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
Najeh Davenpoop
June 23rd, 2011
10:39 pm
Josh Selby, Jeremy Tyler, both UGA players still available.
SteveW
June 23rd, 2011
10:40 pm
Chad Ford thinks this may be Leslie’s time
terrell
June 23rd, 2011
10:41 pm
Congrats to my kinfolk Chris Singleton. Headed to DC. Do your thing boy!
jason
June 23rd, 2011
10:41 pm
Rudy to the mavs? no way they resign caron butler now
SteveW
June 23rd, 2011
10:42 pm
I think Sund said we were getting a college Sr. almost certainly. Tyler is only 20
I guess he may make an exception if one of the UGA guys is still around.
BigTimeTECHFan
June 23rd, 2011
10:42 pm
Mack 2nd round, crazy steal
CONservative Johnson
June 23rd, 2011
10:42 pm
ryan, it’s been a pretty good show; though not as good as last week.
hawksfancents95
June 23rd, 2011
10:42 pm
the wizards had a great draft.wow. vesely singleton and mack. they look like they can make a push for the playoffs.
Najeh Davenpoop
June 23rd, 2011
10:43 pm
I like Tyler as an upside pick. I don’t think any other big man available here is going to make a realistic contribution to a good team. Tyler may not make a contribution right away, but at least he has enough talent to where he might make a contribution down the road.
SteveW
June 23rd, 2011
10:43 pm
Selby only a Fr., so I guess that rules him out for the Hawks also
Mike
June 23rd, 2011
10:44 pm
This suck beyond sucks, it just so boring
jason
June 23rd, 2011
10:44 pm
I wonder if that orl/atl/dal trade is going to happen
cp
June 23rd, 2011
10:44 pm
I wanted the Hawks to get Honeycutt.
SteveW
June 23rd, 2011
10:44 pm
Najeh – I wouldn’t mind the pick – just going on what Sund and Pendegraft have said. I’d love to have a 6-11 260 C with some upside.
It was not a bad pick
June 23rd, 2011
10:46 pm
I think Tyler is going to be a Hawk!..Steal of the draft, i hope we don’t trade him like we traded last year’s steal of the draft!
Big ray and O’brien,
You guys are not making any valid points.Next year Josh will make 13,200,000, now seriously, All 3 of us know Josh is not worth that kind of money, for every good game he has, he blows 3 or 4, and he is preventing Al from playing PF!..Big Ray, you even admitted that the hawks should trade him….
Michael Cunningham
June 23rd, 2011
10:46 pm
why do these Coors Light commercials expect us to still buy Ice Cube as a gangsta? i mean, he’s still a hip hop pioneer but come on, man.
Luke Cage
June 23rd, 2011
10:46 pm
SSSSHHHHHH !!!! Stop saying Jeremy Tyler’s name, if you don’t say anything he may slip to 48 LOL
cp
June 23rd, 2011
10:47 pm
Leslie is an athlete but he cant shoot
hawksfancents95
June 23rd, 2011
10:47 pm
i bet 40-47 a run of all of our hopefuls goes down. parsons leur tyler leslie morris benson moore, it will leave us with lighty which is ok but if we can get one of the above we will have a great draft
BigTimeTECHFan
June 23rd, 2011
10:47 pm
Hope hawks get
1. Matt Howard Buler
or Chandler or Macklin from FLorida
It was not a bad pick
June 23rd, 2011
10:47 pm
@Najeh Davenpoop
So you don’t think we could start Tyler next year?
CONservative Johnson
June 23rd, 2011
10:47 pm
It was not a bad pick, it’s just pure BS to say Josh blows 3 or 4 games per every good game . . .
SteveW
June 23rd, 2011
10:47 pm
Charles Jenkins, Diante Garret, Josh Harrelson, John Leuer, E’twaun Moore (JC2 clone, almost), Hansbrough, Thomas, Thompkins, Leslie, Benson, Lighty, Goudelock, Malcolm Thomas all left.
We may get a 10-15 mpg game guy yet. Maybe not at the beginning of the season, but somebody that can work in to a little playing time.
hawksfancents95
June 23rd, 2011
10:48 pm
TECHfan- i think matt howard is one of those guys who you sign as a FA and whenever u put him in for however long he will be efficent and produce. if dejuan blair can play extended mins matt howard of butler can play
KevinM
June 23rd, 2011
10:49 pm
Honeycut would be good
Tyler could be good
Travis Leslie
I wish for Kanter in some way…..
cp
June 23rd, 2011
10:49 pm
There goes Parson
BigTimeTECHFan
June 23rd, 2011
10:50 pm
Is Goudelock still available?
J.J.M.
June 23rd, 2011
10:50 pm
lol oh well thats what atl gets for not moving up
SteveW
June 23rd, 2011
10:51 pm
There goes Trey and Chandler
And there is still justice in the world. If Chandler would have went before Trey – Trey’s a much better ball player. I think somebody got a 15 and 8 guy eventually in Trey.
ryan
June 23rd, 2011
10:51 pm
That X division match was pretty exciting that only reason i watch TNA is high flying matches .
Luke Cage
June 23rd, 2011
10:52 pm
DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMMMMMMMMMMNNNNNNNN
SteveW
June 23rd, 2011
10:52 pm
And there goes Jeremy Tyler….
BigTimeTECHFan
June 23rd, 2011
10:52 pm
hawksfancents95 – I like Howard, will do anything to win, has skills and has a way of getting into other teams head, him and Hortford would work well together
J.J.M.
June 23rd, 2011
10:52 pm
His body fat is 12 percent.. which is pretty good if you’re a sea lion” – jay bilas
jason
June 23rd, 2011
10:52 pm
jeremy tyler i can just tell he will have a low b bal iq
cp
June 23rd, 2011
10:52 pm
Tyler is gone.
J.J.M.
June 23rd, 2011
10:52 pm
stingggggg
Luke Cage
June 23rd, 2011
10:52 pm
TNA SUX, why watch that bad booking crap!!!
jason
June 23rd, 2011
10:53 pm
Goudelock seems to be the guy the hawks will draft
SteveW
June 23rd, 2011
10:53 pm
Goudelock still out there – most had him drafted in the 50’s
CONservative Johnson
June 23rd, 2011
10:53 pm
What crappy show do you watch, Luke Cage?
KevinM
June 23rd, 2011
10:53 pm
Rick Sund=non-factor in the 2011 draft…the best way we could have improved.
It was not a bad pick
June 23rd, 2011
10:53 pm
I am done with the Hawks!…wtf, we refuse to get a center…I just don’t get it!
SteveW
June 23rd, 2011
10:53 pm
My guess #48 taken around 11:00 pm is not going to be far off..
hawksfancents95
June 23rd, 2011
10:53 pm
i got $ milwaukee takes jon leur
Sunds Brain
June 23rd, 2011
10:54 pm
Jamie Skeen from VCU
Lets get him
J.J.M.
June 23rd, 2011
10:55 pm
at least tna isnt pg
SteveW
June 23rd, 2011
10:55 pm
The Bucks certainly don’t need Leslie after today, glad they didn’t take him.
Leuer’s off the board
jason
June 23rd, 2011
10:56 pm
CMON #48
SteveW
June 23rd, 2011
10:56 pm
Don’t be surprised if the Lakers don’t get Leslie, unless they think he’s to close to that other G they have in skill set