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
Barton
June 28th, 2012
7:50 pm
@ Najeh – Wiz in the playoffs?!? Playing in the same division as the Magic, Heat and Hawks??
Shamrock
June 28th, 2012
7:50 pm
Trade Najeh !!!!!
The Real cp
June 28th, 2012
7:51 pm
I think the Cavs take Barnes and if so do the Kings take Robinson or Drummond.
Luke Cage
June 28th, 2012
7:52 pm
Len Bias – Tragic
Washburn – Man what a waste
Mike Slive
June 28th, 2012
7:52 pm
SEC! SEC! SEC!
Luke Cage
June 28th, 2012
7:52 pm
Najeh playing with the wizards on NBA2K
bigdave
June 28th, 2012
7:53 pm
suddenly DC has a respectable squad..
Najeh Davenpoop
June 28th, 2012
7:53 pm
Cavs have been rumored to take Waiters all day.
Barton
June 28th, 2012
7:54 pm
Washington should hire Dean Smith to run four corners with all their chuckers
Ray
June 28th, 2012
7:54 pm
And so it is Deion Waiters at #4 WOW!
Najeh Davenpoop
June 28th, 2012
7:54 pm
“Wiz in the playoffs?!? Playing in the same division as the Magic, Heat and Hawks??”
Making the playoffs only requires going slightly over .500 like the Sixers did this year. Wall-Beal-Ariza-Nene-Okafor is a solid defensive lineup with enough scoring. They need some veteran free agents in the back court but they will be a pretty good team.
The Real cp
June 28th, 2012
7:54 pm
Waiters seems a little overrated to me.
Melvin
June 28th, 2012
7:54 pm
Waiters at #4? Double Wow
Luke Cage
June 28th, 2012
7:54 pm
Knew that was coming
hawksfancents95
June 28th, 2012
7:55 pm
oh ya d.waiters and kyrie is fast as ish. i got SAC goin with thomas robinson here to play PF and keep cousins at C.
The Real cp
June 28th, 2012
7:55 pm
Thomas Robinson would look good next to Demarcus
Ray
June 28th, 2012
7:56 pm
I hope Waiters doesn’t turn into Marvin Willaims pt 2. it would ruin it for a lot of future players.
Who does Sac. Town take at #5 though looking like Thomas Robinson don’t see Drummond going there got Demarcus Cousins already.
Luke Cage
June 28th, 2012
7:56 pm
My Spidey Sense predicts a trade by 7th pick
bigdave
June 28th, 2012
7:56 pm
never good when you in a club with Marvin G Williams
Najeh Davenpoop
June 28th, 2012
7:56 pm
Kings are taking Robinson according to @WojYahooNBA.
Just Joe
June 28th, 2012
7:57 pm
Sactown should go Barnes in my opinion. TRob could slip to Detroit at 9.
Ray
June 28th, 2012
7:57 pm
With both picks Washington at least looks playoff potential not saying they’ll make it, and Cleveland gets that much better if Waiters is who we think he is.
Which means certain teams are going to take a back seat.
The Real cp
June 28th, 2012
7:58 pm
Once again I cant stress how more enjoyable this has been with no Stuart Scott.
Ray
June 28th, 2012
7:58 pm
Get ready for a lot of Trades happening quick.
Celtics making it known they want Doc’s son it’s about to real.
The Real cp
June 28th, 2012
7:58 pm
Cousins and Robinson would be some monsters on the glass though. I like the fit
Buddy Grizzard
June 28th, 2012
7:59 pm
As predicted, Washington drafts to fill its gaping hole at the 2 guard position.
Melvin
June 28th, 2012
7:59 pm
I want Perry Jone III in a Hawks uniform
hawksfancents95
June 28th, 2012
7:59 pm
@MC are you in NY covering this?
The Real cp
June 28th, 2012
8:00 pm
I like that move
Melvin
June 28th, 2012
8:00 pm
Cousins and Robinson is a nice frontcourt for Sac
The Real cp
June 28th, 2012
8:00 pm
Melvin, Ford thinks Perry Jones will be available when we pick. I dont see it but who knows.
Ray
June 28th, 2012
8:01 pm
I had to shed a tear for Thomas Robinson I think he’s going to do well got a chip on his shoulder a very strong one to do well too.
Luke Cage
June 28th, 2012
8:01 pm
Yeah no Stuart Scott spitting nonsense stats is a relief, and I kinda like the guy.
Najeh Davenpoop
June 28th, 2012
8:01 pm
Orlando won’t be a playoff team next year. New Jersey (with Dwight) and Washington will in my opinion. That means someone else drops out of the playoffs from this year. Philly? Boston? Hawks? Bulls? (no Derrick Rose for half the season)
Buddy Grizzard
June 28th, 2012
8:02 pm
Kings have to be ecstatic Robinson dropped to them.
Ray
June 28th, 2012
8:02 pm
@ Melvin I agree if Tyreke improves Kings can be a bit scary up and coming team.
That’s if they don’t trade Tyreke that is.
Luke Cage
June 28th, 2012
8:02 pm
Sac Town looking good, still wonder what they plan on doing with Tyreke
Najeh Davenpoop
June 28th, 2012
8:02 pm
For real though, we are interviewing 9 year olds now?
Buddy Grizzard
June 28th, 2012
8:03 pm
Philly is a good possibility Naheh. They were only good for the 8th seed last year and Iguodala opening his mouth about Lou Williams makes it likely their leading scorer won’t be back.
hawksfancents95
June 28th, 2012
8:03 pm
ya SAC should of made the right pick last year instead they drafted Jimmer just because they thought itd bring in fans, no dice. they coulda drafted kawhi leonard or chris singleton even klay thompson
Luke Cage
June 28th, 2012
8:03 pm
This is sad with the family interviews, ESPN sux for that
The Real cp
June 28th, 2012
8:03 pm
lol yea Najeh they really need to cut these interviews
The Real cp
June 28th, 2012
8:04 pm
If you’re Portland do you take Drummond given their history with big men?
hawksfancents95
June 28th, 2012
8:04 pm
portland goes andre drummond
Ray
June 28th, 2012
8:05 pm
@ Najeh
Aye man leave her alone it’s a sad little story sometimes you need that to remember people are human.
Melvin
June 28th, 2012
8:05 pm
CP,
I hope PJ3 is available at #23
Ray,
I like Tyreke…
Buddy Grizzard
June 28th, 2012
8:05 pm
Harrison Barnes dropping like a rock.
Najeh Davenpoop
June 28th, 2012
8:06 pm
@WojYahooNBA and @SpearsNBAYahoo are tweeting these picks out at least two or three minutes before they are shown on TV.
The Real cp
June 28th, 2012
8:06 pm
Lillard is ehh to me.
hawksfancents95
June 28th, 2012
8:06 pm
dang weber state at #6. they needed at PG though. GS will either trade or get drummond