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
Melvin
June 28th, 2012
10:32 pm
Astro,
PJ3 didn’t even play SF in college. He was trying to sell himself as a SF/PF to boost his draft position.
Najeh Davenpoop
June 28th, 2012
10:32 pm
Michael Cunningham @ajchawks
Larry Drew: “We have guys who can command dbl tms and break people down. Who better to pass to than a knock-down shooter?” #Hawks
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Translation: they are keeping the core together for at least another year.
SuckerFree
June 28th, 2012
10:33 pm
Perry Jones is a top 10 talent. Regardless of how you feel about him….TALENT wins championships. Stockpile talent and worry about the rest later.
Ferry has no excuse choosing John Jenkins over Perry Jones III ESPECIALLY with the prospect of losing Josh Smith via trade or free agency and having Marvin Williams eat up SF minutes with minimal production.
This draft was disastrous. John Jenkins is not even going to play because Joe Johnson still averages a high amount of minutes and he should because we are paying that fool $21 mill
Najeh Davenpoop
June 28th, 2012
10:33 pm
Specifically, the one guy who draws double teams and kicks out to open shooters better than anyone else on the team — Josh.
Buddy Grizzard
June 28th, 2012
10:33 pm
“Jenkins may not work out but his attitude and skill is exactly what the Hawks team needs.”
Translated:
“Jenkins may be a complete bust and lack NBA athleticism, but he’s a swell guy.”
Shamrock
June 28th, 2012
10:34 pm
Najeh, please hold that breath cuz it stinks.
BIG DOG
June 28th, 2012
10:35 pm
Dam there go Hawks replacement at SF, SMH
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
hawksfancents95
June 28th, 2012
10:35 pm
i think josh and al and joe and ivan would keep pj3 honest but i think it was more a concern of his knee than his attitude, i do like knowing we got the best shooter in the draft.
Mr.E
June 28th, 2012
10:35 pm
So any chance that D Green will still be available for us and we pass on him?
richy
June 28th, 2012
10:36 pm
OKC saw Perry Jones as an athletic big to run in transition off the bench. Not a starter.
Jaded Hawks Fan
June 28th, 2012
10:37 pm
Serge Ibaka
Perry Jones III
Kevin Durant
James Harden
Russell Westbrook
All those guys are 23 or under. That’s how you put a team together, folks. Wow.
Slimjr
June 28th, 2012
10:37 pm
When you draft guys that fit instead of the best talent available you end like the Hawks…Streaking..
LOL @ ESPN totally ignoring the Hawks…Wow…
42-70
44 and counting
2012+44=2056
Danny Ferry, I worked in the Spurs organization...but not as the GM
June 28th, 2012
10:37 pm
We need to be focusing on our sports medicine right now, not the draft. The draft comes along once year. Our sports medicine department is here all the time.
beone
June 28th, 2012
10:38 pm
Buddy, Guess I can’t say the same thing about you.
Najeh Davenpoop
June 28th, 2012
10:39 pm
LD talks about the draft
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4op8mVuGeNE&feature=youtu.be
Najeh Davenpoop
June 28th, 2012
10:40 pm
Mavs are about to pick Bernard James from FSU. That guy looked pretty good when I saw him play this year.
SuckerFree
June 28th, 2012
10:40 pm
WE have Joe Johnson who is an elite shooter already and making 89 million…..don’t need another SG who can’t create his own shot and is undersized.
There’s really no case you can mkae that is John Jenkins > Perry Jones III. It’s foolish drafting and we’ve seen this story over and over. The Hawks routinely whiff in the draft and this is another notch in the belt.
John Jenkins was a 2nd round projection in nearly every mock draft.
TMACfan
June 28th, 2012
10:40 pm
Michael Cunningham @ajchawks
Larry Drew: “We have guys who can command dbl tms and break people down. Who better to pass to than a knock-down shooter?” #Hawks
A guys that cuts to the basket and makes a layup or dunk
Buddy Grizzard
June 28th, 2012
10:40 pm
I wasn’t big on Jeff Taylor but I would have pissed myself in joy if the Hawks had picked him.
Melvin
June 28th, 2012
10:40 pm
Najeh,
LD statement sounds good in theory but the Hawks shoot way too many jump shots now b/c they get a better shot b/c they dont have a lot of guys who can create their own shots….
High-sider
June 28th, 2012
10:40 pm
Brian
June 28th, 2012
10:01 pm
Jamal Crawford was a pure shooter but no one was complaining when we picked him up as a free agent.Too many ppl that do not know what they are talking about on blogs. There is a reason you all are at home and not in New York Tonight
Most of you just wanna talk smack instead of evaluate talent.
————————————————————————————-
Yeah and Jamal Crawford was also pure scorer who had already been in the NBA nine years before coming to the Hawks and had also scored 50+ points in game for three different NBA teams (CHI, NYK and GSW). Jamal Crawford had an NBA “track record” with respect to scoring and shooting while Jenkins is an unproven “talent” at the NBA level.
The Real cp
June 28th, 2012
10:41 pm
Q Miller is still available Buddy but with the Hawks luck he will be picked before they choose.
Astro Joe
June 28th, 2012
10:41 pm
At least Moultrie led a very good college conference in rebounding… a defined skill set we need.
Here’s the thing about the Spurs, everyone of their wings are above average shooters. So if Ferry uses that model, I wouldn’t expect him to draft an athletic wing who can’t shoot (which is why I thought Jeff Taylor had a shot to be drafted).
This Bernard James has a GREAt story, good for him!
hawksfancents95
June 28th, 2012
10:42 pm
idk whoever asked earlier but bernard james is the last guy in the green room
Just Joe
June 28th, 2012
10:42 pm
Draymond Green, Doron Lamb, Drew Gordon, Kyle O’Quinn, Jae Crowder, Darius Miller, Tyshon Taylor, Scott Machado, and Mike Scott (LD favorite) all would be good picks.
The Real cp
June 28th, 2012
10:42 pm
Lamb is better than Jenkins and is still on the board. Dont like this Jenkins pick at all.
Buddy Grizzard
June 28th, 2012
10:42 pm
Najeh why does Shamrock ride your nuts so hard?
Buddy Grizzard
June 28th, 2012
10:42 pm
I think Shamrock wants to have your babies.
O'Brien
June 28th, 2012
10:43 pm
Najeh,
JJ gets double teamed at times too. Unfortunately, he takes too long to pass.
LD’s comments on JJ2 from MC’s blog after his workout.
“He came here and he shot the hell out of it,” Drew said. “He has an NBA skill. He’s a guy that, watching him play and the way teams play him, it’s kind of that J.J. Redick feel. If he’s on the court, you better be with him at all times. It would be great to have a guy like that.”.
Ferry is giving LD what he says he wants, so no excuses this season Larry.
Buddy Grizzard
June 28th, 2012
10:43 pm
Thanks Just Joe.
Najeh Davenpoop
June 28th, 2012
10:44 pm
Draymond Green will not fall to the Hawks, unfortunately.
Dalton
June 28th, 2012
10:44 pm
Some of you guys just crack me up with all this negative bull. Do you actually follow college basketball? John Jenkins is the best shooter in the draft, and no other player even comes close. What do you want at pick #23? Another “athletic swing forward” that really can’t shoot with consistency or guard anyone with size down low? (Marvin) Jenkins can flat out fill it up. Smile, and give ‘em a chance. And for those that are declaring “that’s it…i’m done” ..great! Don’t let the door hit you on the way out. Jeez…
richy
June 28th, 2012
10:44 pm
I will make a case for John Jenkins. A guy who will know his role from day 1. Not only a guy that will know his role, but accept his role and embrace it. Jones would have been another conflicting attitude in a locker room with no leadership.
Danny Ferry, I worked in the Spurs organization...but not as the GM
June 28th, 2012
10:45 pm
Everyone knows how awesome we were when we had another deadly shooter named Jamal Crawford, right? Why not try that formula again?
There was no way I was going to sacrifice the long term future of this franchise to move up one spot to take Fab Melo, just so that we could ship Josh out and get some quality draft picks in return…oh wait…crap.
Section 303
June 28th, 2012
10:45 pm
Rogie, I agree with everything you wrote. Will fall on deaf ears on this blog, though. Hawks could have drafted Michael Jordan circa ‘91 and many on here would have ripped the pick.
morehouse man
June 28th, 2012
10:45 pm
jenkins is a better shooter than joe and he is a team player.no more iso joe sure sounds good to me. joe can not play small forward with an average of three rebounds a game.
O'Brien
June 28th, 2012
10:46 pm
From MC’s blog;
Jenkins will have to prove he can do enough other things well enough to help offensively once defenders crowd his jump shot–presumably John Hollinger’s draft rater doesn’t like Jenkins (Insider) because of concerns about his ability to do so. His assist rate ranks last among DraftExpress.com’s top shooting guard prospects and his free-throw rate wasn’t much better.
The more pressing questions regarding Jenkins are his potential as a defender because he’s not particularly quick or athletic..
Dalton
June 28th, 2012
10:46 pm
No. Lamb is not better than Jenkins. Not even close.
Najeh Davenpoop
June 28th, 2012
10:46 pm
They just showed Marvin hitting a half court shot. That begins and concludes their Hawks coverage for the night.
Jaded Hawks Fan
June 28th, 2012
10:47 pm
“Rogie, I agree with everything you wrote. Will fall on deaf ears on this blog, though. Hawks could have drafted Michael Jordan circa ‘91 and many on here would have ripped the pick.”
The Hawks have been comically bad in the draft historically. The cynicism from fans is justified and rational.
Just Joe
June 28th, 2012
10:47 pm
I’d be OK with Lamb and Jenkins out of this draft. They pretty much replace Pargo and Green with more height and skill.
kent
June 28th, 2012
10:47 pm
this pick wont bring excitment
Melvin
June 28th, 2012
10:47 pm
I would not have passed up a guy with Perry Jones skill and potential. I would’ve rather had been wrong about him and missed on the pick than to pass him over.
Buddy Grizzard
June 28th, 2012
10:48 pm
“There’s really no case you can make that is John Jenkins > Perry Jones III.”
You could say that about approximately 20 players that were available when the Hawks picked.
Here’s what happened. Ferry’s first year at Cleveland they had no first round pick. By the time Ferry took Shannon Brown with the 25th pick, he had his own people in place and a mandate to win a championship. This time, Ferry walks into the situation a couple of days before the draft and the support staff is Sund, LD, Pendergraph, all people who have been here and have only Teague to show for all their drafts. Ferry goes with the consensus in the room. I’m not trying to shift blame off Ferry. THIS IS ALL ON FERRY. I’m just saying, he hasn’t made a single hire for this organization yet.
PMC
June 28th, 2012
10:48 pm
I really like Jenkins to benefit the Hawks this year off the bench as a shooter. It’s a nice option off a pass to be able to kick to a guy with a shot like that. It’s not like he’s going to be handling the ball often, he’s going to be a sniper.
I just would have liked to have a big center that could grab boards and be more than 6 fouls too.
Also, I’m still concerned Josh will leave and we will be left with nothing.
BIG DOG
June 28th, 2012
10:48 pm
Hawks drafted Rodney Monroe The best pure shooter in basketball in 1991 and was all ACC.
HA
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
Sautee
June 28th, 2012
10:49 pm
HIgh-Sider,
Are you afraid to answer because it would show bias? We all know anyway.
Every time I see a post by you, I’ll be asking again:
So I ask again about this quote:
“GM Ferry will move a good player with some attitude issues like Josh Smith but will look to keep an overrated, mediocre player like Kirk Hinrich.” – High-Sider
What are you basing this accusation on?
O'Brien
June 28th, 2012
10:49 pm
Mark Bradley’s take;
Instead the Hawks settled for making a fairly safe Round 1 pick: John Jenkins of Vanderbilt. He’s a great shooter, which isn’t the same as being a great player. Given time, Jenkins could become the new Jamal Crawford – an off-the-bench scorer who can change games. Nobody should be disappointed by this pick. That said …
There was a more tantalizing option available. Perry Jones III of Baylor is the kind of player – long of limb – that former GM Billy Knight made a habit of taking among the draft’s top 10. To have gotten such a talent at No. 23 would have been a risk worth taking. Does Jones always play to his gifts? Obviously not, or else he’d have been gone in the lottery. (There was also a late report of an unsound knee.) But a team that has Smith and Horford might have nursed Jones for a year or so and used him for cover in case Smith leaves – he’s a free agent at next season’s end – or Horford becomes the Hawk who’s traded..
SuckerFree
June 28th, 2012
10:49 pm
Larry Drew should have no clout….he has done nothing but make the team worse. Who cares if he thinks we need shooters….we had them last year and he never properly used them.
Willie Green, Vlad Rad, Pargo were all knock down shooters…hell even Marvin Williams percentage wise was a knock down shooter.
Get some ballers in here. PERRY JONES III is a baller. Despite all that nonsense he still led his team to the Elite 8. Not only that, he doesn’t have to start or have the ball he can spell Josh or Marvin. Best case he becomes the starting SF after Josh Smith leaves and Marvin expires.
ghost of Cal Bowdler
June 28th, 2012
10:49 pm
You fools know how things go around here! This is Atlanta!