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
coach smith
June 24th, 2010
10:48 pm
The Hawks NEVER had rights to the Euro player! What the H@!! are you all seeing?
Scott
June 24th, 2010
10:48 pm
Coach Smith, please try and keep up!
Section 303
June 24th, 2010
10:48 pm
Guys, willing to bet that we do not even remember that German’s name in 10-years. Back away from the ledge.
I am curious how much money the Hawks will get for him, though.
Ryan
June 24th, 2010
10:49 pm
Dawg, that still doesn’t give you any reason to be whiny about a second round pick.
J.J.M.
June 24th, 2010
10:49 pm
Hawks have a very bad ownership…they said they would enter the draft not thinking about joe johnson…they need to move on
Manny
June 24th, 2010
10:49 pm
We need to trade… really bad! No good Centers will be there in 16 picks.
Jim
June 24th, 2010
10:49 pm
BUMP! Football is just around the corner…GO FALCONS!
Scott
June 24th, 2010
10:49 pm
Ryan, you are the only queen on this board!! Your words have been spoken like a true loser.
Grumpy
June 24th, 2010
10:49 pm
Here’s why you trade down: you pay the guy less at 27 than you do at 24. And you pick up a 31 in the process, which your turn into cash (which is just as good as money, according to Yogi Berra).
If you take the guy at 24, you pay him more, and you don’t get cash.
Hate all you want, but that’s the logic. Any big body at this stage is a project anyway, so you clowns need to quit acting like they passed up on Kareem!
Mikeal
June 24th, 2010
10:49 pm
Jeff is prob in the process of writing his new column ripping ASG a new one. Hold nothing back Jeff.
ignition
June 24th, 2010
10:50 pm
It was a 2nd round pic. The guy probably want be in the league for another two or three years…
Hell we have Randolph Morris if we just want a big guy, and now we might actually play him..
Jordon Crawford was the guy they targeted from the beginning .. Hawks won..
BTW Gani Lawal should have stayed in school, can you say dummy…
cantondawg
June 24th, 2010
10:50 pm
Ed Gray, Priest Lauderdale, Bowdler, Mcleod along with the guy from Ga. Tech Dion something…I don’t ever remember seeing these guys plays
Ryan
June 24th, 2010
10:51 pm
RIght. Because I’m not going apoplectic about the missed opportunity of a second round project center.
Dawg Fan in Grayson
June 24th, 2010
10:51 pm
NBA should get rid of the 2nd round in this era of the salary cap. Waste of time.
Hawkeye
June 24th, 2010
10:51 pm
@cheshire – Amen!!!
E43
June 24th, 2010
10:51 pm
thats is some serious firepower for the hawks if JJ stays…
coach smith
June 24th, 2010
10:52 pm
Scott
show me anyone anywhere who has info that shows the Hawks did anything but make a trade to get Crawford
cheshire
June 24th, 2010
10:52 pm
I don’t care that we got rid of Pleiss… i just want to know why we did it for cash. If it was to get $ for a free agent we’re looking at (or to re-sign Joe), it makes sense. If it was for no other reason than to get the ASG cash, then that’s just yet another move to push the fanbase away.
Ryan
June 24th, 2010
10:52 pm
ANd what if scouting showed that none of these guys were going to be that? You CAN’T know if that was a good move until you see if ANY of those guys actually do anything.
Its equally if not more probable that they are Priest Lauderdale.
DP
June 24th, 2010
10:52 pm
A lot of clueless people on this blog tonight. The Hawks wanted Crawford and figured they could get him at 27. So they picked James for New Jersey at 24 and traded him for picks 27 and 31. They got the guy they would have picked at 24 with the 27 pick, so the 31 pick was basically free. They didn’t like anybody available at 31 to make the team, so they sold the pick.
So for you knuckleheads asking why they didn’t just pick Crawford at 24, Crawford and cash is equal to more than Crawford and no cash for any owner, not just the ASG. It doesn’t happen all that often, but the Hawks front office got the better of another team tonight.
ryan
June 24th, 2010
10:53 pm
The Atlanta Hawks should be called the Atlanta J’s with all these J names.
Scott
June 24th, 2010
10:54 pm
Jeff Schultz reported earlier that tha=e hawks traded there 24th pick for New Jerseys 27th and 31st. I figure he knows what he is talking about. Yahoo sports is also reporting it.
Manny
June 24th, 2010
10:54 pm
I would like to have a strong, big body that changes the projectory of inside shots. I’m looking for a defensive inside presence first.
Solomon Alabi has the body and is not a Freshman. I would like to get him in the 2nd round.
coach smith
June 24th, 2010
10:54 pm
DP
thank you for spelling it out for these morons who were getting confused and thinking the Hawks ended up with no players and only CASH!
Woody's goatee
June 24th, 2010
10:54 pm
Hawkeye – You want Josh Smith to come off the bench? You realize he’s a prima donna that would never accept that role, right?
Pi$$onaDawg
June 24th, 2010
10:55 pm
Hey, a bunch of white kids are playing baseball on ESPN2 in order to win a National Championship. Guess what? Many of them actually go to college to get educated. USC 2 v Oklahoma 2 with USC being the home team in the 12th inning. @ outs and 2 on.
Dawg Fan in Grayson
June 24th, 2010
10:56 pm
For the record I am not ‘whining’ about a 2nd round draft pick. Trying to educate you why some fans are. My question was why trade a 24 for a 27. Why not just pick Crawford @ 24? There is no way OKC paid more that $200,000 for a 31. If the Spirit needed to do that for cash the hawks are in big trouble.
coach smith
June 24th, 2010
10:56 pm
Scott
yes that is correct and I know that! BUT if you read over the blog MANY people were under the impression that the Hawks ended up with NO PLAYERS and only CASH! That is what I was talking about
Humanhighlightreel
June 24th, 2010
10:56 pm
The Hawks don’t need a billionaire, remember Time Warner was their previous owner and Ted before that. Similar outcomes most seasons, winning regular season records, early playoff exists. No difference from the Days of Dominique, Kevin Willis, and Fratello as coach.
nside hawkfan
June 24th, 2010
10:56 pm
Nobody is reporting that the Hawks sold Pliess. I think ESPN commentator was confused…
Pi$$onaDawg
June 24th, 2010
10:56 pm
tHE GAMEcocks WIN THE gAMECOCKS WIN. nOW ON TO FACE clemson. wHAT A FREAKING game.
Billy Knight
June 24th, 2010
10:56 pm
Miss me yet? Let’s go Sund! Makin me look good.
cheshire
June 24th, 2010
10:57 pm
just out of curiosity, what is $ difference in what you pay a 24th pick vs. a 27th pick?
Manny
June 24th, 2010
10:57 pm
So go watch the baseball game. Most of the really good baseball players signed to a major league team back when they were 16 anyway.
Scott
June 24th, 2010
10:57 pm
Sorry coach, point taken.
coach smith
June 24th, 2010
10:58 pm
I like Crawford so if the Hawks got him AND cash…what the hell is everyone’s problem?
D Hawks
June 24th, 2010
10:59 pm
Some folks have been missing the memos about ASG. Get mad all you want, but it won’t put any more money in the owners’ pockets. They just signed two new coaches, made a major hockey trade, and they have free agents to sign on both teams. Anywhere they can save a few dimes they are going to do it. Over the course of a 4-yr deal, assuming the Hawks pickup the 4th yr on Crawford, they will save about a half million by getting Crawford 3 picks lower if my math is correct. It sounds piddly, but if everything we’ve been hearing and reading is correct every penny is important for these owners. If we have a problem, it’s with the ownership not the GM.
Ryan
June 24th, 2010
10:59 pm
SMith: THat they didn’t pick up whatever player they are addicted to that they are absolutely SURE is wonderful.
SouthGaHawk{Albany}
June 24th, 2010
10:59 pm
Is something wrong with Solomon. His stocks is dropping
coach smith
June 24th, 2010
10:59 pm
np Scott
just alot of people freaking out and confused about what actually happened! Why would the Hawks take a guy who would never make the roster @31 when they got the player they wanted (a good one, ask LeBron) AND some cash?
20000 girly
June 24th, 2010
10:59 pm
Jordan Crawford is the guy who dunked on Lebron
cheshire
June 24th, 2010
11:00 pm
so do you guys think the Crawford pickup means we’re letting Joe walk? or is it just for depth?
Scott
June 24th, 2010
11:00 pm
I like Crawford too. It just depends on how much cash they got whether it was worth it or not. I am sure it is nothing to write home about. Probably enough for the ASG to go out on the town a little more during the season.
Ron D
June 24th, 2010
11:00 pm
I agree with Manny. Where is the center? Until the Hawks get taller and beefier they never get past Orlando in the playoffs. Example #1 Boston.
Ryan
June 24th, 2010
11:00 pm
THe problem is with a certain SOB who jot his drawers in a bunch over Joe Johnson and stripped them of money.
SouthGaHawk{Albany}
June 24th, 2010
11:01 pm
Dang this must be a Forward and guard draft
gadawg_04
June 24th, 2010
11:01 pm
@ Harry Hawk
The “Michael Jordan of Europe” was named Alain Digbou (or something close to that).
Ryan
June 24th, 2010
11:02 pm
Its sort of like in every falcons draft everyone thinks that every defensive tackle or Wide receiver that has a pulse should be picked.
Pi$$onaDawg
June 24th, 2010
11:02 pm
gamecocks win gamecocks win ready to meet CLEMSON. What a GAME. Bradley Jr. (a great hit) by one of the few Black Players in the GAME. Why has baseball become so WHITE and LATINO? Bradley Jr. you have carried your team so much in this CWS. Is this an OK post JEFF. CWS needs more coverage because it is the last year a Rosenblatt.
Stan
June 24th, 2010
11:02 pm
Chesire,
The difference in pay for a 24th pick and a 27th pick is $118.52