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.
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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240 comments Add your comment
Astro Joe
September 9th, 2012
12:34 pm
The Dwught Howard who we play twice a year? And the Dwight Howard who we’ve won something like 8 of the last 10 games by using guys like Collins, Etan and Damp?
Ivan is a nice rotation player and I hope he stays with the Hawks for a long time. But just because you play well for 12-15 minutes/game, it doesn’t mean that you need an expanded role or need to be considered anything more than a solid player.
Buddy Grizzard
September 9th, 2012
12:52 pm
“It seems that 1 decent yr as a backup, after getting kicked out of the Korean Basketball League and playing the rest of his career on the D League level, suddenly makes a player like Ivan Johnson a potential All Star.”
No, taking All-Star Chris Bosh to the hole and outplaying All-Star centers Bogut and Gasol makes Ivan a potential All-Star. Name one other player in the league who has the foot speed, dribbling and outside shooting ability to play small forward while AT THE SAME TIME having the ability to match up with All-Stars at either end of the court at power forward AND center?
*Crickets*
There is no comparable talent in the NBA to Ivan. Nobody. He is completely unique. Does this mean he will be an All-Star? No, that’s going to depend entirely on his team’s ability to develop his talent to its full potential and his ability to control his attitude and behavior to gain the trust of the coaching staff so that he can play consistent minutes.
Astro said there is no comparison between Ivan and Jeremy Lin. Well, guess what? The assistant coach who helped Lin break out is now under contract with the Hawks. If Ferry gets Ivan under contract, he’s going to be coached by one of the rising stars of player development, Kenny Atkinson. What a great move by Ferry!
But as of right now, Larry Drew still holds the key to Ivan’s development. He will be the one who decides if Ivan plays. You guys should really think about applying for LD’s staff. You would fit right in. Can’t see the talent that’s right under your nose. Drew only played Teague and Zaza out of necessity, not out of realization of how valuable they are as players. On top of that, Ivan has a huge strike against him after he was suspended for questioning the entire team’s effort. LD is so insecure he doesn’t need a minimum salary rookie doing what should have been his job.
Buddy Grizzard
September 9th, 2012
1:02 pm
Everything that’s wrong with Ivan’s game is due to the lack of development, not due to the lack of physical ability or potential. Ivan has the ability to be a middle class person’s Charles Barkley. He just doesn’t know how to play the NBA game well enough to reach that potential yet. That’s where the responsibility falls on the coaching staff.
steven a smith
September 9th, 2012
1:56 pm
Lay off the “hallucinogens” Buddy, you may need to be “Baker Acted” soon if you keep this up!
Buddy Grizzard
September 9th, 2012
2:28 pm
Hey, thank you for adding something valuable to the conversation. Your “contributions” are greatly appreciated.
Astro Joe
September 9th, 2012
4:01 pm
Buddy, if basketball were all about physical tools, Harold Miner would be in the HOF (and Javale McGee would be on his way there).
Buddy Grizzard
September 9th, 2012
4:22 pm
Stop making lazy statements, AJ. Three posts of yours I saidm “he just doesn’t know how to play the NBA game well enough to reach that potential yet.”
I attributed Ivan’s failure to reach his full potential on game knowledge.
Astro Joe
September 9th, 2012
4:50 pm
Buddy, fair enough. But let’s not put it all on the coaching staff, not when Ivan has indicated that he doesn;t watch film of other players. Surely, if bloggers can find so called “scouting videos” of players on YouTube, Ivan can learn about opposing players on his own time.
Ken Strickland
September 9th, 2012
4:59 pm
If we somehow end up with DHoward in next yrs free agency, then we’d better hold onto Horford over Josh. I say that not because I favor either player over the other, but because Horford would compliment Howard much better because of his effective and efficient midrange jumpshooting ability. That shooting ability would help keep the lane open for Dwight to operate.
Josh will never be as effective or efficient as Horford is with his outside shooting. Teams would drop off Josh’s defender to double Dwight and simply beg Josh to shoot jumpers. Plus, having Horford would give you more quality depth at OC, which would allow us to carry a player at another position.
If we somehow managed to come up with an effective SF that
1-plays consistently,
2-plays both ends of the court effectively,
3-doesn’t need the ball in his hands to be effective,
we could become a serious Eastern Conference finalist, even with Josh/AL as our PF/OC combination. The Miami Heat proved that you don’t need a dominant OC, PF, or PG to become a championship caliber team.
Buddy Grizzard
September 9th, 2012
5:46 pm
“Surely, if bloggers can find so called “scouting videos” of players on YouTube, Ivan can learn about opposing players on his own time.”
And that’s what’s great about the Atkinson hiring. Jeremy Lin said he could call Atkinson in the middle of the night to ask him to prepare game film regarding specific aspects of his game, and he would have it ready first thing in the morning. Ivan now has the perfect coach to show him the aspects of his game that need improvement, as well as to prepare scouting film for upcoming opponents.
Buddy Grizzard
September 9th, 2012
5:50 pm
McGuire to Raptors… grrr.
Rusty
September 9th, 2012
8:40 pm
It’s hard to believe that things will turn out good as long as LD is still our coach.
Astro Joe
September 9th, 2012
9:13 pm
Buddy, the point of that Lin story was about who initiated the call (to Atkinson). My guess is tha the Hawks had someone on the staff last season with assess to scout videos.
Rusty
September 9th, 2012
9:25 pm
I believe that Ivan has the potential to really help the hawks but ld did a lot to hurt Ivan & thu s the hawks,LD really screwed us in the playoffs.
vava74
September 10th, 2012
4:28 am
I don’t care if Ivan wakes up in the middle of the night or not to call Atkinson.
What I care is that he is unafraid to play and is already skilled enough to warrant 20 minutes per game.
If guys who shoot barely .400 can get green light to play and shoot almost as they see fit, why can’t we have on the floor for +20 minutes a guy who rebounds, defends and brings an attitude which is conducive to winning?
vava74
September 10th, 2012
4:30 am
Ivan has the handles, the foot speed and the hunger to give us quality minutes at all 3 frontcourt positions.
It only depends on match ups when he would log more minutes but I would definitively have him as the 7th or 8th guy in the rotation and I would not even disregard the possibility of starting him at the SF and see what happens.
Buddy Grizzard
September 10th, 2012
6:20 am
“My guess is tha the Hawks had someone on the staff last season with assess to scout videos.”
My guess is that poor scouting and player development is what led to two of Drew’s assistants being let go.
vava74
September 10th, 2012
7:05 am
Buddy,
I don’t even think this was a specific “competence issue”, or at least that was not the only factor. I am sure that it was a loyalty issue.
Ferry certainly wants to have within the staff people that are loyal to him and can be his eyes and ears inside the locker room.
It’s doubtful that Gattison and Hill would not feel somewhat compelled to be loyal to LD and be protective of the info they would supply.
Ken Strickland
September 10th, 2012
9:51 am
Either GRANDAD or UNCA’ BOB mentioned that we can only trade the players acquired in the JJ and Marvin individually, not in combination with any other players. That makes it rather difficult for us to get a quality SF in a straight up trade for one of them. We’d definitely have to include a draft pick or 2.
Here’s another example of the illogical thought process that seems to afflict these HORFORD HATERS. They claim Horford is soft and afraid to get physical because he often chooses to take advantage of having one of the NBAs most accurate and effective midrange jumpshots.
Yet, these same HORFORD HATERS conveniently ignore the FACT that for a number of yrs now JSmith has been admonished and kept off the All Star team for stubbornly continuing to jack up illadvised low percentage jumpers rather than going down low where he’s most effective. Why isn’t he labeled as being soft and afraid to get physical? FOOD FOR THOUGHT, at least for those who are capable of thinking.
Buddy G
September 10th, 2012
10:02 am
“I don’t even think this was a specific “competence issue”, or at least that was not the only factor. I am sure that it was a loyalty issue.”
I think it’s a combination of both factors. If you look at the Spurs game last season when Bonner, a chubby, slow white guy, kept getting open for jumpers, I think you’ll agree that advance scouting was a weakness for the Hawks last year. If you look at the failure to develop obvious talent (Why don’t Zaza and All-NBA have a post game? Why doesn’t Teague know how to fight through picks?), I think you’ll agree this was an issue as well.
Larry Drew has failed for two consecutive season to make this team realize its full potential. The decision was made before Ferry was hired to retain Drew for this season. With Drew’s option already exercised, Ferry improved the coaching staff the only way he could.
Buddy G
September 10th, 2012
10:08 am
Seriously, the Hawks coaching staff got humiliated in that Spurs game. You’ve got a chubby white guy who does two things… eats sandwiches and shoots threes. He’s got red hair. He is NOT HARD TO FIND on a basketball court and it’s NOT HARD TO PREDICT what he’s going to do on a basketball court. And yet Bonner shot 5-for-7 on threes as he was constantly open. Drew’s assistant coaches should all have been fired on the spot after that game.
vava74
September 10th, 2012
10:30 am
I would not call Bonner exactly “chubby”, but that is as far as I go in disagreeing with you.
Astro Joe
September 10th, 2012
11:37 am
Buddy, I thought the Hawks scouts “discovered” Ivan… or did he just show up at their front door?
Astro Joe
September 10th, 2012
11:48 am
Ty Hill was the big man coach. So I guess he was fired because of the poor play of Josh, Al and Zaza over the tenure of his stay with the Hawks (or do we ignore that set and only focus on Hilton Armstrong, Josh Powell and Etan Thomas)? Honestly, I’m not sure what Gattison did. Neither, from what little I know, had scouting responsibilities (isn’t that Ballard’s job).
I’m not defending the performace of Hill and Gattison as much as I would NOT hold them accountable for a 27 YO who bounced around various pro leagues not performing at a consistent and superlative level in his rookie season in the world’s best pro basketball league. And I have never been of the opinion that “player development” is the sole responsibility of a coaching staff. There are too many examples of individual players making their own investment in maintaining employment in the NBA (and likewise, too many examples of players who waste away the opportunity).
TMACfan
September 10th, 2012
11:54 am
For anyone who plays the 2K series, JSmoove gets some nice love in this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTL4wv2nL1Q&feature=youtu.be
Ken Strickland
September 10th, 2012
12:21 pm
I really like having both AHorford and JSmith on our team, because they compliment each other nicely. With the unlikelihood of us getting an impactful SF through any trades using our newly acquired players in combination with others, we’ll most likely have to get it done from within.
The only way we can get Horford and Josh on the floor at the same time is to play Al at OC and Josh at PF, or Josh at SF and Al at PF. Because of the improved size and matchup advantages we’d have by starting Zaza at OC, with Al and Josh playing the wings, that might be our best starting frontline.
It would certainly be our best DEF frontline, as well as make us much stronger inside. The advantages of starting Josh at SF and Horford at PF would definitely outweigh any potential disadvantages. It would allow them to go up against defenders that would almost certainly be shorter, smaller, and/or weaker than the players they usually go up against at their respective OC and PF positions.
vava74
September 10th, 2012
1:01 pm
Ken,
Both our PF (Horford) and our C (Zaza) would be occupied by players who are not long and not above average shot blockers.
That’s a major drawback, in particular when our perimeter is expected to be porous.
Sautee
September 10th, 2012
2:22 pm
“With the unlikelihood of us getting an impactful SF through any trades using our newly acquired players in combination with others, we’ll most likely have to get it done from within.” – KenS
Ken, what are you basing this on?
Ken Strickland
September 10th, 2012
3:19 pm
SAUTEE-I’m basing it on the fact that the new CBA rules prohibits us from packaging any of the players we acquired in the JJ and Marvin trades in combination with any other players in order to facilitate a trade. Any trade involving these players, once they become eligible, would have to be a straight up one on one trade. We’re not likely to get the type or quality of SF we seek that way.
VALVE 74-”BOTH OUR PF(HORFORD) AND OUR C(ZAZA)WOULD BE OCCUPIED BY PLAYERS WHO ARE NOT LONG AND NOT ABOVE AVERAGE SHOT BLOCKERS”. I don’t get your meaning. It appears to me that those issues would be advantagious for both Zaza and Horford. And I don’t see how our perimeter is suppose to be pourous.
Both Teague and Harris have proven to be solid defenders. The only SG/SF we have that’s a proven DEF liability is KKorver. DStevenson is a proven DEF specialist, and AMorrow is rated higher defensively than some have suggested, while the jury is still out on JJenkins. LWilliams will sometimes be a DEF liability at SG because of his lack of ideal height and size, especially when he goes up against bigger, taller, stronger SGs like Kobe, DWade, JJohnson, etc.
But you can bet they’ll also have their hands full trying to defend him as well. My thinking, when it comes to the frontline I’ve suggested, is the added rebounding we’d get out of it. Rebounding is vital if we intend to play an uptempo fast breaking style. With Josh and Horford on the wings, we get the benefit of much better rebounding without sacrificing our ability to run the floor and finish strong.
Just Joe
September 10th, 2012
3:32 pm
Ken…Grandad was mistaken. After 60 days, we’re free to package players in a trade without any restrictions.
Astro Joe
September 10th, 2012
3:59 pm
Strickland, Just Joe is right. We can package any combination of players (starting tomorrow I believe) to trade for a player. IMO, the limitation will be based on Ferry’s willingness to trade expiring contracts (and a portion of next summer’s cap space) for a player who may have a 2+ year deal. And obviously, the willingness of the other team to accept whatever Ferry is offering.
Sautee
September 10th, 2012
4:10 pm
That’s why I have steadfastly refused to even conjecture about our roster for this season. If it’s the same on the first day of training camp as it is today, I’ll be totally shocked.
But that wouldn’t be the first time.
Astro Joe
September 10th, 2012
4:14 pm
I wouldn’t look for Korver to be dealt 9at least not until January/February). Remember, he may be the ONLY player on this roster that Ferry purposefully acquired (Nets players and Devin were acquired to offload long-term deals and Jenkins & Scott supposedly were chosen by the Sund regime). Korver was acquired using a trade exemption that was to expire next summer… so Ferry didn’t have to use it when he did on Korver.
Astro Joe
September 10th, 2012
4:19 pm
Mary Schmitt Boyer/Jodie Valade: F/G Alonzo Gee, who started 31 games at SF for the #Cavs last season, has agreed to a multiyear contract with the team, NBA source says Twitter
Just Joe
September 10th, 2012
4:31 pm
I agree with AJ. Kyle Korver, James Anderson & Lou Williams were targeted by Danny Ferry. He went after them. And even though he wasn’t necessarily his pick, Ferry also gave Mike Scott a partially guaranteed deal. He could have easily let him go play overseas for a year or given him a non-guaranteed make-good contract for training camp.
Also, since being in place, Ferry has been rumored to have interest in free agents Delfino (to Houston), Tolliver (unsigned) & Randolph (to Denver). Any others? I think the Gee rumor was before Ferry came aboard.
Just Joe
September 10th, 2012
4:36 pm
Ferry also made the comment in an interview that a defensive-minded wing player would be the “logical” next piece to the roster, but that it may not happen until the trade deadline.
Buddy Grizzard
September 10th, 2012
4:36 pm
“Buddy, I thought the Hawks scouts “discovered” Ivan… or did he just show up at their front door?”
Was it Sund’s kid that scouted Ivan in the d-league? By the way, what does that have to do with ATL coaches allowing Bonner to shoot open threes?
Buddy Grizzard
September 10th, 2012
4:39 pm
“Ty Hill was the big man coach. So I guess he was fired because of the poor play of Josh, Al and Zaza over the tenure of his stay with the Hawks.”
Let’s see. Al Horford, no discernible post game. Zaza Pachulia, no discernible post game. Ivan Johnson, matches up well vs. Marc Gasol and Andrew Bogut but sits on the playoffs because he doesn’t know what to do on defense. He’s physically capable… but he doesn’t know what to do. Coaching? Sounds like Ferry made the right call when he handed Hill his walking papers.
Buddy Grizzard
September 10th, 2012
4:39 pm
sits *in the playoffs…
Buddy Grizzard
September 10th, 2012
4:42 pm
Josh avoiding contact due to chronic knee issues?
http://repatl.blogspot.com/2012/09/josh-and-long-two-breakdown-by-kirk.html
Buddy Grizzard
September 10th, 2012
4:57 pm
“The only SG/SF we have that’s a proven DEF liability is KKorver.”
A. The Hawks do not have a SF under contract.
B. You obviously haven’t read much about Anthony Morrow.
jhan
September 10th, 2012
9:59 pm
Players don’t take any blame for Bonner? Someone was supposed to guard him. I’m sure the coaches assigned the task somehow.
Ken Strickland
September 10th, 2012
10:09 pm
CAGERS-Thanks for the correction. We’ll see what Ferry decides to do with what he has to work with. It now appears Cleveland has taken AGee off the trading block. I wouldn’t be surprised to see us not make a trade for a SF. I don’t have anything to go on but a feeling, but I believe Josh will be our starting SF when the season opens.
I also don’t think anyone will beat DHarris out for the starting SG spot.
Astro Joe
September 10th, 2012
10:16 pm
Buddy, I wasn’t involved in the Bonner discussion. You make it sound like everyone in a Hawks management position is incredibly incompetent and yet you seem giddy about a guy like Ivan Johnson who spent many years toiling across the globe until that very group of Hawks execs invited him to camp and kept him (over a drafted player who typically would get the nod in those situations). If they find a player from the scrap heap, they are lucky and if they don’t find a gem in the rough they are incompetent. That is some serious self-loathing going on there, if you truly are that emotionally invested in an organization that you believe is incapable of doing anything right.
And, BTW, Zaza had as much to do with the Hawks having homecourt advantage last year (a clear measure of a very good regular season) as any player other than Joe and Josh. I guess now that Atkinson is on board, each and every Hawk will have a career year, huh? After all, he is singularly responsible for Lin’s success, right?
Jae Evolution
September 10th, 2012
10:27 pm
Unfortunately we will have to trade for a SF between now and the deadline, there are few SF’s that are even decent in the 2013 FA.
Danny, for now, wants someone who can come in and just get by. Defending, rebounding, hustle that sort of stuff. For the long term he wants a youth movement and someone who is on a team-friendly contract. Wilson Chandler fits perfectly and it seems Denver may have minutes malfunction for some or their guys by mid-season. I expect Danny to try and get Chandler sometime by trade deadline as I can’t see a better option for the team at SF.
doc
September 10th, 2012
11:00 pm
it was only a matter of time:
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/isiah-thomas-might-joining-york-knicks-officially-least-170054825–nba.html
KevinM
September 10th, 2012
11:10 pm
Back to Mike Scott…the young guy better not get comfortable thinking he has a bench seat here. I would not be surprised to see Scott dress out the entire year. With our current frontline, and with Petro (junk), Williams (young NJ junk), and potentially Ivan, Scott will need to have a bag packed at all times.
The family just keeps growing!
Kudos to Danny for trying to start a development process around here, but LD isn’t putting in guys who aren’t able to contribute with his 1 year deal.
And isn’t it nice to have another ex-Woody assistant on the sidelines this year for us?
KevinM
September 10th, 2012
11:19 pm
Is it only 3 weeks til the start of training camp? Man, this offseason has flown by!
Funny how we still have to promote the opponent on the team web site….gotta have Lebron on there…some things never change.
KevinM
September 10th, 2012
11:23 pm
The Hawks store still selling T-Mac, & Dampier jerseys….perhaps Danny’s not telling us something?
Buddy G
September 11th, 2012
9:18 am
“If they find a player from the scrap heap, they are lucky and if they don’t find a gem in the rough they are incompetent.”
You have me confused with another blogger. I’m probably Sund’s biggest fan on this blog. He was responsible for drafting Teague, getting rid of Bibby, bringing in Hinrich, recommending Dwane Casey as head coach and discovering Ivan Johnson. Larry Drew was responsible for overplaying Bibby, keeping Teague on the bench until he had no other options, sitting Hinrich in the 4th quarter of a playoff game to let Pargo lose the series for us and sitting Ivan rather than letting him match up with Garnett. Hawks ownership is responsible for installing, then extending, the worst coach in the NBA, not Sund.
“I guess now that Atkinson is on board, each and every Hawk will have a career year, huh? After all, he is singularly responsible for Lin’s success, right?”
Jeremy Lin is a guy who got the most out of his talent last year. Al Horford, Jeff Teague, Josh Smith, Zaza Pachulia and Ivan Johnson are all players who DID NOT get the most out of their talent last year. This is an indictment of Atlanta’s coaching staff, and Danny Ferry, a competent GM, has taken reasonable action. Atkinson may not be “singularly responsible for Lin’s success,” (kind of a sad straw-man argument – come on you can do better) but he’s a pretty clear upgrade.