Atlanta Hawks: Prospect focus: Michigan State’s Draymond Green
The book on Draymond Green says he’s a high-energy, high-character banger with a long wingspan and soft hands. He’s a good passer, solid shooter and strong rebounder.
“I like him a lot,” Larry Drew said. “All of his intangibles he brings to the table, he is going to make someone a fine player. I don’t think there are enough players like him, that bring a little bit of everything to the table. He is certainly that type player, that caliber [of] player.”
Still, Green is 6-7, not very athletic and 22-years old. That means he’s probably too small to be a banger in the NBA, may not suited to play on the wing and probably isn’t going to get a whole lot better.
Green makes the case that being a four-year college player gives him an edge in maturity, both mentally and physically. He said that’s how he managed to be one of the best post players in D1 basketball in spite of his limitations.
“Every year I’ve learned to use my body more against guys with more length,” he said. “Just figuring out the little niches and the things you have to do. That just comes with more experience. I feel I will be a lot more mature [than younger rookies].”
Green said some teams have told him they like him as a wing, others say he can play power forward.
“Whenever I fit it in,” he said. “I just want to play, no matter what position. When I get out there on the court, I will find a way.”
Drew believes Green will find a way to make it in the league.
“If you look around the league you start to see more and more undersized guys playing at different positions,” Drew said. “A guy that has a great work ethic will always have a spot on a team. He certainly fits that profile.
“He’s a guy that can make shots. You can post him down low. He’s a good defensive player. He’s great at making plays. He averaged over three assists a game.
“He brings a lot to the table. He’s a tremendous kid. Great attitude. He’s the type of player that I think a coach would enjoy coaching. I think he’s going to have a terrific career.”
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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169 comments Add your comment
O'Brien
June 22nd, 2012
12:04 pm
What about Al Horford and Jeff Teague for Dalembert, Lowry and the #16 pick?
Why would ATL do it? We get an extra draft pick, and a solid experienced NBA PG. Dalembert and Zaza can hold down the center position, but the big risk of course is Josh, Zaza, and Dalembert would all be FA after one more season. That’s big risk to take.
Why would Houston do it? Dalembert and Lowry allegedly have issues with the coach, and Horford is signed to a decent deal for the next 4 years. And Teague would be in the mix with Goran Dragic (assuming he is resigned) at PG.
Plus maybe they could flip Al or Scola in a deal to the Lakers for Gasol.
Is that too risky a deal for the Hawks? Trade machine says +8 wins for the Hawks, and -7 wins for the Rockets.
Buddy Grizzard
June 22nd, 2012
12:05 pm
“So with all of that said, yeah, drafting a back-up PG remains fairly low on my list of priorities/needs for this team. That need can easily be addressed in free agency.”
Astro Joe on record, he wants Pargo back as the third guard.
Buddy Grizzard
June 22nd, 2012
12:07 pm
“What about Al Horford and Jeff Teague for Dalembert, Lowry and the #16 pick?”
Terrible trade. Horford’s long term value contract for a one season Dalembert rental and two seasons with Lowry? And we give up Teague? Are you interning for Sund?
KevinM
June 22nd, 2012
12:28 pm
Question 1 for this offseason: Now that we heard how LeBron went back to the basics, does that have an impact on Josh? Out of our 3 captains, Josh is the one who has the biggest opportunity to continue to improve.
IMO, Josh should go back and play to his advantages instead of trying to become a jump shooter. He needs to go back to Olajuwon and strengthen his post game.
2) Now that the Heat have won, does the ASG/Sund/Pendergraft have a counter punch to even consider competing for the division crown? Because we all know that if you can’t win your own division, what the realistic chances you will be one of 2 teams left standing for the championship next year?
Buddy Grizzard
June 22nd, 2012
12:54 pm
This team was competitive with both the Heat and the Celtics, who had the Heat down 3-2 before losing the final two games in the ECF. If not for poor defensive effort by Teague and retarded rotations by LD against BOS, we would have faced MIA in the ECF.
So there’s no question the ASG thinks we can compete with a healthy roster. Joe appears to be aging more gracefully than Dwade. Did Joe play with Nash at PHX? He needs to call Nash up and at least make noise about trying to bring him to ATL. This franchise needs to APPEAR TO BE TRYING even though we know Nash ain’t coming here.
cp
June 22nd, 2012
1:04 pm
Kevin Im hoping its not Green. Dude is the definition of a tweener. If he was there in the second then thats fine but I dont want him in the first. Im glad LD has no say in this draft because his player evaluations suck. And we both have been saying that LD wont be developing anybody thats why I dont care about selecting a guy who can play now because LD will still rather play the vets. Thats why I have no problem drafting a guy who has huge upside at 23. The Hawks will fill out the roster with vets and our draft picks will play in a blowout or if someone is injured.
ryan
June 22nd, 2012
1:06 pm
Heat basically bought a championship Thunder i have more respect for because they built that team through the draft with Durant but congrats to the Heat they can finally have a real celebration i wish the Hawks and Atlanta can have a better ownership some day and win a title .
coryB
June 22nd, 2012
1:20 pm
Why is everyone in love with fab melo? he’s a bust waiting to happen. He is a great shot blocker but what else? He’s too slim for his position and unathletic…looks flat out clumsy. he has long arms to block but no ups to speak of. Hawks have to try to move johnson or smith for draft picks.
coryB
June 22nd, 2012
1:32 pm
I’d love to get rid of johnson for draft picks and cap room. Sign a vet center and maybe draft a SG or another C. Hopefully talk josh smitth into extending his contract and make it HIS team. The guy is a beast get some good shooters around him that know how to also PASS the ball. Joe cramps everyones style on our team because his offense consists of dribble dribble, dribble dribble, dribble hop step shoot. If the hawks moved the ball more it would open lanes for smith to drive. it would open up the offense for guys like teague, rad, horford for shots. It wouldn’t surprise me to see smith get moved though… the hawks love trading good players away.
Najeh Davenpoop
June 22nd, 2012
1:44 pm
“If not for poor defensive effort by Teague and retarded rotations by LD against BOS, we would have faced MIA in the ECF.”
This is nonsense. The Hawks lost to the Celtics because they can’t score and the Celtics can. Defense keeps you in playoff games; offense wins them for you. When your crunch time plays result in Joe and Josh shooting contested jumpers, you are going to lose regardless of the defensive rotations.
Corps
June 22nd, 2012
1:52 pm
all we kneed is the core. with a healty core we can go all the way!
besides why would you want a character to add to this group of head hangers. we kneed a hard worker not some character.
Buddy Grizzard
June 22nd, 2012
2:16 pm
Najeh, I love reading your stuff, but this is the most absurd thing you have ever posted:
“The Hawks lost to the Celtics because they can’t score and the Celtics can.”
The ease with which the Celtics scored was purely a function of Larry Drew deciding to have poor defenders like Teague and Pargo try to check Rondo. Watch the video I linked. Teague ISN’T EVEN TRYING to stay in front of Rondo.
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
June 22nd, 2012
2:17 pm
I predict we will draft another undersized power forward.
Slimjr
June 22nd, 2012
2:42 pm
MC is there anyway you can give us an update on how the workouts went down today for the Hawks?
How did Andrew Nicholson perform?
WeNeedTree
June 22nd, 2012
2:43 pm
I like Festus Ezeli….let Al slide over and trade Josh…
TMACfan
June 22nd, 2012
2:52 pm
Can someone explain the difference between Fab Melo and Hasheem Thabeet?
Besides Fab being shorter.
Sautee
June 22nd, 2012
2:57 pm
Clyde, I’m sure you meant YET ANOTHER undersized power forward.
SteveW
June 22nd, 2012
3:01 pm
I hate the Heat. That being said, congrats to Coach Spoe, he worked his rotations to perfection.
And how Battier held up for all of those 40+ mpg he had, I don’t know.
LBJ – Best player in the world by far. And I want him to fail constantly at BB, not life – but I gotta be honest. Great job by LBJ.
Michael Cunningham
June 22nd, 2012
3:02 pm
new blog posted. shutting down this thread.