Atlanta Hawks: Assistant GM Dave Pendergraft on the draft
Hawks general manager Rick Sund gives much of the responsibility for the NBA draft to assistant GM Dave Pendergraft and director of basketball operations Mike McNieve.
Some excerpts from Pendergraft’s chat with reporters:
On having lots of open roster spots:
“That’s what I tell the [draft-eligible] players. Come July 1 we will have only six guys under contract. In a perfect world our 23rd pick becomes a rotational player and our 43rd pick will be talented enough to join our roster. That’s the best-case scenario. We feel like we will be able to get a good player at both positions.”
On chances of getting rotational-quality player with 23rd pick:
“That’s our hope. At 23 there are some guys that have potential and you have to wait on it and then there are several guys that might not have as much potential but you can put them in the game the first two or three years, whether it is four-year players or physically they are more mature. It’s just going to depend on who’s there. We would like to get a player that can come in and play for us next year.”
On if the potential 2013 free agency of Josh Smith and Zaza Pachulia will influence the selection:
“You always look to the future on the decisions you make. But rarely where you are picking where we are picking do you take a player on positioning. You take the best player, the best talent you can get at that time. You always look to the future and [if] there are two players that are basically equal talent and you feel just as good about then maybe you will look to the future and maybe for the organization this is the right thing to do. Not every year is the same. The decision that we make the last week in Thursday, it will be well thought out with [consideration of] the six players that we have [under contract], free agency in mind and the best player that we feel like is left on the board.”
On which college skills and production are good predictors of NBA success:
“Shooting and rebounding. Generally if you shoot well in college that’s an NBA skill that comes to the next level. And if you rebound the ball well in college that’s generally a skill that comes with you as well.”
On building a roster for summer league:
“We are an attractive destination just because of our roster spot. We’ve got some of the better players that were in the D-League last year. Statistically, they were some of the better players. We are going to wait and hold a couple spots to see who falls through the cracks in the draft like we always do. The good thing about this year’s summer program is there is a lot of interest in it.”
On if Sergiy Gladyr will join the summer league team:
“We don’t know yet. Pape Sy will. We will play him at a different position in the past. We experimented with moving him to the point but the learning curve wasn’t fair for him and his natural position is probably a two. We are going to bring him over and he will be involved with us this summer. Sergei, we don’t know. We are going back and forth with his agent. He has made strides in the ACB. But is he ready? We are not looking for future prospects in our summer program this year. In the past we said, ‘Let’s just bring him in and watch him for 10 days and maybe down the road there will be a future.’ Well, there is some urgency in our summer league this year because of the roster spots. That being said, Sergei may be two or three years down the road and maybe next summer will be the best opportunity for him.”
On if he can say which players have committed to the summer league team:
“Not yet because still holding a couple spots. We will release that when we get it solidified, which we think will be 24 hours after the draft. The bad news is none of our Hawk players are playing. Most teams have two or three of their guys in Vegas playing and we will have all rookies.”
On the predraft workout process:
“Usually we want to keep the last week of draft open. But because of scheduling conflict we go into the last week and have Monday and Tuesday of draft week open. That’s the unusual thing this year as opposed to the last three years. I think our numbers will be up because, although we’ve seen a lot of players at the New Jersey combine and the Minnesota combine, we wanted to be sure that the No. 23 pick would at least come to Atlanta at some point and time. So to facilitate the workout and including our 43rd pick our numbers are probably a little higher than usual.”
On how workout groupings are decided:
“It’s totally the availability of the players. We are not a lottery team so there are probably a pool of 15 players that teams are picking where we are will bring [them] in. Most of the workouts are coming after the predraft camp. You try to match up guard to guard and big to big and then a combination of both. . . . You try to make it that way but there are things you can’t control, the players can’t control, the agents can’t control. It’s hard to make it work out. ”
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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211 comments Add your comment
SteveW
June 18th, 2012
12:41 am
Sund, in his interview the other day indicated that the Hawks still had their bi-annual exception to use.
Wikipedia says the bi-annual exception was eliminated with the new CBA. It says speaking of the bi-annual exception,
“The exception was eliminated following the 2011 NBA lockout as many high spending teams were using this as a tool to gain top paid players.[6]”
I wonder which is correct – Sund or Wikipedia?
You would think Sund, but with Sund thinking retirement, you never know – and with this bunch, who are used to selling picks and signing vet min. guys, you really never know. They’ve never used it before have they?
SteveW
June 18th, 2012
12:45 am
Glad Sy is getting another look. I thought he played ok in camp last season – DLeague and Summer also. No J to speak of, but can get to the hoop at will, and plays strong D.
SteveW
June 18th, 2012
12:49 am
Team:
ZaZa
Al
Josh
Marvin
JJ
Teague
Sy
1st pick
2nd pick
Benson?
That’s 10 guys.
I see why Sund isn’t making noise about trading Josh for the 2nd pick, like he did last season. Thomas Robinson just doesn’t look as promising as Al Horford coming out of college. He’s shorter than Al, weaker in the Bench press than Al, has no offensive game to speak of – but he does rebound well.
MKG, Beal, Drummond – that UNC guy – they all have question marks.
SteveW
June 18th, 2012
12:52 am
Reading the Chicago news, it seems they either want Kidd or Hinrich to play PG with DRose out.
Can’t believe they’re thinking of cutting Watson – that guys good – maybe not starter good – but 18 mpg off the bench good.
SteveW
June 18th, 2012
12:53 am
Folks are saying Miller is up to 7 mill per year – I’m saying wow.
I wonder what we can get Billups for – he’s out until Jan.
SteveW
June 18th, 2012
12:55 am
Didn’t we already announce Caracter, Hazell, and Butch?
I’m guessing Butch makes the team unless he’s injured.
SteveW
June 18th, 2012
12:57 am
That SF out of Missouri Draftexpress has us drafting sounds good – can’t remember his name – Man, I’m getting old!
SteveW
June 18th, 2012
12:58 am
Royce White in the 1st round Draftexpress has us getting looks slow as Christmas on film. But he’s huge. He threw Nicholson off like a child at the combine.
Grandad
June 18th, 2012
1:30 am
Jump-stop vs Pro-hop
Jump-stop;
is a perfectly legitimate, authorized, sanctioned, permissable, legal
move any league anywhere.
executed by;
ballhandler must be dribbling and leave floor while:
(a) ball is between dribbles [e.g. not in ballhandlers hand]
(b) ballhandler must land on two feet simultaneously
Thus, he`s allowed to pivot.
If `n he leaves floor with ball in his hands,
then he must release ball before landing or it is a travel.
If `n he has the ball in his hands and jumps, [leaves the floor]
then the same rule apllies.
otherwise the basic rules of basketball
would need to be thrown out the window.
The Pro-Hop;
Whatever the heck that is ?
A creation of the NBA perhaps ?
just like the added Xtra step:
two steps are now permissable in the NBA [by rule]
after a ballhandler picks up his dribble.
A basic castration of the Rules of the Game.
I`m certain that the Pro-Hop is some sort of NBA referee
interpretation of the original rules that allow for greater
entertainment value;
also applied only when Shaq, LBJ or other select few
use said moves.
Guaranteed that if Zaza tried the Pro-Hop
he would be called for travelling !
High-sider
June 18th, 2012
2:01 am
@Grandad
Thanks for the “Jump-stop” vs “Pro-hop” breakdown.
Ernest
June 18th, 2012
6:00 am
MC, maybe I missed your comment from before but are you going to continue the season review series on the remaining players on the team?
Astro Joe
June 18th, 2012
9:57 am
I’m glad to hear the Hawks are focused on a player who is ready to contribute sooner than later. Pendergraft also raises a good point about the summer league roster likely being among the better gropu of players due to the number of vacancies on the team. This may be Sy’s last chance to prove that he is an NBA talent… too bad it took the Hawks 2 years to determine if he is not a PG. He appears to be more athlete than basketball player… seems like 6′5″ guys who can jump can be found anywhere. But LD gets another shot with his pet project.
SteveW
June 18th, 2012
10:09 am
AJ – The thing about Sy is his ability to get to the hoop. Remember Pendegraft drafts based on 1 NBA talent with the later picks – and Sy’s is the ability to get to the hoop. Also, can be a very good defender.
Listed at 6-7, so your probably correct, closer to 6-5. Looks long however
Melvin
June 18th, 2012
10:31 am
Looks like the league is going to do everything they can to get Lebron his title this year. The officiating has been unfair towards OKC in my opinion.
glw
June 18th, 2012
10:55 am
@ Northcyde
I doubt the Hawks go with a youth movement, while the GM bring in a lot of the players, its ultimately the coach who decides who makes the team and who doesnt. And just like last year, when the Hawks chose to go with Stackhouse. His spot could have just as easily gone to Pape Sy, who could have developed and had time to learn the system. Its obvious he was raw. I think this philosophy has just as much to do with whats wrong with the Hawks as the other factors which make them who they are. Drew is trying to save his job and he would rather trust an old washed up vet more than a guy with potential I wouldnt expect anything different this year. I think they will limit the amount of vet minimum guys they bring in, but I expect at least 3 of those type guys to bring in. At best, the Hawks would have the 1st round pick, and a 2nd younger player, either a 2nd round pick or Pape Sy makes it as the 13th guy.
Ken Strickland
June 18th, 2012
10:56 am
STEVEW-It looks like we’re repeating the same ill advised mistake of trying to make a PG out of Sy that we made when we tried to make one out of his fellow Frenchman and former Hawks draft pick Boris Diaw. If the trade I suggested with the Lakers didn’t work out, I’d look to the Bulls.
I’d see if they would be willing to trade LDeng and CBrewer, K Korver, or RHamilton, for JJohnson. With the question mark hanging over them and the future health of DRose, they could certainly use a SG with JJs scoring and playmaking skills.
Najeh Davenpoop
June 18th, 2012
11:11 am
What LeBron did is not a jump stop or a pro hop, but is in fact a Crab Dribble.
JayD
June 18th, 2012
11:12 am
SIZE also goes with you to the next level. The Hawks need to get bigger!
KevinM
June 18th, 2012
11:20 am
So heading into this season, we have LD on a one year deal. We aren’t going to be adding any long term contracts, not that we have room. The question should be how many young guys can we expect to have on this roster?
I think maybe 2 at most, probably just one if we can nail the draft picks. We will have a summer league that more than likely won’t have a guy making this roster.
I hear Brian Butch and Pape Sy, but please, Pape Sy as a SG? You’re going to put a non-shooting ‘athlete’ out there? This is purely a LD pet rescue mission. He must see his skill set in Pape Sy.
I don’t have a lot of understanding how we keep changing to bottom of the roster to keep making the top of the roster try to look so good?
Let’s update the top of the roster and let these spare parts work themselves out. Its gonna be a group of vets working at the minimum and yet when they don’t produce, we bang on them like they are the key to the ECF.
And 1 man’s vote: Kirk Hinrich in a Hawks uniform doesn’t improve this team.
Astro Joe
June 18th, 2012
11:50 am
Kevin, Hinrich won’t return… he get get better than the vet’s minimum from another team (likely closer to $3M). And you’re right, improving the talent at the bottom won’t get us into the conference finals… a better bench and a healthy starting 5 will get us into a competitive 2nd round where we will lose to one of the two best teams int he conference.
I suspect that we will have 3 young players… the 1st round pick and a combo of NBDL players and the 2nd round pick (and that does not include Ivan).
BIG DOG
June 18th, 2012
12:10 pm
Northcyde – In all your starting lineup i see Marvin starting, SMH
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
BIG DOG
June 18th, 2012
12:12 pm
LD is not starting Marvin in 2012 if so has 2 be the dumbest head coach in NBA.
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
cdog
June 18th, 2012
12:13 pm
thats why pendergraft should be the GM instead of rick sund. anything would be better than sund.
BIG DOG
June 18th, 2012
12:17 pm
Northcyde – If there is no changes in 2012 here is your starting linup.
Teague, Joe, Josh, Horford, Zaza
Pargo, Gerald Green, Marvin, Ivan, Fab Melo
Willie Green, Tmac, Collins.
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
cp
June 18th, 2012
12:21 pm
As mentioned by glw, LD probably prefers vets since he is on a one year contract. Dude is coaching for another contract so I’m sure he feels more comfortable with a season vet rather than a young guy even if that vet is over the hill. The Hawks have to do a better job at developing talent and managing assets but its hard to do when a coach has no type of job security. I think our 2 draft picks and maybe one guy from the summe league makes the team and the rest will be vet min guys like a Pargo or Willie Green. I just hope we dont see Twin on this roster next year. I cant take another year of that dude .
I really wish the draft was on TNT. Stuart Scott almost makes the draft unwatchable. He was absolutely terrible last year. It was bad enough the Hawks didnt pick until almost the end of the second round but listening to him made it worse. They either have to have somebody replace Scott or just give it back to TNT.
Astro Joe
June 18th, 2012
1:03 pm
cp, I agree with all of your points.
The other possibility are D-League players with a fair amount of experience. Guys who have “toiled” in the D League for 3+ years in theory should be more ready to contribute to an NBA roster than a 2nd rounder fresh out of college.
O'Brien
June 18th, 2012
1:08 pm
Melvin,
From hoopshype;
Craig Stouffer: Awesome evaluation sample for Andre Drummond workout with #Wizards: he goes 1-for-4 at the line, workout over. #top3pickright? (Twitter)
“The season is over. I’m on to the next chapter,” Drummond said. “I feel that I had on okay year. Things I could’ve done better: Score more. Play less passive. Grab more rebounds and block a few more shots. I felt I was ready to make the move [to the NBA] and that’s what I did.” Washington Post.
Not sure what to expect from him…
Najeh,
Of course, they could always move down and collect a few million dollars extra to pay the electric bills like they did in 2010..
The score board is not going to fix itself.
O'Brien
June 18th, 2012
1:10 pm
The Hawks have been busy. From business news;
The Atlanta Hawks promoted Ailey Penningroth to chief marketing officer and senior vice president.
The team also promoted Phil Ebinger and Scott Wilkinson to executive vice president. .
I hope the new CMO does a better job than the last guy, because Hawks are not very good at marketing (imo).
pointguardslim
June 18th, 2012
1:37 pm
2012 – 13 roster
PG: Teague – [PG] – Pargo
G: Johnson – Alex Young – Al Thornton
F: Smith – Marvin Williams – Al Thornton*
PF: Horford – Ivan Johnson –
C: Zaza – Fab Melo/Festus Ezeli – Dampier
——–
PG – $2,433,076 – [$$$$]* – $1,352,181
SG – $19,752,645 – $473,604* – $402,419*
SF – $13,200,000 – $8,287,500 – *
PF – $12,000,000 – $1,352,181*
C – $5,248,750 – $1,167,000* – $1,223,166*
60,921,971 = Signed players – Teague, Johnson, Smith, Horford, Pachulia + Williams
5,970,551 = Pargo, Young, Thornton, Johnson, Melo/Ezeli, Dampier
2nd team point guard = ?
66,892,522 w/o the Second string PG to move Pargo to 3rd reserve PG.
If you entice (key word being entice) a vet for $4M PG to come to ATL such as Kidd or Miller then that’s still less than the $73,512,021 listed here.
http://hoopshype.com/salaries/atlanta.htm
1: Teague – Johnson – Smith – Horford – Pachulia
2: [Andre Miller/Hinrich] – Alex Young – Al Thornton – Ivan Johnson – Melo/Ezeli
3: Pargo; Dampier
PGs that might, might, might well come to ATL for cash and years rather than the Heat or wherever else: Miller, Kidd.
Devin Harris- Earl Watson – Earl Watson – Earl Watson – Earl Watson – C.J. Watson(Bulls) – Shaun Livingston
Hinrich is a realistic backpocket option i guess. Taking CJ watson from the Bulls would be nice and he should stay at $3.2 mil. Shaun Livingston is available and could be nice off the bench.
Alternatively the Hawks could invest in a Sundiata Gaines or some lesser talent.
But either way that should be around $3 mil less than what they shelled out in 2011-2012/
pointguardslim
June 18th, 2012
1:41 pm
Big Dog do not bring back Tracy. He’s deteriorating and fast. Is there any consistent advantage in a guy who can’t shoot can’t elevate and gets injured at crucial moments.
Too much drama and unreliability.
Gerald Green is likely going back to Brooklyn. And Earl Watson, would bring toughness while CJ Watson would be nice to sabotage the Bulls who are in disarray. Watson might leave for $3.5 mil and 3 years and an option. Which is slightly more than he makes now
cp
June 18th, 2012
1:42 pm
@Astro. Im thinking we will have a few d league guys like you just described on the summer league team. This is a great chance for them because the Hawks have so many roster spots but so little money. Those guys are going to do whatever it takes to show they belong on the team.
Melvin
June 18th, 2012
1:50 pm
OB,
The more I think about it, I think I would draft the best wing player at #5 and big at #23. If Josh walks, then you have money to sign other bigs…
If Cleveland draft SG Bradley Beal from Flordia, maybe they would still be interested in Marvin. I would trade Marvin to them for as little as a 2nd round pick. Just to move his salary off the books. Then use the cap space to round out the roster.
Astro Joe
June 18th, 2012
2:10 pm
cp, yep… hopefully those guys will be hungry, kind of like Ivan.
Astro Joe
June 18th, 2012
2:38 pm
I wish we had money for Sonny Weems. He was coming along nicely in the ‘10-11 season and then took the sure money from a Euro team and headed overseas (instead of waiting for CBA resolution). There are probably some other guys who were at the end of the NBA bench who made a similar move and now are trying to return. But Weems is a UFA and is a hard-nosed SG who will likely get more than the vet’s minimum. Bottom line, the Hawks should have a decent talent pool to complete their roster… of course, that won’t change the roster slot 1-6 situation.
vino
June 18th, 2012
2:49 pm
if denver didnt trade up to select ty lawson the pick right before we took Jeff, we probably would have took Lawson and he would have ridden the bench the same way jeff did his first three years….
WOODY DONT PLAY ROOKIES!!!!!!
Najeh Davenpoop
June 18th, 2012
2:50 pm
The fact that we are talking about Pape Sy like he is a key piece to next season says all you need to know about this team as currently constructed.
BIG DOG
June 18th, 2012
2:56 pm
pointguardslim – Thanks bro
BIG DOGS IN THE HOUSE
Rod from College Park
June 18th, 2012
3:00 pm
Pape Sy. SMH
BIG DOG
June 18th, 2012
3:00 pm
pointguardslim – Why Northcyde always have Marvin starting ? is Northcyde and enemy of Hawks or what, who in there right mind would continue 2 starte Marvin after watching him for past 6years do nothing, JUST DAM
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
@atlsportfan4eva
June 18th, 2012
3:02 pm
real Hawks fan, stop buying tickets and sit back and hope the ASG sell this team soon. I am bored with this team and have been for as long as the ASG have been owners. I am no longer giving my money to this organization. Not even to watch the visitng team.
Slimjr
June 18th, 2012
3:42 pm
A guard with no jumpshot [Pape Sy] what a terrible idea?
Slimjr
June 18th, 2012
3:45 pm
doc, how bout those Braves? Crickets………….roll eyes…
Lost 6 of last 7..Headed to Yankee stadium tonight. Yankees on a 9 game winning streak!
Oh the Humanity…..
prison mike
June 18th, 2012
3:51 pm
Yeah I dont’ respect guys that crab dribble. I don’t even tolerate it on the playgrounds.
Rod from College Park
June 18th, 2012
3:55 pm
BIG DOG,
“who in there right mind would continue 2 starte Marvin after watching him for past 6years do nothing, JUST DAM”
The key words in your sentence are right mind. Northcyde in a fantasy basketball player. He does not look at the games. Everything he does is based on fantasy. So actually he is not in his right mind.
Glenn
June 18th, 2012
3:59 pm
That Pape Si was a second round pick . The fact that he is part of the team is amazing . I’m not seeing Fab Melo being there when the Hawks draft . A team will roll the dice on him due to size alone between 15-20 .
As far as the Laker trade they will want ZaZa & Josh for Gasol . Thats kinda steep imo . Gasol is a 4 for the most part as well . Not the 5 we need to team up with Horford .
glw
June 18th, 2012
4:22 pm
@BIG DOG
Not to speak for northcyde, Im not sure he is necessarily saying Marvin is the starter, but as the team is currently constructed, he probably is the starter more or less by default. Of course that could change with the drafting of a guy like Jeffrey Taylor or a free agent signing. As bad as Marvin is at times,currently, he is probably our no.1 option at small forward. But I will agree with you thing you said…(DAMN!!!!)
glw
June 18th, 2012
4:28 pm
As bad as the Hawks financial situation is with the Joe Johnson contract, Boozer is even more of a handicap to the Bulls. With Rose max deal kicking in this year, they will be in luxury tax range. I think someone will overpay for Asik knowing Bulls probably wont match it. Short of that, they might have to dump Korver and or Russell. There is even talk of them trading Deng. I thnk the bulls will take a big drop off next year.
Just Joe
June 18th, 2012
4:30 pm
Going to have to get creative to move Marvin.
Marvin, #43, and next year’s 1st rd pick to Portland for Jamal Crawford, #40 & #41.
Jamal extended his player option decision until the day after the draft. If there’s a trade available, he’ll opt in to his $5M contract for next year just before Portland trades him. This also establishes bird rights for Jamal on his next contract. Portland takes on Marvin & drops from pick 41 to pick 43, with the incentive of trading their 40th pick in this year’s draft for our 1st rd pick in next year’s draft.
Hawks save $3M and have the ability with picks 40 & 41 to package them and trade back in to the late 1st round. It would be nice for the Hawks to target seniors Jeff Taylor & Andrew Nicholson. Draftexpress currently has those players going 24th & 27th. I’m not so optomistic about them being available then, but a run on big men like Ezeli & Melo could drop them until later in the first round.
glw
June 18th, 2012
4:48 pm
@Just Joe,
Nice trade!!!! they can even keep both their 2nd rd draft picks if they would just take Marvin.
Buddy Grizzard
June 18th, 2012
4:51 pm
“You’re going to put a non-shooting ‘athlete’ out there?” – KevinM
Haha and people on this blog want to draft Wroten. If the Hawks draft Wroten and Sy makes the team, they can both fight over the “combo guard who can’t play either position” minutes.
“And 1 man’s vote: Kirk Hinrich in a Hawks uniform doesn’t improve this team.”
Strongly disagree. With KH gone, the biggest dilemma facing the Hawks is replacing his perimeter D. Remember, in the first game against Chicago last year, Teague was so pathetic trying to guard drose that LD put Joe on drose for much of the game. Any time KH was on the bench against BOS it was a layup drill for Rondo with Pargo or Teague guarding him.
This is a huge hole in the roster that must be filled or you’re going to find out just how valuable KH was to this team.