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
mm
June 24th, 2010
11:02 pm
so do they think alabi or jerome jordan is going to be there at 53??? what are they doing? sund looked like an idiot, then he looked pretty smart, and now he looks like an idiot again. will he look smart again in a few minutes? am i missing something? is billy knight lurking in the background somewhere???
Gwinnett Fred
June 24th, 2010
11:03 pm
ATTENTION MR. SUND::
Please draft anybody you want with your next 2nd round pick and sell his rights to me – I’ll give you TEN DOLLARS!!!
I need somebody to mow my grass and wash my car.
Thanks!
cheshire
June 24th, 2010
11:03 pm
lol – thanks Stan
Billy Knight
June 24th, 2010
11:04 pm
I’m so lonely. Im used to calling the shots tonight and being on ESPN. You guys miss me right? Marvin Williams is at least durable unlike some point guard from New Orleans.
N.D.T.K.A.
June 24th, 2010
11:05 pm
You know I understood what happened but there is still a need for bigs on the team why not bring in a guy like Alabi or Whiteside (potential) to at least compete for a roster spot? You have a new coach right, who knows how to coach right, and should be able to develop talent right,team wants to run right why not get young big to rebound,defend, and run? Nothing on the Hawks roster like that at 7′! The only thing the ASG should do is sell the team instead of selling picks!! I can’t believe some of you guys defending these clowns!!
Freshmaker
June 24th, 2010
11:05 pm
MOVE BACK TO NIGERIA
D Hawks
June 24th, 2010
11:06 pm
Cheshire, the difference between 24 and 27 is about $95,000, and you have a 3 yr first round guarantee and a 4th year team option with adjustment percentages. So I roughly assume it’s potentially a $500K difference over the life of the deal.
Billy Knight
June 24th, 2010
11:07 pm
I’m right here… lurking outside the war room. I love being a janitor…
Hawkeye
June 24th, 2010
11:07 pm
@Woody’s Goatee – yes, so what, then trade him. How about this, start him for 5 minutes and then bring in a bigger player. I don’t care what you do. Drew should have some gonads then. If it is better for the team, what is the problem. Lamar Odom does it for the Lakers to let Gasol and Bynum play together but still gets his minutes and contributed to a championship. Maybe Josh and the Hawks could learn something. Your second team is important too.
D Hawks
June 24th, 2010
11:07 pm
Everyone in the Alabi camp: there must be some reason he is still sliding down the board so maybe he isn’t what everyone thinks. He could still be there at 53 at the rate this is going.
Manny
June 24th, 2010
11:07 pm
just called it.
Clint
June 24th, 2010
11:08 pm
We don’t need a back up center. We need a starting center or a backup 4. The chances of drafting a starting center at 31 are very slim. I like the move. You got the guy you wanted and saved money. Good draft so far. I would like for a 4 like Lawal to fall to us but I bet we draft a euro to stash away for a few years.
Ryan
June 24th, 2010
11:09 pm
ALabi already fallen to at BEST 44. . .
gadawg_04
June 24th, 2010
11:09 pm
Not sure what the Hawks got from OKC for the 31st, but espn.com is reporting that DAL paid 3 million for the 25th pick. I’m sure we got less, but maybe we got more than 100k like some of you are reporting.
Still interesting……
Ryan
June 24th, 2010
11:09 pm
We weren’t drafting anyone better than our current backup center with #31.
N.D.T.K.A.
June 24th, 2010
11:09 pm
You know the ASG makes a person feel like they are in Nigeria with the way they run the Hawks!!
cheshire
June 24th, 2010
11:10 pm
i don’t know, let’s be honest – does any of this really matter? the reality of the NBA is that to be good you either have to be one of these destination cities that gets awesome once every few years (Lakers, Bulls, Celtics, etc.), or you have to get lucky in the lottery. that’s really it. if you’re a Hawks fan (or a fan of about 22 other teams), you’re not either, so is any of this relevant?
D Hawks
June 24th, 2010
11:10 pm
@Hawks fans are so stupid – you are an arse.
mm
June 24th, 2010
11:10 pm
great: the hawks traded a center for extra cash that they can then use to sign a center. yeah, it must be ME who doesn’t get it…
Manny
June 24th, 2010
11:11 pm
Because Alabi hasn’t been playing basketball long. He’s not an offensive threat right now, and he is marginal on D.
I want him because he’s athletic and can run. He also can be imposing on Defense and can be nasty. Plus, he’s not a stick, but beefy. He’s not someone that Dwight Howard can push around and can frustrate him, if coached well.
D Hawks
June 24th, 2010
11:11 pm
Cheshire, you are so right. That’s why I’m about to go to bed, and read about the rest of this tomorrow. Good night all!
Ryan
June 24th, 2010
11:12 pm
MM perhaps none of the centers currently available were, in their estimation, going to do anything special for them that they couldn’t get elsewhere?
Pi$$onaDawg
June 24th, 2010
11:12 pm
GAMECOCKS WIN GAMECOCKS WIN. USC now faces CLEMSON. WHAT A GAME. you guys are watching Stenc read a name? Watch a TEAM working hard to win a CWS. Sorry College baseball is too fair skinned for NBA fans. Yes Jeff I am calling them OUT. That was a great game, but watching Stern call a name on a card means very little. COVER the Last CWS at Rosenblatt. This is a HISTORIC CWC on so many levels.
Stan
June 24th, 2010
11:13 pm
Did I miss something? What is with all of the Nigeria references? Seems pretty stupid
Ted
June 24th, 2010
11:13 pm
So all we did was trade for a bench player for cash. Typical Hawks, cant get anything right.
J.J.M.
June 24th, 2010
11:13 pm
hawks are going to use that cash for joe assuming he will re sign with them so instead of getting a Center they might end up with just jordan crawford and no joe johnson
mm
June 24th, 2010
11:13 pm
it doesn’t have to be alabi. jerome jordan looks pretty good to me. any center (though preferably bearing no similarity to jon koncak…or shelden williams…or priest lauderdale…)
Hawk n the Ham
June 24th, 2010
11:13 pm
The cash considerations from the trade to OKC, is actually just True Blood Season 2 on DVD, and a $25 iTunes gift card.
WTG Sund!!!
Pi$$onaDawg
June 24th, 2010
11:14 pm
OK jeff I can’t mp love from you on college baseball right now, but it is way more exciting than the NBA draft. Be honest!
mm
June 24th, 2010
11:14 pm
Ryan: yeah, I can see that. but the thing is finding a FA center at 7′0 is even tougher.
Jim
June 24th, 2010
11:15 pm
Do any of you really believe that hiring Drew for coach and drafting Crawford will get us past the second round of the playoffs? I think not…Heck, I don’t know if we make it past the first round. I hope I am wrong, BUT!
ATLANTA SPORTS HISTORY AT ITS BEST!
Charlotte Hawk
June 24th, 2010
11:15 pm
The funniest thing to me is how Schultz disappeared without a trace after the Tibor pick. Where o where art though Jeff.
Ryan
June 24th, 2010
11:16 pm
Plenty of centers can be just fine at less than 7 feet. Seven feet being a magic number is a bit odd.
How many teams have seven foot centers that are worth anything, and how many of those were picked up in the second round? Usually if a seven footer has the skills to succeed, some team in the first round will have grabbed them. THat they are over 7′ and fall this far should tell you something.
J.J.M.
June 24th, 2010
11:17 pm
lol jeff did disappear
Ryan
June 24th, 2010
11:17 pm
Jim: DO you think that picking ALabi in the second would have?
Freshmaker
June 24th, 2010
11:18 pm
LOL @ Hawk n Ham: You had me rolling with that one. +1
Hawkeye
June 24th, 2010
11:18 pm
@pi$$onadawg – it must have really pi$$ed you off that a Black kid got the hit to tie the game and then scored the winning run. You are a complete A.
Manny
June 24th, 2010
11:19 pm
Alabi may survive until the 53rd pick.
Brett
June 24th, 2010
11:19 pm
PICK SOLOMON!
Freshmaker
June 24th, 2010
11:21 pm
WTF…there was a player taken named Tiny Gallon. LMAO
Brett
June 24th, 2010
11:21 pm
trade up to pick solomon aldabi!
ignition
June 24th, 2010
11:21 pm
Why is everyone on the Solomon bandwagon?
Dudes game is GAHBAGE??
Did yall watch this guy play in the ACC??
He sucks.. Stop campaining for this dude..
Ryan
June 24th, 2010
11:21 pm
so if Alabi falls to their pick would he suddenly become a genius again? Inquiring minds want to know.
Whopper Dawg
June 24th, 2010
11:22 pm
Isn’t this entitled LIVE DRAFT BLOG, that would imply that Jeff would be blogging, correct?
I think that Sund’s hands are tied, but it is completely understandable that we the fans are disappointed when it looks like we pulled off a coup and were going to get Crawford and a BIG that could help in the front court, probably a developmental center with a lot of upside.
A bit like a punch in the mouth when it is just sold. Hell, sell the second pick in the second round too.
Brett
June 24th, 2010
11:23 pm
we need a C/PF,,,at this point solomon aladabi would work
J.J.M.
June 24th, 2010
11:23 pm
yesssss whopper dawg said it best
Ryan
June 24th, 2010
11:23 pm
what does it tell you that,with big centers such a desired commodity, that this particular seven footer has fallen all the way to 49 and counting?
BrittishAnger
June 24th, 2010
11:23 pm
Somebody actually drafted Paulo…simple dreams…
Whopper Dawg
June 24th, 2010
11:25 pm
Ryan, that is right, he could go from idiot to genius to idiot to genius on a matter of hours. I am betting that he gets stuck on idiot however. I further predict that a 6′7″ swingman that cannot create his own shot and cannot handle the ball that well. I had that right before but they traded him for Crawford. I am sure I will not be let down this time.
Dawg Fan in Grayson
June 24th, 2010
11:26 pm
Hawks will probably pick another foreign player that is about 18 or 19 years old and Fran will say we will see him in about 2 or 3 years. I repeat..NBA needs to drop the 2nd round.