Atlanta Hawks: Rookie draft pick Mike Scott signs contract
The Hawks today signed rookie forward Mike Scott, their second-round pick in the June draft.
Scott signed a two-year contract for the minimum salary that includes some guarantees, according to Hawks GM Danny Ferry. The minimum salary for 2012-13 is $473,604.
“Mike will be on the team this year,” Ferry wrote in a text message.
Today is the deadline for teams to at least extend a required tender to second-round draft picks in order to retain their rights.
Scott, 24, was the No. 43 overall draft pick and Atlanta’s second selection behind guard John Jenkins. Scott figures to benefit from the Hawks’ efforts to strengthen their player-development program but he’s not projected to play much in 2012-13.
When the Hawks drafted Scott, GM Danny Ferry said he’s strictly a power forward. That means Scott is slotted behind Josh Smith, Al Horford, Zaza Pachulia, Ivan Johnson, Jordan Williams and perhaps Johan Petro in the frontcourt rotation.
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240 comments Add your comment
Slimjr
September 7th, 2012
9:12 am
Billy Knights vision= jbf [just a bunch of forwards]
Billy Knight Jr’s vision= The Golden St. Warriors of the East
MsDee
September 7th, 2012
9:14 am
MC,
On August 30, this twit went out, “Former Charlotte Bobcats small forward, Derrick Brown, is set to workout with the San Antonio Spurs next week and the Atlanta Hawks the following week, according to his agent Calvin Andrews of BDA Sports Management. CSNNW.com”
Have u heard anything about Derrick Brown’s workout with the Hawks?
Buddy G
September 7th, 2012
9:14 am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFFMOwOMbso
Buddy G
September 7th, 2012
9:15 am
Derrick Brown averaged 8.1 points and 3.6 rebounds in only 22.2 minutes per game last season. His 17.4 points per 48 minutes is only slightly behind Marvin Williams’ 18.5 and beats McGrady’s 15.7.
http://www.csnnw.com/pages/landingblazers?Derrick-Brown-to-workout-for-Spurs-Hawks=1&blockID=765417&feedID=5212
The self proclaimed baskeball expert
September 7th, 2012
9:26 am
Enter your comments here
Ken Strickland
September 7th, 2012
9:42 am
JUST JOE-That lineup can consistently and effectively score in a half court set. With Teague and Harris, you actually have 2 PGs that can penetrate off the dribble and finish at the rim without the need for ISOs or clearouts. Horford is one of the NBAs most effecient and effective midrange jumpshooters, which gives us what amounts to a stretch 4.
Zaza might have trouble finishing at the rim, but he has an effective short range jumper. On most nights, Josh will have a size, height, weight, strength, and/or athletic advantage over most NBA SFs near the paint. This lineup can definitely score in a half court set, but it will have to be done intelligently, which is were HC LDrew comes into play.
Besides, with JJ gone the ability to consistently and effectively run LDrew’s MOTION OFF will be a lot easier. There was one thing that always bugged me about JJ and the MOTION OFF. Whenever he came off a curl and got the ball, he never went straight up for the shot, never. He’d catch the ball, turn, stare down his defender, then go into ISO JOE mode. That’s when the ball and the OFF stopped, and everyone knew to clearout.
Slimjr
September 7th, 2012
9:50 am
Iso Joe is what one would call a rhythm shooter..Meaning he has to put the ball on the floor 1st and dribble before he squares up to shoot the J.
Al on the other hand [has the opposite game] never dribbles 1st then shoots. That has always bothered me about his game..Once you defend his only weapon, its basically game, set, and match.
Oh well as the 4th or 5th option in this offense, who cares anyway…
Just Joe
September 7th, 2012
10:02 am
Ken…the offense you just described had Teague, Harris & Josh finishing in the paint, with Horford & ZaZa adding mid-range jumpers.
No spacing…easy for opposing teams to provide help defense…will not work against teams with size advantage up front.
Take out ZaZa (or Horford by trade for star) & Harris, and add two shooters (preferably ones that at least give effort on defense / may not be on the team yet), and the offense really opens up.
See what Miami is trying to do. Chalmers, Lebron & 3 scorers/shooters (Wade, Allen, Battier, Bosh, Lewis, Miller). Teague, Josh & 3 scorers/shooters is the way to go, IMO. ZaZa & Ivan should have the same roles as Anthony & Haslem. Not comparing our players to Miami, but I am comparing “roles”. We need to retain Josh, upgrade or retain Teague if he improves, and fill in the 3 scorer/shooter roles.
glw
September 7th, 2012
10:36 am
@Just Joe and Ken S
Both of you bring valid points to the offense. I think both strategies would work to an extent. I agree with you Just Joe, that teams would truly pack it in on us without a true shooter on the floor. The big lineup for me is ok to start, but Im not for having that lineup on the floor for more than the start of each halves and would definitly be flawed at the end of games. I say unless a quality SF is added we start Josh there, but maybe for the start of each half and then get me some shooters on the floor!!!
hawksfancents95
September 7th, 2012
10:46 am
Hate to say it but this is GM DF’s first bad move(not of much significance though). Mike Scott is not a player we need, even to develop. He’s a 6′8 PF and I think we are good on the tweener PF’s. We REALLY need after last years fiasco, some backup C’s incase ZaZa or AL get hurt we are going to be really thin there. There are two positions I believe you need 3 guys at in your 12 man rosters, 3 at PG and 3 at C. SG/SF/PF are guys that are usually somewhat flexible to be able to play other positions for bursts depending on the team your playing.
It’s good to see this blog open again and I know this blog will really heat up once Sept 11 rolls around because I know GM DF has a few trades in the works already to move some of these guys and use that TE. Has anyone heard if any other team has contacted Ivan? I think Ivan will be our glue guy off the bench to eat up minutes from our bigs while being consistentley productive.
PG-Teague SG-Lou Will SF-Josh PF-AL C-ZaZa
thats our lineup, I hope. Let Devin come in and blow by everyone and Ivan relieve ZaZa, and then Korver or Jenkins can start drilling three’s. I think Morrow and Jordan Williams will get traded(for a big man) and maybe petro for that backup defensive SF. Would have much rather heard Keith Benson was signed than Mike Scott.
Buddy Grizzard
September 7th, 2012
11:32 am
“Zaza might have trouble finishing at the rim, but he has an effective short range jumper.” – Ken S.
I don’t know if anyone noticed, but Zaza made huge strides in his game last year. Most importantly, he was able to limit his fouls. Specifically against Orlando, this allowed him to stay on the floor where he was our best defender against Dwight. Yes, Zaza blew the layup that would have won it in Denver. But I think he took a lesson from that and his game will take another step forward this year. I would be comfortable starting Zaza at center and moving Josh to small forward. I would just reverse Josh’s and Al’s roles on offense, with Josh posting up and Al picking and popping. On defense you go with best match-ups. No way the Hawks will be able to afford Zaza after this season, especially with the mid level already taken by Lou.
Astro Joe
September 7th, 2012
11:34 am
I guess no 2nd round pick need to get a job with the Hawks if he is supposed to be compared with a marginal NBA player with experience. Come on people, what difference does it make who is the 12th-15th guy on the roster of a team that won’t see the 2nd round of the playoffs?
Yes, we need a SF but that will (likely) happen at the expense of the guard glut.
Buddy Grizzard
September 7th, 2012
11:39 am
“Has anyone heard if any other team has contacted Ivan?”
Not a peep, but if any team offers Ivan more than the room exception (about $2m), the Hawks will not be able to match. The mid-level was already used on Lou so just under $2m is the most we can pay Ivan.
“Would have much rather heard Keith Benson was signed than Mike Scott.”
Co sign. Benson has length and athleticism, can block shots (barely mis-timed his jump in summer league or the Lillard highlight dunk would have been a highlight block) and can hit jumpers. Scott can only do one of those things, shoot jumpers, and he probably can’t get his shot off against NBA defense.
The Truth
September 7th, 2012
11:51 am
Buddy
Assuming Ivan is signed, there is still a roster spot for Benson
The Truth
September 7th, 2012
11:53 am
Benson will have to earned his spot at camp, something he failed to do last time.
MsDee
September 7th, 2012
11:57 am
I personally would like to start Jenkins esp if he truly DESERVES IT, by out hustling any and every guard on this team during training camp/practices/pre-season games, regardless of his ‘inexperience” in the NBA. The top 10 rookies of this past draft will be starting so no REAL excuse there, ESP since there is a new found opening in the SG position with Joe being gone. All I read on his twitter page is being at the gym. If he comes into training camp proving many of his doubters and the coach wrong, THEN WHY NOT START HIM? NOT ASKING FOR STARTER-LIKE MINUTES FOR THE WHOLE GAME. JUST TO COME IN AND GET SOME RUN IN b/c if Jenkins dont start, I DOUBT VERY SERIOUSLY HE GETS ANY TIME IN THE GAME OTHER THAN GARBAGE TIME. We should be investing into those guys who are long-term! Teague, Jenkins, Josh, Horford, Zaza is a nice balanced starting group while having a KNOCKOUT BENCH!! Harris, Lou, Korver(Morrow might be traded this Tuesday), Ivan, Horford or Benson if he get signed..Petro/Williams/Stevenson might be traded as well for a SF.
SO THERE U HAVE IT!!
Just Watchin
September 7th, 2012
12:00 pm
Buddy, I agree with you about Josh and Al… I said it a couple weeks ago: put Al at the 3 and Josh at the 4 for offense. Defense it wouldn’t matter who guards whom, because Josh, Al, and Zaza are all capable of guarding either PF or C, and that would provide a lot of defensive flexibility. Al has one the BEST mid-range jumpers in the league, and he is very effective guarding anyone on the court in man-to-man, as he showed when he SHUTDOWN Rondo at the end of game 5. I think Al would be one of the top small forwards in the game.
MsDee
September 7th, 2012
12:02 pm
By the way, I LOVE Horford in the 2nd line-up with Harris and Lou. Could see Horford being the play maker in that line-up, plus he also passes very well for a BIG. Assist to Harris and Korver in the corner while Lou creating for himself…WOW, CAN THE SEASON BEGIN ALREADY!!
corporate tv ball sux
September 7th, 2012
12:08 pm
fan of ivan in this house.
O'Brien
September 7th, 2012
1:21 pm
Ken S,
That will be made possible because LWilliams has the ability to be an effective PG off the bench.
I disagree. Lou is a SG inside a PG’s body. His job is to be a scorer off the bench like Jamal was…not to be a PG and run the offense.
Even if LD decides to start Teague and Harris, I think one of them will shift to PG when Lou comes in the game.
O'Brien
September 7th, 2012
1:27 pm
Benson has had his opportunity, and imo, he has not done enough to get that spot. Is he better than Mike Scott? Maybe , but I am ok with giving Mike Scott an opportunity to see what he can do. However, I am surprised that DF offered him a 2 year contract (instead of one).
Slimjr
September 7th, 2012
2:05 pm
AJ, would love to see the Knicks and Hawks go at it in the 1st round..
It wont take long to find out if this Hawks team is ready for [PRIME TIME] with 5 of the 1st 8 games on the road..The Hawks were only one game above .500 hundred on the road last year which is unacceptable!
They will have to run like the wind cause they wont be able to stop anybody..
Run and gun..[.Golden St. of the East]
Slimjr
September 7th, 2012
2:11 pm
And yes the Hawks do need one or two [Stars] on this roster to compete for an ECF someday soon ..
Josh is on the cusp.. But as of right now they have Z-E-R-O!
Danny you have work to do..This is a [Star] driven league…..
Astro Joe
September 7th, 2012
2:11 pm
Slim, I’m not a Knicks fan like you (and still doubt that Melo and Amare are a good fit to form a true contender), but I do believe that this Knicks team is much better than the Hawks. Celtics, Nets and Knicks could be 3 of the best 4 teams int he conference (IMO).
Ken Strickland
September 7th, 2012
2:13 pm
OBRIEN-The idea you expressed about LWilliams could also be said about Teague and Harris. None of these players are what one would consider pure PGs, but they are definitely good enough to play the position effectively. I think that whether LWilliams plays PG or SG when he enters the gm will depend on what’s needed and potential DEF matchups.
Of the 3 guards(Teague, Harris, Williams) with the ability to play both PG and SG, Teague and Harris gives us the best combination of OFF, DEF, and/or size. Also, although LWilliams has been considered a shoot 1st player, he entered the NBA as a PG, and has played the position most of his basketball career.
Whenever a PG enters the league as a scorer, the common practice seems to be to categorize him as a SG in a PGs body. AIverson and Nate Archibald didn’t do too badly as PGs, even though they could have easily been classified as SGs in a PGs body. In fact, Archibald is the only player to ever lead the NBA in scoring and assists in the same season. Does that make him a SG, PG, or just a very versatile and talented combo guard.
Slimjr
September 7th, 2012
2:19 pm
AJ, 1st I’m an NBA fan..I cheer for both the Hawks and Knicks too..[I know its a hard concept to comprehend cause it's outside the "proverbial" box but respect it]. It is what is Sir.
I’d could not bear to be a long suffering Hawk fan only. No way Jose..Too many let downs from this underachieving franchise over almost 50 years in its existence in the ATL…Whew…..
brigadierjerry
September 7th, 2012
2:21 pm
i stated this before but i am suprised ivan isnt signed.usually teams who have their own players rights r usually signed by now by the same team or have signed elsewhere or it has been determined he will not be back with the original team. since ivan hasnt signed his qualifying offer sounds like he is looking for more money but i havent heard other teams having interest i him.
Astro Joe
September 7th, 2012
2:26 pm
Slim, I’ve always had a favorite team outside of the conference of the Atlanta teams. So since i hated the Celtics, I picked the Lakers as my favorite Western Conference team. It started way back when with Norm Nixon, Jamal Wilkes and Kareem. I spent 10 years in the NYC area, so I have some fondness for both Nets & Knicks (more Nets than Knicks… easier to get tickets to watch Kenny Anderson, Derrick Coleman and Chris Morris, than Ewing, Mason and Starks).
Astro Joe
September 7th, 2012
2:28 pm
Jerry, maybe he is considering more lucrative offers from leagues other than the NBA? I think he has played all over the globe, so if someone offers him enough money, he may not have a problem grabbing his passport and suitcase.
brigadierjerry
September 7th, 2012
2:34 pm
astro joe,
u may be right about that. i find it strange we havent heard anything about him. i get the impression ivan doesnt care where he plays ball so as long as he is playing basketball
brigadierjerry
September 7th, 2012
2:54 pm
Enter your comments here
Astro Joe
September 7th, 2012
2:57 pm
Jerry, agreed. Kind of like a construction worker… he just wants to build something, it doesn’t too much matter what and where… just give him some tools and a hard hat.
O'Brien
September 7th, 2012
3:03 pm
Ken S,
Teague averaged 5 assists per game last year, but it was his first year starting, and he is still learning the PG position. Harris also averaged 5 apg, but he has played PG for most of his entire NBA career, so he knows the position.
For his career, Lou averages 3 assists per game. Compare that to Jamal Crawford, who averages 4 apg for his career (and I know you wouldn’t want Jamal playing PG). Also, Lou is on record as saying “I was off the ball [in Philadelphia], I would prefer to be off the ball”. That does not sound like a PG to me.
From that same blog, MC wrote “For three seasons Williams was the best kind of bench scorer for the Sixers: high usage, high production and good-to-reasonable efficiency while playing just 26.3 minutes per game”.
His game has been to score off the bench, and he is good at it. Why would you want him to play PG here?
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
September 7th, 2012
3:04 pm
O’Brien
September 7th, 2012
1:27 pm
Benson has had his opportunity, and imo, he has not done enough to get that spot. Is he better than Mike Scott? Maybe , but I am ok with giving Mike Scott an opportunity to see what he can do. However, I am surprised that DF offered him a 2 year contract (instead of one).
That’s BS. Last year the Hawks did not have a summer league team and Benson got cut before the season. That’s not much of an opportunity. In the summer league this year Benson looked way better than Scott but the Hawks chose to give Scott a contract.
O'Brien
September 7th, 2012
3:06 pm
I know Lou averages less minutes than those guys, but I don’t think he was counted on to initiate the offense in Philly. His job was to score.
O'Brien
September 7th, 2012
3:08 pm
Clyde,
I forgot we didn’t have a summer league team with the lockout. But wasn’t Benson in camp last year? Or did he get cut just because LD wanted to go with veterans?
Grandad
September 7th, 2012
3:15 pm
Just Joe
You are absolutely correct.
I was ” mis-remembering ” … [r e; Roger Clemens] the trade restriction;
the T.R. in which I became confused was:
” a team cannot re-acquire said player for one full yr ”
I mistakenly applied the one yr time period to the;
” in combination with another player restriction “.
Thanks for catching that and correcting me !
Getting old has it`s drawbacks, of course,
but losing any mental accuity I may or may not have had;
now that`s a real pisser.
Slimjr
September 7th, 2012
3:16 pm
Lou is a fantastic 6′1″ two guard….Yes..
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
September 7th, 2012
3:18 pm
I don’t know why Benson got cut but its kinda funny that Vlad and Stackhouse made the team before him. Make it so bad Dampier was signed over Benson later in the season.
Here is what I’m saying. Mike Scott has not went through training camp but he was given a spot on the roster. Benson went through training camp last year and was cut.
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
September 7th, 2012
3:19 pm
Pape Sy had opportunity.
Marvin Williams had opportunity.
Slimjr
September 7th, 2012
3:22 pm
let me add, on the [offensive] side of the equation^^^^^^^
Astro Joe
September 7th, 2012
3:23 pm
OB, yeah, Hawks held a super short mini-camp last year (that is where they found Ivan).
brigadierjerry
September 7th, 2012
3:23 pm
grandad,
in regarding ur comments on mc earlier today why do u think that is?the mike scott news i learned abou 4 hours before it was posted on the ajc. it seems news about hawks are known elsewhere way before here at the ajc.
also scott machado signed with houston
Astro Joe
September 7th, 2012
3:29 pm
And giving Scott a guaranteed contract doesn’t mean that he won’t spend time in the D-League.
The Truth
September 7th, 2012
3:30 pm
Benson didn’t make the team last season because Ivan out played him. But I agree with Clyde, Benson look good in the summer league this yr. But that should only get him an invite to camp. He still must earn a regular season roster spot.
I will be shocked if he’s not in camp. If John Jenkins was the Apha dog on the Hawks summer team, then clearly, Benson was Beta. Scott took the Gamma dog role.
The Truth
September 7th, 2012
3:33 pm
“Alpha dog”
Jim
September 7th, 2012
3:56 pm
I realize that the baseball season is coming to a climax, that football is up and running, and we don’t have an NHL team…but, could we have less news about the Hawks? Are they sequestered in a secret cave somewhere? A story about Bob Weiss in August and a story about our second round draft choice in September? Not exactly headline stuff.
Just Joe
September 7th, 2012
4:00 pm
In Summer League, Scott out-rebounded Benson and got to the foul line more frequently than Benson.
It’s apples to oranges though. Two different players that played different positions.
Benson also got a look at the end of the year in Golden State. I don’t think he made it off the bench much though.
I wouldn’t mind both Benson & Scott being on this roster if we could upgrade the Jordan Williams and Johan Petro roster spots. I have no use for either of those guys.
Slimjr
September 7th, 2012
4:03 pm
Does not that Firebird of yours need an oil change? I suggest you get right to it. Its 4pm already..
jhan
September 7th, 2012
4:21 pm
I agree with Astro – who gives a flip about players who will only play in blowouts anyway. Benson, Scott, Williams, Petro – they all are bench warmers at best.