LIVE DRAFT BLOG: Hawks have a few hours to wait (UPDATE: Hawks expected to get Jordan Crawford in trade)
Derrick Favors gets a few interviews out of the way before heading to . . . New Jersey?
(UPDATE: 9:45 p.m. The Hawks drafted Texas forward Damion James with the 24th pick in the draft. But they are going to complete a trade with the New Jersey Nets for the 27th pick, Jordan Crawford of Xavier, and the 31st pick. Getting a Crawford is huge for the Hawks because he gives them bench scoring. He had a great NCAA tournament and he’s also the player who dunked on LeBron James in a summer camp last year. I’ll be posting a new column soon.)
Welcome to generally the scariest day in Atlanta Hawks’ history, and we speak of course of . . . the . . . draft! (Cue organ music . . . thunder clap . . . loud shrieks from the top of the stair case.)
OK, OK. Actually, things have gotten better in recent years with the drafts of Al Horford, Josh Smith, to a lesser degree Josh Childress, and potentially Jeff Teague. But the ugly history, which includes No. 1 picks like Shelden Williams, Cal Bowdler, Roshown McLeod, Ed Gray and Priest Lauderdale — and the non-drafting of Chris Paul — is tough to overcome.
I’ll be blogging live through the draft, so if you have any questions throw them at me. In the mean time, here are a few items of interest:
♦ Sorry, no Chris Paul (we think): Despite rumors flying of his possible availability — which were given an extra kick when he said he was open to a deal – New Orleans owner George Shinn released a statement, saying: “”We are about building and sustaining a winning tradition. Chris Paul is the cornerstone of our franchise and brings us unequaled support on and off the court. We will continue to build around Chris Paul, and we want to see him in a Hornets uniform for the remainder of his career.”
It’s worth noting that the words, “We will not trade Chris Paul,” aren’t in the statement. New Orleans Times-Picayune’s John DeShazier has a terrific column summarizing this sensitive topic with the Hornets. And yeah, I’m still wondering how a Josh Smith-for-Paul swap could re-shape the Hawks.
♦ Our projected top 5 picks: 1.) Washington: John Wall, PG, Kentucky. 2.) Philadelphia: Evan Turner, SG, Ohio State. 3.) New Jersey: Derrick Favors, PF, Georgia Tech; 4) Minnesota: Wesley Johnson, SF, Syracuse. 5. Sacramento: DeMarcus Cousins, C-PF, Kentucky.
♦ Six names for the Hawks: It’s almost impossible to project the Hawks’ pick because they draft 24th and they don’t seem focused on one specific position. But here are a few names to look at: Xavier shooting guard Jordan Crawford, Florida State center Solomon Alabi, Marshall center Hassan Whiteside, France power forward Kevin Seraphin, Kentucky point guard Eric Bledsoe, South Florida shooting guard Dominique Jones.
♦ There are reports out of Greece that Josh Childress may sign an offer sheet with the Washington Wizards, which would set up a sign-and-trade scenario with the Hawks. But that report hasn’t been confirmed and general manager Rick Sund won’t be available for comment until after the Hawks pick.
♦ Your free agency fix: Former Tech star Chris Bosh stated the obvious: That LeBron James will be the first domino to fall in this free agency class: “Am I waiting on LeBron? Pretty much. I think everyone has to. I have to as well. … He’s a great player and I would be crazy to think that all the teams that are considering him, they would talk to somebody else first. I think everybody is going to be going at him first.”
That’s it for now. Check back later.
♦
Follow me on Twitter @JeffSchultzAJC and Facebook.com/JeffSchultzAJC
♦
Last five posts on instant replay (no charge)
♦ Dudley gives Thrashers needed jolt in short amount of time
♦ Fredi Gonzalez fired — and Braves should hire him now
♦ Michael Turner finally admitting the obvious: He was fat
♦ Hawks can’t afford to slide back (and why not Chris Paul?)
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561 comments Add your comment
glee@leelawusa.com
June 24th, 2010
9:59 pm
Hey coach….we have another 6′7 black swingman to play basketball for the Hawks….LOL
Death2UGA
June 24th, 2010
10:00 pm
PLEASE GOD TRADE JAMES!
Jeff Schultz
June 24th, 2010
10:00 pm
Hey! Crawford goes to Nets– which means he could be dealt to Hawks now!
Timbo
June 24th, 2010
10:01 pm
There it is! We might get Crawford and Alabi . . .
Cedrick (Oklahoma Thunder-->Former Hawk Fan)
June 24th, 2010
10:01 pm
OMG!!!! trade for ANOTHER GUARD!!!!
Sautee
June 24th, 2010
10:01 pm
They must think JJ is gone.
Hawks 2010
June 24th, 2010
10:01 pm
wait fans there’s a trade coming on u guys… thank God
Scott
June 24th, 2010
10:01 pm
I bet Whiteside and the Florida St. guy are gone before we pick.
tinachi
June 24th, 2010
10:01 pm
OKAY THATS BETTER WE TRADED OUR PICK FOR JORDAN CRAWFORD AND THE 31ST PICK
True 5
June 24th, 2010
10:01 pm
thank you for pulling your strings and getting a trade for us schultz
Sautee
June 24th, 2010
10:02 pm
I LIKE the two for one at this point in the draft.
Jeff Schultz
June 24th, 2010
10:02 pm
Still no official word but this would be terrific if true.
Ryan
June 24th, 2010
10:02 pm
Or they are getting ready for Bibby to retire. Bibby is getting old.
Whopper Dawg
June 24th, 2010
10:03 pm
Hey, trade!!! Now that makes some sense, a real shooting guard and a shot at a big, man, I feel better,
nside hawkfan
June 24th, 2010
10:03 pm
Maybe Dimitroff is running this draft….
LETS JOEEEEEEEEEEE
June 24th, 2010
10:03 pm
JORDAN AND JAMAL LETS GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
N.D.T.K.A.
June 24th, 2010
10:03 pm
Crawford seems like a good pick. Now go get a big – 5- center. No more forwards.
Dawg Fan in Grayson
June 24th, 2010
10:03 pm
Crawford…nice..better shooter than James and more of a SG. 31 big? Whiteside/Alibi/Orton/Jordan
J.J.M.
June 24th, 2010
10:04 pm
great trade
Remarkable
June 24th, 2010
10:04 pm
Good move hawks. The front office isn’t completely brain dead. I hope we are going BIG with the next pick.
D Hawks
June 24th, 2010
10:04 pm
Good job, Rick Sund. We get the rook J. Crawford to go with the existing one. There will at least be one Joe on the team. Plus we can still get a big at 31 to develop.
Mike W
June 24th, 2010
10:04 pm
Jordan Crawford,goood moves hawks yall jus have woke me up after that trade and get the 31st pick in the 2nnd round.cause that damien jones pick was boring
Humanhighlightreel
June 24th, 2010
10:04 pm
I can’t believe the Spirit got the player they wanted and an extra pick, somebody pinch me!!!
PlusSizeModel
June 24th, 2010
10:05 pm
It really couldn’t matter less who the Hawks take, they are effectively dead until the spirit sells.
JSS
June 24th, 2010
10:05 pm
Happy Jeff Schultz?
bravos
June 24th, 2010
10:05 pm
Good no more joe johnson. We’ll move up jamal and make him a starter and make jordan crawford a bench player. Good draft trade, he looks like a great pick. Averaged 20 ppg so has some pop in his play. No more iso-joe please! The hawks need to play more of a team game!
man
June 24th, 2010
10:05 pm
yes we got crawford! hopefully we will go after a big man!
Wordy
June 24th, 2010
10:06 pm
Nj is stupid. Good pick sund. To bad he couldn’t get asg to get Avery
D Hawks
June 24th, 2010
10:06 pm
I’m scared to say it, but do we have someone with a clue in the Hawks front office now? We knew Sund made good deals, but this draft is a real test for him. Not easy to pick at the tail end of the round.
J.J.M.
June 24th, 2010
10:06 pm
do we have two 2nd round picks?
Spud Webb Jr
June 24th, 2010
10:06 pm
WOW! The Hawks make a good deal! I might just cry….
SouthGaHawk{Albany}
June 24th, 2010
10:06 pm
Ok now pick Alabi from FSU… We need a dam CENTER
Jeff Schultz
June 24th, 2010
10:07 pm
FOLKS — it’s not official but it’s a lock — Hawks will get Crawford from Nets and the 31st pick for their own 24th pick (Damion James). Major deal for Hawks and Rick Sund.
D Hawks
June 24th, 2010
10:08 pm
Wordy, I wanted Avery too, but maybe we’ll end up with the last laugh on that one. That hire could easily go either direction for them depending on who NJ can pickup in free agency, and how well and quickly he can make the young guys gel. I don’t think the Russian is going to be very patient.
N.D.T.K.A.
June 24th, 2010
10:09 pm
Jordan Crawford is kind of short for a shooting guard at 6′4″. Very quick and explosive scorer though and he dunked on Lebron. Whiteside, Alabi, or Orton?
J.J.M.
June 24th, 2010
10:10 pm
ok hawks will go big with the 31st pick what would they do with the 54th pick?
jaymin
June 24th, 2010
10:10 pm
i’m hoping daniel orton. Has anyone ever seen whiteside play?
cheshire
June 24th, 2010
10:10 pm
i’m confused! i don’t know enough about these guys since i don’t watch a ton of college basketball, but everyone seems really happy. can someone explain to me who this Crawford guy is and why this is so huge?
Ken Strickland
June 24th, 2010
10:10 pm
Looks like new HC LDrew has decided to either replace MWilliams or at least light a fire under him. Before some of you go absolutely crazy and stupid with your dissatisfaction over us not drafting a center, DON’T FORGET FREE AGENCY. After all, we’re only looking for a backup to Horford, and maybe Zaza.
And who knows, we might end up with a center if we end up doing a sign and trade with JJ. It also looks like we’re going to get a scorer in SG Crawford to either replace JCrawford off the bench, or JJ as a starter. Some of you can complain all you want, but it looks like the Hawks have done a darn good job of getting 2 very valuable, talented and needed players.
With us getting Crawford in a potential trade, and if JJ resigns, it looks like we just acquired Jamaal Crawford’s replacement off the bench, which means he likely won’t be resigned next yr. GOOD JOB HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!
Whopper Dawg
June 24th, 2010
10:11 pm
That is one hell of a good deal. Can’t believe that Jersey would make that trade, who is running the shop over there, Jeff?
Anywho
June 24th, 2010
10:12 pm
He is the guy who dunked on Lebron, a Youtube classic
Dawg Fan in Grayson
June 24th, 2010
10:12 pm
54th pick will probably go to a foreign player for the future. Or Harangody?
Freshmaker
June 24th, 2010
10:12 pm
you guys do realize that Orton is only 6′10″ right? the same size as horford
jaymin
June 24th, 2010
10:13 pm
wow rumors of a deal between orlando and new orleans with orlando getting chris paul and New Orleans getting Jameer Nelson and Vince Carter
What a terrible, terrible trade for the Hornets. They’re getting rid of Paul to give Collison playing time and that would be negated by getting another pg
Dawg Fan in Grayson
June 24th, 2010
10:13 pm
Orton gone, but he measured only 6′9″. Don’t need him
True 5
June 24th, 2010
10:13 pm
wow didnt see magic getting orton. great pick for them.
Ryan
June 24th, 2010
10:14 pm
6′10 players CAN play center. .
Gwinnett Fred
June 24th, 2010
10:14 pm
Some of you people really crack me up.
Sund goes from being the worst GM of all time to brilliant by doing something he had in the works all along.
I’m glad you bouncing back & forth people aren’t day traders or you’d be jumping out of tall buildings every chance you get.
N.D.T.K.A.
June 24th, 2010
10:15 pm
Since they have a 2nd round pick why not maybe take a chance on on Whiteside if you are picking best available player?
Ryan
June 24th, 2010
10:15 pm
But the only way he can be brilliant is by following THEIR advice, because they, as fans, are massively beter informed on all the teams needs, free agency and trade plans and everything else.