Bradley’s Buzz: “With the 19th pick, the Hawks take …”
To go big or go small?
The first real wave of NBA mock drafts hit this week, and there’s no consensus regarding the Hawks’ Round 1 selection. Chad Ford of ESPN.com has them taking point guard Jeff Teague of Wake Forest at No. 19. Sean Deveney of Sporting News Today opts for Jonny Flynn, a point guard from Syracuse. Ian Thomsen of SI.com goes with yet another point guard — Eric Maynor of VCU. And NBAdraft.net, which last week had the Hawks taking Teague, has changed its mind and now has them choosing center B.J. Mullens of Ohio State.
For those keeping score, that’s three point guards against one center. In yesterday’s lengthy Q&A with GM Rick Sund, he said: “I pretty much lean, when you’re picking 19th, to take the best player with the most potential.” Of the four, Mullens might well have the most potential. He’s a skinny big man — he’s 7-foot, 275 pounds — with good hands, and he was considered one of the top five prospects for 2009 five months ago. But he had a tepid freshman season at Ohio State, averaging 8.8 points and 4.7 rebounds.
Of the point guards, I don’t much like Teague, but I like Maynor and Flynn very much. If I were drafting at No. 19 and I had the choice of those four, I’d take Maynor. But there’s no guarantee that any of these, particularly Flynn and Maynor, will be around when the Hawks pick.
Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment.On Ford’s overall ranking of prospects, he has Maynor No. 14, Flynn No. 15, Teague No. 18 and Mullens No. 21. And who, just for the heck of it, does Ford rate as the 19th-best prospect? Terrence Williams of Louisville, whom I like a lot. But I don’t know where he’d play. Is he a point forward? A shooting guard? Or just a basketball player? (Not that there’s anything wrong with that.)
What about Gani?
Gani Lawal of Georgia Tech can still remove his name from the 2009 draft, but the guess here is that he won’t. All four mocks have him going in Round 1, if barely: Ford has him at No. 25, Deveney at No. 30, Thomsen at No. 22 and NBAdraft.net at No. 21.
Ford ranks Lawal the 28th-best prospect on the board, and ESPN.com says this in its player file (link requires registration): “Lawal has had the biggest stock swing of anyone in the draft. He started the season as a second rounder, got off to a red hot start and moved all the way into the late lottery and then fell off in ACC play to the point that he slipped back into the second round … He’s probably better off returning to Georgia Tech for his junior season.”
This just in! The Braves got schooled!
Writing about the ascendant Rangers, Tom Verducci of SI.com mentions not one, not two, not three, but all four players the Braves sent to Texas for Mark Teixeira and Ron Mahay in July 2007. (Their names: Elvis Andrus, Neftali Feliz, Matt Harrison, Jarrod Saltalamacchia.) The Rangers are leading their division. The Braves are not. Folks, this one just gets worse and worse.
A little more about Michael Vick
Pretty much everybody has said pretty much everything about the former No. 7 by now — here was my take — and you can read eighty dozen stories about him if you’re so inclined. But I’ll mostly leave that to you and Google. What I will pass along are Peter King’s list on SI.com of five possible NFL homes for Vick and Chris Chase’s similar list on Yahoo! Sports.
Meanwhile, Clark Judge of CBSsports.com believes Vick won’t play in the NFL in 2009 but will suit up in the start-up UFL instead. Me, I’m more inclined to go along with what an unnamed league official told Thomas George of NFL.com: That Vick won’t be on an NFL roster at the start of the season but will before the end.
One thing more: Writing for Yahoo! Sports, Kevin Sullivan — once the White House communications director under George W. Bush — outlines a four-point PR plan for Vick. His bullet points: Be genuine, be humble, be accountable and be generous. And I’m thinking: This is genius public relations? I could write that stuff!
Ladies and gentlemen, I am hereby contemplating a new career in an exciting field where you say nothing new and get paid big bucks for it. (Oh, wait. I do that already. Never mind.)
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130 comments Add your comment
Mark Bradley
May 21st, 2009
1:20 pm
Very occasionally, I’m afraid. Usually I’m as funny as Alan Greenspan.
Gary
May 21st, 2009
1:37 pm
Mark, so basically you have the personality of a tree.
Actually, I think a tree has more personality that Alan Greenspan. Guess working for the fed and supposedly being some kind of genius does that to you.
Green Tea
May 21st, 2009
1:41 pm
Ohhhh Cmon Mark, don’t delete my post on Mike Vick. We are entitled to know his every movement. Get it?? Every movement???!!! Bwaaahahaha. I mean since the AJC is going to shove him down our throat everyday all day.
Manny
May 21st, 2009
1:41 pm
The Tex trade the worse? Really?
Elvis over Yunel? No
Salty plays where? Behind a 2 time all-star at catcher, try and move him to 1st and Freddie Freeman overtakes him.
Harrison – come on! Where would he fit into the plans?
Now Perez – That hurts because that kid could be great in the braves rotation.
The only bad part of all this is not using these guys for someone the Braves could be using like in a Peavey trade, but the guys would not be helping the Braves right now. The Padres would have taken Perez and Morton if we had Perez available for Peavey.
SimpleDawg
May 21st, 2009
1:57 pm
The “trade” (hosing we took) for that Tech skunk will go down as the biggest steal (for the Rangers) since the Louisiana Purchase…not since then has one party given so much to another party while receiving so little in return. Rent-a-Player trades have never worked out for the Braves….I hope Frank is paying attention…bring in no more of these mercenaries.
Dr. Warren
May 21st, 2009
2:10 pm
The Chinese are picking Vick to go to Jacksonville. They eat dog here and bear no grudges for his offense–nor for his sputtering offense in ‘06.
Mark
May 21st, 2009
2:25 pm
Tech skunk? He’s by far better than any UGA player in the league? Do y’all even any in the entire MLB or NBA besides Jarvis Hayes and Jeff Keppinger? LMAO
Marie
May 21st, 2009
2:28 pm
Mark,
I think the Hawks, some team, any team should trick the LA Clippers into giving up their 1st pick. I mean is there any more waste of a team in the NBA or in all of sports (well maybe the Cleveland Browns) then this sorry team. The Clippers having the 1st round pick is like giving a drug addict a million dollars — you just know its going to be blown.
Yeah, yeah, yeah I know they are going to go with coventional wisdom and pick the kid from OK, but, it won’t work for the Clippers. NOTHING works for the Clippers.
BTW — I am making my prediction regarding the NBA Finals now. You Cleveland fans I hate to rain on your parade, but, your city is sports cursed. I mean I know we’re cursed in the ATL too, but, your curse is worse than ours. The CAVS are going DOWN!!! And when I saw Lebron wincing in pain last night I thought that city curse was pressing against the King’s leg. He says he’s okay but we’ll see. Either way I just don’t see you guys winning the prize even though I want nothing more than for LeBron to mop the floor with Kobe. But he may to leave that cursed city first.
mountain_jim
May 21st, 2009
2:34 pm
Best ‘Where does Vick go’ article I’ve seen so far is here:
http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/30856273/
Would be ironic if he played for Carolina after all the games he snatched wins from defeats against them. My inlaws, Panther fans, used to always assume MV would find a way to beat them. Here’s hoping he’s wised up and can manage a good life, and that the NFL allows him that chance.
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
May 21st, 2009
2:36 pm
Mark, great piece. I agree the Braves were schooled. Trading two of those guys would be ok but four. Shame on JS. He had the same MO with the Royals. They were depleted by the time he left. When they threw Elvis in, I thought that was a deal killer. And for those that think they Elvis and Salt were blocked. That doesn’t mean you give them away. Anyway, keep up the good work.
carlton johnson
May 21st, 2009
2:47 pm
Speed. We have no one that can “quick” right by a defender on their way down the lane to score or inside out the ball to Joe J.
David
May 21st, 2009
2:47 pm
How can you say we got schooled when you don’t know the outcome yet?
Andrus is batting .268 and we have Yunel for a long time
Salty is batting .260 with 3 HRs and McCann could end up a Hall of Famer
Harrison is 4-3 with a 4.71 ERA
Neftali isn’t even in the majors yet………
gtadamni
May 21st, 2009
2:47 pm
Just because those players in Texas wouldn’t be playing for the Braves doesn’t necessarily mean you can rationalize it away like that. The point is we didn’t get good value for them. We only had Tex for a year, and his contributions ended up being pretty much meaningless. If we hadn’t made that move, we would still have those guys and could use them as trade bait for a power hitting outfielder, a 3B prospect that could develop and step in when Chipper retires in a few years, etc. There are a lot of areas where this team could stand to be improved, and we could have used those guys to get a player (or some players) that would actually contribute.
Mick CHuck
May 21st, 2009
2:48 pm
UGA players in MLB? Look for Beckham this year and Fields next year.
Folks are far too critical of the Tex trade. Andrus was heralded for his glove but has meanwhile been shaky on defense this year. Harrison is an unknown entity. Salty will be missed as a bargaining chip but the only real loss was Perez. Not wure where he would have been slotted amongst Morton, Hanson, Medlen, but it’s clear we were dealing from a position of strength.
Don’t forget that we netted 4 years of a young, defensively stout Casey Kotchman and an unknown in Marek.
Wanda Sykes
May 21st, 2009
2:54 pm
Yo yo I’s funny. Ax somebody.
BallCoach
May 21st, 2009
2:57 pm
We need a PG and a C. This is an obvious no-brainer. Is Chris Paul or Deron Williams available? If, I would trade Josh Smith for a PG or C and use my 19th pick for the other. I really like Maynor, though…..
David
May 21st, 2009
2:59 pm
Mark one other part of the trade you forgot….Kotchman is included because we got him for Tex. He is doing well this year much more than anyone Texas has playing of those four right now.
Marcus
May 21st, 2009
3:02 pm
MB,
Reviewing the draft picks during Mr. Sunds’ tenure in SEA (2001 – 2007) just killed my high for this years draft.
Mac
May 21st, 2009
3:03 pm
The jury is waaay out on whether Mullens is a good big man. Skip him and go with Maynor.
I’m still pretty hopeful for the Braves this year. Call me crazy, but they’ve got strong starting pitching and two strong back of the ‘pen guys. Now if they can just score consistently.
ant banks
May 21st, 2009
3:14 pm
Mark,
What do you think of Tony Douglas, the local kid from Jonesboro High School and guard to FSU. I think that he was 2nd place for ACC player of the year. Do you think that he will help the hawks. His brother is Harry Douglas, receiver for the Falcons.
Green Tea
May 21st, 2009
3:16 pm
Hey Mark, what’s Michael Vick doing RIGHT NOW?? We are all dying to know. Also, what was his first meal home from the big house? Did he put hot sauce on it? C’mon Mark give us something, we can’t live without knowing his every move.
Charles
May 21st, 2009
3:21 pm
Why is nobody mentioning Ty Lawson from UNC? Probably the fastest man with the ball that I can remember. The kid can drive the lane and he’s got a decent outside shot.
brewdawg
May 21st, 2009
3:23 pm
Charles,
All I’ll ask is, where have you been exactly?
wxwax
May 21st, 2009
3:24 pm
I agree, the advice for Vick seems obvious.
But he seems to need it, as he’s done none of those things since the story broke. Be it his background or his nature, the man views life through a prism that is often to his disadvantage, both with the Falcons and now with his legal woes.
otisfirefly
May 21st, 2009
3:29 pm
Go hard after *Baby Davis*. Then pick the best 1 guard left out there @ #19. Then be done with it!
Mark Bradley
May 21st, 2009
3:30 pm
Toney Douglas intrigues me, and I know Rick Sund watched him light up the ACC tournament in the Dome. He’s not really a point guard, and he’s not really big enough to be a classic shooting guard, but he can score and he can defend. I wouldn’t mind seeing him as a Hawk, especially if Bibby leaves and Flip has to step up and start at the point.
And yes, before you ask, I think Flip will re-sign here. I think that’s the one given among Hawks free agents. No other team in the league likes Flip more than the Hawks do, and many teams have employed him already.
Ted Striker
May 21st, 2009
3:35 pm
Mark — Sorry in advance for the lengthy post, but I have to say this about Peter King’s analysis of New Orleans and Mike Vick. It’s spot on. Nobody else (including Chris Chase) typically includes New Orleans in the short list. King’s view is that Drew Brees is selfless enough yield 5-10 wildcat snaps to Vick without worrying about his job. And Tom Benson wants to win. But there’s much more he doesn’t say.
New Orleans (the city) is different. Saints fans are different. Let me explain. When you play in a stadium full of pride because it signifies redemption from a tragedy that nearly destroyed your city, including suffering and death in the very same place you tee it up — perspectives change. New Orleans fans were dying, they didn’t have the ability to enjoy football. Now they’re living, but remembering the horror, and they celebrate the Saints as a symbol of their joy of living. If Vick were one of them, they’d close ranks. I’m not saying PETA wouldn’t protest. They would. But if PETA protested the Saints in New Orleans, New Orleans would vigorously “protest” them back.
But there’s still more King didn’t say. The Saints don’t “need” Vick because they have Drew Brees. Most of the teams on the short lists are teams unsettled or suspect at QB.That makes Vick perfect, because Brees is the anti-cutler. What team isn’t looking to upgrade their backup, especially if your backup gives you 5-10 snaps a game, with the ability to break a score every touch? And if that backup isn’t creaky and is a multiple time pro-bowler? New Orleans is perfect if Vick does what he needs to do.
YouCanRunButYouCannotHide
May 21st, 2009
3:38 pm
Hawks need a true center. Picking another PG at 19 is just throwing away a draft. There’s a big difference in passing over Paul and Williams early in the draft and passing over one of these guys projected to be available all the way down at 19. The Hawks don’t need a PG now as bad as they did when Jason Terry was traded. We’ve needed a center forever.
MannyT
May 21st, 2009
3:43 pm
What irony. I remember the GM that made that Gasol deal happen for Memphis.
As for the draft pick, Astro Joe is right. If the 19th pick is a major part of Woody’s rotation, I’d be shocked and we should be very nervous about the team. However, there is always someone late in the 1st round that makes the “Why didn’t WE pick that guy” list. I hope we go for the best center or PG available. That guy probably bumps Solo or Gardner from a real chance to return (unless they move Claxton’s contract–which is likely.)
Sund has a lot of puzzle pieces to manage this summer. If Flip is likely to sign here, it makes it easier to select the best available center. Seems like there is more potential for a big to get minutes…given that Zaza and Solo are free agents. Zaza likely gets a raise from someone. If you want a (small) hometown discount, you may have to put an extra year or two on that contract. Solo can go. I don’t dislike him, but I have not seen Woody use him enough to justify making an effort beyond the minimum salary to keep him. Give someone else a try.
Billy Knight’s first major impact on the Hawks was as the Memphis GM. That draft was really good for the Hawks. Babcock followed orders and picked up 2 guys that have had decent NBA careers. Late in the 1st round Indy told him to pick Jamaal Tinsley. Maybe we should ask Memphis & Indy who to draft this year
BWAF
country boy
May 21st, 2009
3:45 pm
I agree with ant banks… Toney Douglas is a quick offensive scorer. I was surprised to see him listed as only a second round choice in the one mock draft I saw. I think he will be a productive pro player as he was a superior producer in the powerful ACC. FSU had an unusually good year ( even if they had a 1st round NCAA exit ) for them and he was clearly their go-to scorer.
PMC
May 21st, 2009
3:47 pm
Given Hewitts past track record at Tech… I’d imagine Gani Lawal will go to the NBA and suddenly be much better than he wa in college.
Mark Bradley
May 21st, 2009
3:48 pm
Write as much as you like, Ted. Indeed, anyone who knows his Van Gogh and his Kipling and his Tom Jones (the Welsh one) gets a special word-count dispensation.
O'brien
May 21st, 2009
3:50 pm
Mr. Bradley, Sund was responsible for drafitng Swift, Petro, and Sene.
I am very concerned about his eye for talent when it comes to drafting bigs…
Mark Bradley
May 21st, 2009
3:53 pm
Well, O’Brien, you know what? You make a good point.
All the more reason to take a guard, wouldn’t you say?
PMC
May 21st, 2009
3:53 pm
You don’t have to say anything new Mark. Most people get themselves into trouble publically because they are incapable of behaving in those simple manners.
As far as Teixeria. It was a last ditch desperation move and they totally blew it. Considering all the other moves they made (John Smoltz, Greg Maddux…etc) not to bad overall. The only other really terrible move John S. Made in his tenure was David Justice’s premature departure. Unfortunately we are still hurting in the outfield.
Mark Bradley
May 21st, 2009
3:56 pm
You’re right, PMC. I understand exactly why the Braves traded for Teixeira. It just hasn’t worked out. But life, and baseball, goes on.
Obama loves Cheney's bald head, but nothing else
May 21st, 2009
4:05 pm
Teixeria’s trade was just awfull, but maybe they learned their lesson in how too not overpay for temporary help.
Is there any scenario for us to move up in a trade with Marvin Williams/Acie Law combination? Although I wouldn’t know who we would take early.
Baba O'Riley
May 21st, 2009
4:16 pm
Last UGA player to make MLB or NBA All-Star game?????????????
Hoops
May 21st, 2009
4:19 pm
Manny T,
You are right. The Hawks need to use their pick and get the best Big Man or PG. I just get the feeling that a lot of guards are going to be drafted early because of the teams that pick ahead of the Hawks. I see us getting a Big Man. Assuming that we are going to resign Flip, taking Mullens (if available) would probably be a good pick for the Hawks!
Hoops
May 21st, 2009
4:21 pm
Mark,
Do you think the Hawks will pursue Sessions for the point?
gold and white
May 21st, 2009
4:22 pm
i realy like teague. a solid all around ballplayer. brings much needed energy to the floor. don’t worry about his size. there are plenty of small guards who light it up in the NBA
gold and white
May 21st, 2009
4:24 pm
and we were all fond of the texiera trade at the time. we gave him a standing o when he hit his first homer. just remember that
willie
May 21st, 2009
4:24 pm
A 7-footer is not available at #19 unless he is no good. He would be a huge risk. Take one of the solid PG prospects.
Baba O'Riley
May 21st, 2009
4:27 pm
Last MLB all-star from UGA…Glenn Davis 1986.
gold and white
May 21st, 2009
4:29 pm
douglas or teague please. we cant afford to miss out on anymore pointguards like we did on paul and rondo
Don Pardo
May 21st, 2009
4:41 pm
Mark: there were actually 5 players on the Mark Teixeira
C Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Atlanta
SS Elvis Andrus, Myrtle Beach (Hi A)
LHP Matt Harrison, Mississippi (AA)
RHP Neftali Feliz, Danville (R)
LHP Beau Jones, Rome (Lo A)
I am sorry but there is no defending that trade, The only way to justify would have been to be able to sign Tex long term – as condition of the trade. Hoping to sign any high profile player in his first free agent opportunity is risking, but a Boros client, that’s just plan dumb. There was truly zero chance he would resign her.
And to make matters worse JS hand already made the exact same mistake with the J.D. Trade, giving up two good arms for one year rental of a Boros client.
I think Feliz, turns out to be a number #1 starter, as projected this could go down as one of the 10 worst trades in baseball history.
I don’t think you can grade this trade by just saying it did not work out, that’s life,’
this was a huge blunder, that could haunt the Braves for years to come.
Reid Adair
May 21st, 2009
4:42 pm
I wonder how long it took Kevin Sullivan to come up with those four points. Seriously.
swatguy
May 21st, 2009
4:51 pm
Al Horford, Josh Smith, Josh Childress, Marvin, and Shelden. Wow Woody …Oh SNAP He did play them, as Rookies.
I believe Vick will QB and will win many many games.
At the end of his career the debate may be,” can a felon get in Canton”?
You gotta like Maynor.
I’ll bet Woody would rather have Javaris than Acie now.
I’m still not prepared to see Vick in another uniform. He and Deion are the best every as a Falcon.
country boy
May 21st, 2009
5:01 pm
Yes the Texiera trade turned out to be a blunder. I seem to remember though at the time of the trade that the Braves were serious about signing him to a long term contract thus making him a Braves fixture at first and clean up. As noted earlier he played his college ball in Atl. Shurholtz and the Braves misjudged Tex and his agent as they were hopeful the stay with the Braves would be on a winning successful team and that he would take less money and sign a contract instead of trying to create a bidding war with large market teams. Tex. was all about the money.
YouCanRunButYouCannotHide
May 21st, 2009
5:05 pm
Willie,
Why would a solid PG be available at 19? To be honest, I’d package the pick with a player or two to either move up or get a decent big man. Here’s the thing people are missing. The Hawks don’t need the next Shaq or Howard. While we still need a big man, we don’t need the same big man we were after 5 years ago. The Hawks just need a legit NBA starting center. He doesn’t even have to sniff the all-star game or ROY honors. Just someone who can play above average defense enough to slow down opponents in the paint on defense while helping with offensive rebounds and able to post up on offense. The value is moving Horford to PF and Josh Smith to SF. I’d like to see how those 2 perform against their peers at those positions respectively. I think you would see an offensive explosion out of those 2 being able to create their own shots in the half court game. All of a sudden teams wouldn’t be able to afford to double Joe as much as they do now.