breaking NBA news.
Grandad
June 23rd, 2011
9:33 pm
Maybe we can go a whole page w/o louisville getting mentioned.
Whoops I screwed that up.
Najeh Davenpoop
June 23rd, 2011
9:33 pm
The full trade is Motiejunas and Jonny Flynn to the Rockets for Brad Miller. I am not a fan of either Motiejunas or Jonny Flynn but to get both of them for a washed up old center who still has two years left on his contract is a good move. At the very least each player has more trade value at this point in time than Miller.
jason
June 23rd, 2011
9:33 pm
Najeh, you hearing anything about the hawks on twitter?
cp
June 23rd, 2011
9:34 pm
Sund must really be enjoying that chicken.
ryan
June 23rd, 2011
9:34 pm
Way to go ASG do nothing boring draft .
Grandad
June 23rd, 2011
9:34 pm
Najeh
I can’t spell tweeter !
Michael Cunningham
June 23rd, 2011
9:34 pm
@Najeh: “Some playoff team is going to be a lot better next year because Faried fell to them. Kinda like how the Spurs got better because DeJuan Blair fell to them.”
if you recall, i was worried about him in the tourney because he’s a beast on the boards and that was the Ville’s weakness. and then he proceeded to punk the Ville on the boards. no offensive skills whatsoever (though he does run the floor pretty well) but i think he will have a solid career as an undersized banger/rebounder.
Big Ray
June 23rd, 2011
9:35 pm
Stupid thing if the NBA has a lockout. They are already hurting for marquee players who can ring up the endorsements and capture the attention of the casual fan.
Unlike the NFL, the NBA will lose out BIG TIME. The NFL isn’t losing a dime, the NBA is hemorrhaging.
Lebron WAS the face of the League until he ran from his own destiny. Dirk is a heck of a good guy and very humble, but even winning the Larry O’Brien won’t put him on a pile of commercials.
NBA better get in gear. Every day that Blake Griffin can’t get on the court and make Sports Center highlights is a day that the NBA loses cash.
Michael Cunningham
June 23rd, 2011
9:35 pm
@BEN: “MC, so the Hawks are going to do NOTHING AGAIN?”
i assume they are eventually going to make a pick. still nothing on a trade.
Buddy Grizzard
June 23rd, 2011
9:36 pm
“…make this worth hanging in there before epic fail draft pick by Hawks in the second round.”
Hawks should make a trade for Cleveland’s 32 pick and draft Norris Cole if he’s still there.
cp
June 23rd, 2011
9:36 pm
Nolan Smith is a good pick for Portland
Big Ray
June 23rd, 2011
9:37 pm
ROFL @ Grandad .
Najeh Davenpoop
June 23rd, 2011
9:37 pm
Nolan Smith seems kinda high for #21. Apparently he might be going to the Nuggets. Andre Miller and Raymond Felton are about to get swapped for each other.
hawksfancents95
June 23rd, 2011
9:37 pm
whoa i love that pick for portland. noland will takeover for andre later in the season. if roy and oden can play for 75% of the season portland can beat anyone in the west.
i think denver goes faried right here
Michael Cunningham
June 23rd, 2011
9:37 pm
@Grandad: dude, why the hate?
also, they just showed a Derek Smith clip. he played at Louisville.
Big Ray
June 23rd, 2011
9:38 pm
Hawks should make a trade for Cleveland’s 32 pick and draft Norris Cole if he’s still there.
I can get down with that. Of course, a good suggestion is just about a guarantee that it won’t happen. Yes, I’m being a pessimist.
Najeh Davenpoop
June 23rd, 2011
9:38 pm
“you hearing anything about the hawks on twitter?”
Nah.
http://www.google.com/search?q=hawks&hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&hs=Gab&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&prmd=ivnsu&source=lnms&ei=LOoDTvXqD8rIgQfkh6TMDQ&sa=X&oi=mode_link&ct=mode&cd=6&ved=0CCEQ_AUoBQ&tbm=mbl&tbs=mbl_hs:1308793039,mbl_he:1308879439,mbl_rs:1308879224,mbl_re:1308879296,mbl_dr:n&biw=977&bih=482
Buddy Grizzard
June 23rd, 2011
9:40 pm
Miami should take Trey Thompkins at 31 if he’s still there. Big three will get in his head and get him on a conditioning program. If he gets in NBA shape he will be a monster. Absolutely complete offensive game.
Mr.Phil
June 23rd, 2011
9:42 pm
So the Hawks do not need to make a move because Nene is opting out to come here.
Big Ray
June 23rd, 2011
9:42 pm
And there goes Faried.
Najeh Davenpoop
June 23rd, 2011
9:43 pm
There goes Faried. Apparently he’s going to Portland along with Felton.
Luke Cage
June 23rd, 2011
9:43 pm
He woulda made a damn good Hawk
Grandad
June 23rd, 2011
9:44 pm
Portland and Denver are consumating right now.
I hope they are using protection.
So, which one uses the condiment.
Najeh Davenpoop
June 23rd, 2011
9:45 pm
The Bulls just traded up and they are on the clock.
Najeh Davenpoop
June 23rd, 2011
9:45 pm
“Portland and Denver are consumating right now.
I hope they are using protection.
So, which one uses the condiment.”
It would probably help if one of them had OJ Mayo.
jason
June 23rd, 2011
9:46 pm
Marshon Brooks is slipping.. maybe even to the 48th pick !
Big Ray
June 23rd, 2011
9:47 pm
Blake Griffin’s “dunked over a Kia” commercial again.
Yet another reminder that the NBA will suffer a broken leg if the lockout gets into the season.
cp
June 23rd, 2011
9:47 pm
Marshon Brooks has slipped farther than I thought he would. Would be a good replacement for Jamal but that would require Sund to put the chicken down and get creative.
jason
June 23rd, 2011
9:47 pm
AJC should give you a blog Najeh…
Big Ray
June 23rd, 2011
9:48 pm
LOL @ Grandad and Najeh…
Big Ray
June 23rd, 2011
9:48 pm
AJC should give you a blog Najeh…
Amen.
It was not a bad pick
June 23rd, 2011
9:48 pm
Najeh Davenpoop
June 23rd, 2011
9:00 pm
The Hawks’ pick that was traded to Washington is 3 picks away. Very good chance Faried, Singleton, and Leonard will all be on the board at that point, and all of them could have helped the Hawks, even in this weak draft. Singleton and Leonard are nothing special but both are instantly better than Marvin.
LOL, when will this Marvin bashing stop?..Put Marvin on any other team in the NBA and he eats Singleton or Leonard for lunch!
Najeh Davenpoop
June 23rd, 2011
9:49 pm
This Mirotic character is going to the Bulls. Yet another front court player for them.
Mr.Phil
June 23rd, 2011
9:49 pm
Shouldn’t the commissh get briefed on how to pronounce these guys names? Maybe phonetic name
cards
Big Ray
June 23rd, 2011
9:50 pm
Stern struggling with naming the 23rd pick…priceless.
Sund is chillin’ out and eating chicken because Gearon told him to stop with the trades up. Only selling picks is allowed. Not buying them.
Najeh Davenpoop
June 23rd, 2011
9:50 pm
“AJC should give you a blog Najeh…”
Haha. I don’t think I have enough original thoughts in me to have my own blog. This format of responding to something MC or Big Ray posts is much easier and requires much less initiative.
hawksfancents95
June 23rd, 2011
9:51 pm
okc goes jajuan johnson
Big Ray
June 23rd, 2011
9:51 pm
LOL, when will this Marvin bashing stop?..Put Marvin on any other team in the NBA and he eats Singleton or Leonard for lunch!
Yeah…except when the Hawks DID try to put him on another NBA team, nobody would take him. Put THAT in your pipe and smoke it…
hawksfancents95
June 23rd, 2011
9:52 pm
or okc goes thompkins
Najeh Davenpoop
June 23rd, 2011
9:53 pm
One guy who is still available who I think might be pretty good is Darius Morris.