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
Luke Cage
June 23rd, 2011
10:57 pm
I used to watch TNA but the story lines are weak, they bury their own homegrown talent.
SteveW
June 23rd, 2011
10:57 pm
If the Hawks got Leslie, LD is not the Coach for him. He could destroy Leslie.
LD wants finished products, nothing you have to develop.
See Jordan Crawford
BigTimeTECHFan
June 23rd, 2011
10:58 pm
Maybe Hawks will luck out and get Keith Benson, he’ll be starting Center
last year 17 points 10 RB 4 blocks for Oakland 7′2″ wing span
SteveW
June 23rd, 2011
10:59 pm
Smart move by LA – they need somebody to take over from Fish and Blake
hawksfancents95
June 23rd, 2011
10:59 pm
lakers got a good PG in morris. this has to be fishers last year.
Big Ray
June 23rd, 2011
10:59 pm
50 million trades in this draft. Hawks in none of them. Heh…
cp
June 23rd, 2011
10:59 pm
I was just about to say I hope Darius Morris would be there
J.J.M.
June 23rd, 2011
10:59 pm
I agree tn storylines are wack only because hogan took over
Luke Cage
June 23rd, 2011
11:00 pm
WWE is better but not by much, I quit watching that also, get tired of seeing the same 3 or 4 top guys all the time against each other PPV after PPV. I watch old Georgia Championship Wrestling & Mid Atlantic Championship Wrestling
SteveW
June 23rd, 2011
11:01 pm
Draft express actually had Benson going 51st, so he may still be around at 48
N.D.T.K.A.
June 23rd, 2011
11:01 pm
Watch as the Hawks take another jump shooter, with only ZaZa to rebound as Al and Josh have become “stretch 4’s”! We need rebounding help inside with Drew coaching this team….
Luke Cage
June 23rd, 2011
11:01 pm
Damn Hawks coulda gotten Tyler for nothing, just pick up the phone Sund???
jason
June 23rd, 2011
11:01 pm
hmm
CONservative Johnson
June 23rd, 2011
11:01 pm
Sting has gone nuts . . . Joker style!
cp
June 23rd, 2011
11:02 pm
Malcolm Lee would be a nice choice
hawksfancents95
June 23rd, 2011
11:02 pm
wow wow wow. GS got jeremy tyler from charlotte from a buyout. haha asg is content with getting no1 and just making the playoffs to make sure they got enough money to pay joe and make a little something for themselves.
It was not a bad pick
June 23rd, 2011
11:02 pm
WTF…
SteveW
June 23rd, 2011
11:02 pm
Scotty Hopson has a ton of potential, but his interview at the combine was weird. Scared alot of teams off.
jason
June 23rd, 2011
11:02 pm
Luke Cage,
Go to a WWE Blog we’re discussing that draft.
Mike
June 23rd, 2011
11:02 pm
Are you mad, WWE is hot suckage right now. i think WCW was better than WWE/F during the Monday Night Wars
Ken Strickland
June 23rd, 2011
11:02 pm
STEVEW-he really does like FINISHED products, in more ways than one. Remember MBibby, he certainly was FINISHED and he loved him.
darrell starks
June 23rd, 2011
11:03 pm
LESLIE MIGHT BE THERE CROSSING FINGER.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Big Ray
June 23rd, 2011
11:04 pm
LOL @ Ken Strickland…
J.J.M.
June 23rd, 2011
11:04 pm
r truth lil jimmy gimmick saved wwe for now
CONservative Johnson
June 23rd, 2011
11:04 pm
WWE is almost as awful as it has ever been. Cena is Superman. At least they made it look like Hogan was going to lose . . .
Luke Cage
June 23rd, 2011
11:04 pm
Jason,
Just responding to something someone asked, you need to tell Sund to discuss this draft because there’s alot of teams making move and we’re not one of them!!!
Dap01
June 23rd, 2011
11:04 pm
Larry is at this moment, saying let’s get a jump shooter. Heck, let’s trade for an exemption.
cp
June 23rd, 2011
11:04 pm
Sund ate that chicken and caught the itis
SteveW
June 23rd, 2011
11:05 pm
The Bulls may get Leslie? I wouldnt’ want he and Rose in the same backcourt. Who could stop them athletically?
ryan
June 23rd, 2011
11:05 pm
Have the Hawks drafted anyone yet who are they eying .
Mike
June 23rd, 2011
11:05 pm
They are probably talking about wrestling too in that war room.
SteveW
June 23rd, 2011
11:05 pm
Whew. Bulls get Lee
tyger
June 23rd, 2011
11:06 pm
Jon Leurer gone, only Gougalek and Benson left!!!
hawksfancents95
June 23rd, 2011
11:06 pm
id like to see us land leslie or benson of the guys left. id be content with etwaun moore and david lighty, anyone else im going to be upset
SteveW
June 23rd, 2011
11:07 pm
KenS – Ha! And Mo’ was on the way to being finished also – Good stuff Ken!
cp
June 23rd, 2011
11:07 pm
Well nevermind there goes Lee
Grandad
June 23rd, 2011
11:07 pm
Crap / Jenkins gone !
Luke Cage
June 23rd, 2011
11:08 pm
<======= ***Spidey Sense Tingling****
SteveW
June 23rd, 2011
11:08 pm
Awww – there went Jenkins. Thought we had a shot at him
And Paul to Leslie in the backcourt – it could happen, we’ll see.
J.J.M.
June 23rd, 2011
11:09 pm
we dont need a guard but if the hawks know josh will be traded then you have to draft travis to fill seats, besides its called “highlight” factory
hawksfancents95
June 23rd, 2011
11:09 pm
NO-idk
LAL-josh selby
LAC-SF
ATL-leslie or keith benson plz
Wabe
June 23rd, 2011
11:10 pm
so the word is leslie?
haven’t seen him enough to know if he’s any good. i have seen etuan moore.
regardless of who the hawks get, does it matter? will he clock any minutes?
i really think not
Grandad
June 23rd, 2011
11:11 pm
Prediction:
Giorgi Shermadini
Mike
June 23rd, 2011
11:11 pm
That pick was trade to Knicks so Travis is going to them.
BEN
June 23rd, 2011
11:11 pm
MC who are the Hawks taking? You have to heard of something….
SteveW
June 23rd, 2011
11:11 pm
Booooo!!! – There went Josh Harellson. Going to be a bench banger in this League.
When I see Harellson, I see hard fouls in the lane.
Would’ve been a good fit in ATL
bigcrimson75
June 23rd, 2011
11:11 pm
leslie to hawks!!!!!!!
Luke Cage
June 23rd, 2011
11:11 pm
Sund trades the pick for 2015 3rd rounder LOL!!
Wabe
June 23rd, 2011
11:12 pm
so i watched one 15 second youtube clip of travis leslie…
and what the hell…i’m sold.
Luke Cage
June 23rd, 2011
11:13 pm
Why are we talking to this guy, can we get back to the draft????