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
Najeh Davenpoop
June 28th, 2012
11:04 pm
Lamb off the board one pick before the Hawks.
tidog
June 28th, 2012
11:04 pm
If your’re a jump shot team may as well get someone who can knock them down.
The Real cp
June 28th, 2012
11:05 pm
Well Lamb is gone. I guess we take Darius Miller but you never know with this team.
Melvin
June 28th, 2012
11:05 pm
ghost of Cal Bowdler
June 28th, 2012
11:00 pm
That was a funny post…
Najeh Davenpoop
June 28th, 2012
11:05 pm
Wait, Kyle O’Quinn is black? That is really misleading
SuckerFree
June 28th, 2012
11:05 pm
lmao @ Doron Lamb getting picked right before the Hawks pick……so typical of the Hawks organization and really Atlanta sports in general.
A day late and dollar short
EW
June 28th, 2012
11:05 pm
Acie Law – First round – 11th pick – 2007
prison mike
June 28th, 2012
11:05 pm
GMs reading our minds.
Jimmy Crack
June 28th, 2012
11:06 pm
Pick the Greek guy or Sims.
Najeh Davenpoop
June 28th, 2012
11:06 pm
Hawks pick Mike Scott from Virginia. Don’t know anything about him.
O'Brien
June 28th, 2012
11:06 pm
Who is the G’town fan on here? What’s the Sims scouting report?
Melvin
June 28th, 2012
11:06 pm
Najeh,
Hawks didnt need Lamb. Too similar in size and skills to Jenkins.
Buddy Grizzard
June 28th, 2012
11:06 pm
I’ve got a decent buzz going… who should we draft with our second pick?
Najeh Davenpoop
June 28th, 2012
11:06 pm
The organist better learn the theme from the Office real quick.
tidog
June 28th, 2012
11:06 pm
Sims or the Machado pg Iona
Slimjr
June 28th, 2012
11:07 pm
Larry= 42-70 based on his law of average against the best…
Melvin
June 28th, 2012
11:07 pm
OB,
Sims is not a bad player. Block shots and rebound pretty well with an unorthodox offensive game.
SuckerFree
June 28th, 2012
11:07 pm
John Jenkins…highest Vandy player since Will Perdue…..well that bodes well *sarcasm off*
Slimjr
June 28th, 2012
11:08 pm
ATL on the Clock!
Just Joe
June 28th, 2012
11:08 pm
LD loves Scott’s mid-range jumper. Raved about it on one of nba.com’s videos.
Najeh Davenpoop
June 28th, 2012
11:08 pm
Sounds like an Ivan Johnson clone based on this.
http://nbadraft.net/players/mike-scott
O'Brien
June 28th, 2012
11:08 pm
Mike Scott? Who?
I dont mind the Jenkins pick as much, but Mike Scott? That being said, I will try and reserve judgment.
DAMN
June 28th, 2012
11:08 pm
They got mike scott….mhhh
Slimjr
June 28th, 2012
11:08 pm
Mike Scott?????????????????????????????????/
WTF?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????/
Jaded Hawks Fan
June 28th, 2012
11:08 pm
What a lame draft.
SuckerFree
June 28th, 2012
11:09 pm
Mike Scott???? infuriating
30311
June 28th, 2012
11:09 pm
Mike Scott?
Najeh Davenpoop
June 28th, 2012
11:09 pm
The commenter who posts here named “Prison Mike” must be thrilled.
prison mike
June 28th, 2012
11:09 pm
Dude is old as dirt, going to be 24 in a couple of months.
DAMN
June 28th, 2012
11:09 pm
Here ya go
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_W_dAMzXyM
O'Brien
June 28th, 2012
11:09 pm
5th year senior. All ACC player. It looks like Ferry is going for safe picks, instead of risky picks with more upside.
Astro Joe
June 28th, 2012
11:09 pm
Positives Versatile four
Excellent rebounder
Can score both inside and outside
Nice jumper with some 3-point range
High motor
Negatives A bit undersized for his position
Not an elite athlete
Has had ankle issues in the past
Will turn 24 this year
Melvin
June 28th, 2012
11:09 pm
Mike Scott? Another undersize guy for his position (PF)…. SMH…. I hope I’m totally wrong about the Hawks picks….
prison mike
June 28th, 2012
11:09 pm
Check that, in three weeks.
The Real cp
June 28th, 2012
11:10 pm
I watched some Virginia games this season. Scott can play but sometimes he relies on that jumper too much. It were times when his team looked better when he was sitting on the bench. mehhh
Buddy Grizzard
June 28th, 2012
11:10 pm
Ferry establishes a pattern of drafting players with athleticism similar to his own.
aizdaman
June 28th, 2012
11:10 pm
At least the Hawks didn’t draft any European players
Slimjr
June 28th, 2012
11:11 pm
AJ you forgot to mention he is playing on a surgically repaired knee… Shoot….
Mr.E
June 28th, 2012
11:11 pm
Not feeling as excited as I had hoped.
EW
June 28th, 2012
11:11 pm
Marvin Williams – First Round – 2nd pick – 2005
DAMN
June 28th, 2012
11:11 pm
Better yet
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5t_ZiNqvmI
SuckerFree
June 28th, 2012
11:11 pm
This will be the year we look back and say
“We drafted John Jenkins instead of Perry Jones III” the same way we say “We drafted Marvin Williams ahead of Chris Paul” and “We Drafted Shelden Williams…PERIOD”.
Buddy Grizzard
June 28th, 2012
11:11 pm
“Sounds like an Ivan Johnson.”
You’re joking, right? Ivan plays above the rim.
MattP
June 28th, 2012
11:11 pm
Why did we get another PF? Hawks didn’t solve any of their problems in this draft…
The Real cp
June 28th, 2012
11:11 pm
Reminds me so much of the Sheldon draft. Better players on the board but we go with the safe picks.
Melvin
June 28th, 2012
11:12 pm
SuckerFree
June 28th, 2012
11:07 pm
ROTFLMAO
prison mike
June 28th, 2012
11:12 pm
Drew Gordon is bigger with a stronger motor.
SuckerFree
June 28th, 2012
11:12 pm
Hawks should get an F for this draft.
Melvin
June 28th, 2012
11:12 pm
Can we start the draft over? This is one night I wish Billy Knight would have made the Hawks picks.
DAMN
June 28th, 2012
11:13 pm
MIKE SCOTT IS THE NEXT J SMOOVE!!