Atlanta Hawks: NBA draft open thread
Update: The Hawks selected Vanderbilt junior guard John Jenkins with the No. 23 overall pick. The Hawks had two workout sessions at Philips Arena with Jenkins, who was the top perimeter shooter in NCAA Division I last season.
Update: The Hawks selected Virginia forward Mike Scott with the No. 43 overall pick.
There has seemed to be a subtle shift in comments by Hawks folks since Danny Ferry came on board.
Before there was lots of talk about possibly selecting a player who could join the rotation right away. Now there seemed to be more of a focus on drafting the best talent, regardless of that player’s immediate readiness.
“The ‘best player’ scenario probably fits us the best right now,” Hawks assistant manager Dave Pendergraft said.
That’s not to suggest that the Hawks weren’t considering a long-term prospect before (and, really, most of the players available late in the first round fit that bill). It’s just that Ferry and co-owner Bruce Levenson both have stressed long-term player development and so it follows that’s the organization’s message.
Ferry was still getting his legs when he talked to media Monday and so didn’t have a lot to say about his draft strategy. The team’s PR staff hasn’t made him available for interviews since then. Ferry did talk to the team’s Web site today and addressed the possibility of making a trade.
“Will something happen? I’m not sure that it will, and we will probably be picking 23,” Ferry said. “There is still a long time before we have to pick so we’ll see what happens.”
Ferry said there is a lot of trade talk centered on draft picks in general but said: “We are not going to make a trade just to make a trade.”
“We’ll be a part of some of those talks,” Ferry said. “Maybe we can add a piece or do something.”
Both Pendergraft and Larry Drew said there haven’t been any issues with Ferry joining the staff so late in the process.
“He’s been following all of the draft stuff and he knows these guys really well,” Drew said. “Our format in which we do things, it’s been pretty much the same that it’s been. These guys that have been at the forefront of the draft, Rick [Sund], Dave, our scouts–it’s been, to me, a very smooth transition thus far. Everybody is giving their opinions and thoughts and everyone is trying obviously to find the best player available for us at that pick.”
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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1,051 comments Add your comment
Ray
June 28th, 2012
9:48 pm
Yes we are remember we got Collins Damp and Stackhouse plus T-mac.
TMACfan
June 28th, 2012
9:48 pm
IM OUT
Mr.E
June 28th, 2012
9:49 pm
More jump shooting.
Yay
Michael Cunningham
June 28th, 2012
9:49 pm
blog updates with Hawks selecting Vandy’s John Jenkins at No. 23.
Buddy Grizzard
June 28th, 2012
9:49 pm
Well, at least we know Pargo won’t be back. They’re the same player.
Anwar sadat
June 28th, 2012
9:49 pm
All these guards
Najeh Davenpoop
June 28th, 2012
9:49 pm
I guess this means Sergiy Gladyr is no longer in the Hawks’ future plans. (sarcasm)
The Real cp
June 28th, 2012
9:49 pm
I was never impressed with this dude watching Vandy. typical Hawks. Dude was a second rounder
Astro Joe
June 28th, 2012
9:49 pm
Potentially moves Marvin to the bench and Joe to the 3. “Yes dear, I’m listening, dear”.
Slimjr
June 28th, 2012
9:49 pm
Wow… Crickets……
Buddy Grizzard
June 28th, 2012
9:49 pm
Miami will get a rotation player. Hawks just made the worst pick of the first round.
Melvin
June 28th, 2012
9:49 pm
I’m sooo pissed. I dont care how good Jenkins could shoot, you down pass on bigs like PJ3 and Moultrie
TMACfan
June 28th, 2012
9:50 pm
We need people who can get to the rim and we take a shooter. Our whole bench is made of shooters.
High-sider
June 28th, 2012
9:50 pm
John Jenkins – another jump shooter [smh]
I guess it’s an SEC thing; I wouldn’t understand.
Big Ray
June 28th, 2012
9:50 pm
Our team doesn’t set screens and hoists too many jumpers as it is. Brilliant move…just sheer freakin’ genius….
Wabe
June 28th, 2012
9:50 pm
yawn…
i hate being a hawks fan.
Luke Cage
June 28th, 2012
9:50 pm
JJ2
SteveW
June 28th, 2012
9:50 pm
I’m not sure Jenkins is a better shooter than Doron Lamb
jjm
June 28th, 2012
9:50 pm
Of course espn won’t talk about the hawks after their pick…typical
Rob
June 28th, 2012
9:50 pm
And it never ends….
Slimjr
June 28th, 2012
9:51 pm
Another JC2? Heheheh
Melvin
June 28th, 2012
9:51 pm
I hope the Hawks have a trade in the works to get back into the 1st round.
Buddy Grizzard
June 28th, 2012
9:51 pm
There were SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO many players on the board.
The Real cp
June 28th, 2012
9:51 pm
Seriously WTF man. Please let this be a pick for another team
cb795
June 28th, 2012
9:51 pm
Billy Knight Lives!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
June 28th, 2012
9:51 pm
A team full of jump shooter and we get another jump shooter. The Hawks are just a mediocre team with mediocre leadership.
FIRE GEARON
FIRE LD
Najeh Davenpoop
June 28th, 2012
9:51 pm
Well, on the bright side, if you subscribe to the idea that you have to draft a player with an identifiable NBA skill, Jenkins has one.
Hard to see him as a future starter when that’s apparently all he can do, though.
falCans
June 28th, 2012
9:52 pm
john jenkins…. well see
Wabe
June 28th, 2012
9:52 pm
What happened to the dude that could rain jumpers from Europe?
Ray
June 28th, 2012
9:52 pm
SOOOOOOOO MANY MORE PLAYERS
IF you going to take a GUARD WHY NOT TEAGUE’S YOUNGER BROTHER GEEZZZZZZ!!!!
ARGGHGHFHGHSAHGSAGTHYASGHHSGAHASGHASG! End Rage.
Atomic Dawg
June 28th, 2012
9:52 pm
the hawks are a bunch of idiots, who refuse to draft a big man
Buddy Grizzard
June 28th, 2012
9:52 pm
“Another JC2? Heheheh”
JC2? Hell no. JC2 had a triple double his rookie season. JC2 dunked on LeBron in a summer camp game. Can John Jenkins dunk? This guy is not an athlete.
Najeh Davenpoop
June 28th, 2012
9:52 pm
Clyde, when will you start saying FIRE FERRY?
Ra'mon
June 28th, 2012
9:52 pm
I’m really pissed that I’m a Hawks fan right now. You could’ve traded a 2nd round pick to Orlando for Redick if you wanted a shooter.
msc
June 28th, 2012
9:52 pm
out of everyone still left we pick up this dude? WTF is going on?!?!?
As much as I love my hawks they do some stupid sh**TT
Rob
June 28th, 2012
9:52 pm
Priest Lauderdale would have been a better pick.
Rod from College Park
June 28th, 2012
9:53 pm
Danny Ferry was a great gm pick huh? LOL. This team is a joke.
Ra'mon
June 28th, 2012
9:53 pm
I’d rather have Cunningham than Jenkins.
KevinM
June 28th, 2012
9:53 pm
Slim, if he’s the best shooter, its about buckets.
He won’t be a combo guard, so his size is going to be a challenge….Lamb would have been more flexible.
Ray
June 28th, 2012
9:53 pm
DAMNIT DAMNIT DAMNIT DAMNIT DMANIT
HE COULD HAVE BEEN HAD IN ROUND 2 JESUS!
Luke Cage
June 28th, 2012
9:53 pm
Maybe the Hawks make a trade??
Mr.E
June 28th, 2012
9:53 pm
Go Braves
Rob
June 28th, 2012
9:54 pm
at least we were excited when Danny Ferry got hired. Free Agency is Sunday we got time guys.
Ray
June 28th, 2012
9:54 pm
Well no more surprises now apparently Wroten is being taken by Memphis Grizzles.
Buddy Grizzard
June 28th, 2012
9:54 pm
NBADraft.net:
Jenkins falls into the category of shooting specialist who lags behind in the athleticism department … Jenkins is not a particularly quick, fast or explosive player at all … He struggles off the dribble to create much offense for himself because he simply doesn’t have the quickness to be more than a sporadic slasher to the rim … Doesn’t have many moves when handling the ball, and only does handle the ball when a jumper is simply out of the question … Off the dribble, especially when going left, Jenkins is almost exclusively looking for a mid-range pull-up … Teams will likely guard him very tight and look to make him a slasher until he shows more versatility putting the ball on the floor … Should look to develop a floater, especially with his touch, to give him a high percentage shot for when he goes amongst the trees to finish … Doesn’t pass the ball much … Will likely struggle on the defensive end, where his lack of quickness will probably be evident even with his solid fundamentals … Wont get many steals, and will need to be masked by other good team defenders to be most effective … Does not play above the rim … Not going to be as much of a factor in a up-tempo scheme as he is in a structured offense that can have sets to get him shots …
Ra'mon
June 28th, 2012
9:54 pm
That sounds like a Larry Drew pick.
Jay Dubu
June 28th, 2012
9:54 pm
So Captain Kirk will be moving on to another team for next season.
Wabe
June 28th, 2012
9:55 pm
I don’t get the Hawks…
Hinrich’s contract was expiring this season, was it not? We sat here waiting at the trade deadline to see him get moved, and they keep him around.
Now they come back and draft his replacement?
Would it not have made sense to at least dish Hinrich when you had the opportunity?
Freakin’ bums man.
Cedric
June 28th, 2012
9:55 pm
really would have a like a big if one would have been available.
DAMN
June 28th, 2012
9:55 pm
NEXT RAY ALLEN (SHOOTING) STEAL!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWmM4fD7P9g