The Hawks draft a shooter, and now the real work begins
John Jenkins: From Commodore to Hawk. (AP photo)
It’s an Atlanta tradition, just like lousy weather for the old Peach Bowl was. The NBA draft rolls around, the Hawks make their first pick … and we all say, “Really?”
Yes, there have been exceptions. Namely, Al Horford and … er, Al Horford. But we only have to call the roll of infamy – Keith Edmonson, Dallas Comegys, Roy Marble, Adam Keefe, Priest Lauderdale, Ed Gray, DerMarr Johnson and the Williamses Marvin and Shelden – to feel bad all over again.
Most franchises look on the draft as the quickest way to improve themselves. More often than not, the Hawks’ draft has reminded us why we’ve come to distrust this organization. But this draft, I’m happy to report, had taken on a shiny glow long before Thursday night’s doings commenced. And by that I mean: In the grand scheme, this draft suddenly didn’t seem so important.
The Hawks announced Monday they’d hired Danny Ferry as their general manager. It was such a shrewd move you had to remind yourself that these were the Hawks who’d made it. In a perfect world, a team would like its GM to have more than four days to prepare for the draft, but the Hawks’ world has never been anything close to perfect.
Besides, what was the worst Ferry could do on short notice: Pick some guy from an ACC school named Williams? Been there. Done that. Twice.
Soon Ferry will have to make far bigger decisions that whether to exercise the draft’s 23rd selection on a backup guard or a backup center. (Because that’s usually the best you’ll do at No. 23 – find someone to flesh your bench.) Much more important will be the new GM’s take on the Core Four: Does someone need to go? (Yes, I say.) If so, who? (Start with Marvin Williams. Amnesty him if need be.) And what of Josh Smith?
The Hawks’ most talented player has asked to be traded enough times that the reported requests have run together. The not-exactly-hot rumor before this draft was that the Hawks had shopped him to the Lakers for Pau Gasol. (Who, under the heading of Small World, the Hawks had technically drafted in 2001. But they traded Gasol to Memphis for Shareef Abdur-Rahim.)
At best, this seemed an old rumor. At worst, it was a bad one. It’s hard to imagine a four-days-on-the-job GM trading away his best player. This isn’t to say Ferry won’t choose to trade Smith a month from now, but no basketball man of sound mind moves in such haste.
Instead the Hawks settled for making a fairly safe Round 1 pick: John Jenkins of Vanderbilt. He’s a great shooter, which isn’t the same as being a great player. Given time, Jenkins could become the new Jamal Crawford – an off-the-bench scorer who can change games.
Said Ferry: “He almost makes it a four-on-four game because you can’t leave him … He can space the floor for our core group.”
Nobody should be disappointed by this pick. That said, there was a more tantalizing option available.
Perry Jones III of Baylor is the kind of player – long of limb – that former GM Billy Knight made a habit of taking among the draft’s top 10. To have gotten such a talent at No. 23 would have been a risk worth taking. Does Jones always play to his gifts? Obviously not, or else he’d have been gone in the lottery. (There was also a late report of an unsound knee.) But a team that has Smith and Horford might have nursed Jones for a year or so and used him for cover in case Smith leaves – he’s a free agent at next season’s end – or Horford becomes the Hawk who’s traded.
But that, I should stipulate, is picking nits. There’s not much chance Jenkins will become an All-Star, but he also shouldn’t go the way of Ed Gray. He’s a worthwhile addition. The Hawks are a bit better today than they were yesterday. And now we stand back and watch Danny Ferry go to work and endeavor to make them a lot better soon.
“We’re going to be looking at a lot of things,” Ferry said, “whether it’s a trade or free agency — especially a trade. The roster at the end of the year may look a lot different.”
And that wouldn’t be so bad. This roster, at least at its top end, has looked essentially the same since 2007. This GM will be charged with doing many things, but he must be an agent of change above all.
By Mark Bradley
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195 comments Add your comment
JoshSmith
June 28th, 2012
11:43 pm
I’m outta here y’all mean fans! Making me cry wit all these tough words. I’ll take my half-ass game somewhere else where it will be appreciated.
Jimmy Crack
June 28th, 2012
11:44 pm
Two quality picks. Both highly productive multi-year college players who can probably compete right now for second team spots.
LennyWilkens
June 28th, 2012
11:44 pm
Give me Joes contract and I’ll come back and coach these losers.
steeldawg
June 28th, 2012
11:44 pm
Everyone think positive. This feels like a regular season Braves game after Labor Day.
keeping it real
June 28th, 2012
11:44 pm
As long as ASG owns the team, it doesn’t matter to me what they do. The evil that men lives after them, the good is oft interred in their bones.
RobinSmyrna
June 28th, 2012
11:46 pm
Hope you’re right Jimmy Crack. We lose the core or even Marvin and Josh, we won’t have the horses for a long season. I could only afford to go to 4 games last year and may not make 2 this year. Don’t want to pay those prices to watch rookies “learning” the pro game.
RobinSmyrna
June 28th, 2012
11:47 pm
Keepinitreal – not sure what that means but I like it man! Interred is BA!
Dan Roundfield
June 28th, 2012
11:47 pm
I can outplay these jokers. Where’s Tree? We’ll shut them Heat sissies down!
Dan Roundfield
June 28th, 2012
11:48 pm
Hawk 123 – Damn straight. That’s why me and Tree are coming back. Need a real center and a real power foward.
Tree Rollins
June 28th, 2012
11:49 pm
Got dat right!
Marvin Williams
June 28th, 2012
11:50 pm
All y’all just jealous of my butt. Don’t be a butt hater
Chill Out Dude
June 28th, 2012
11:50 pm
“The Hawks could have D Wade, LeBron, Kobe and Bosh and still miss the playoffs.”
How do you figure that since we make the playoffs with less talent? Ok Bash the hometeam if you want but at least keep it within reason. Come on. I’m not satisfied but recalling how most pundits had us missing playoffs once Al went down and how we played BOS w/o ZaZa all series and Al & Josh several games, its not as bad as you make it
Nash
June 28th, 2012
11:50 pm
Jenkin is okay at 23rd pick, but I rather have his teammate the big center Fetus E. They should have traded both Josh, Marvin, and Teague for Jeremy Lin and Amare S. or Josh/Marvin for Pau Gasol. What do we have to lose? We suck as a team right now.
Kurt Hinnie
June 28th, 2012
11:50 pm
I can’t even speak english. Sieg Heil!
Memphis Joe
June 28th, 2012
11:51 pm
I’m stuck in Memphis but still love my Hawks. Why can’t they get it together? Damn ownership messing us up for the long term.
Lebron
June 28th, 2012
11:52 pm
I like your butt Marvin
HawksSuck4ever
June 28th, 2012
11:54 pm
Chill out – I hear ya but all i was saying was this ownership and coaching staff could ruin any group we bring in here. I’ve been a solid fan for 30 years but have just about had it with this bunch. 7 of those years were season tickets too.
J Bird
June 28th, 2012
11:55 pm
Hell yeah Hawk 123,
Why can’t anyone making these decisions see that we need a real center so we can slide Al back to his natural position? I hope this kid can shoot as they say he can but damn, we need a decent center.
KramerRob
June 28th, 2012
11:57 pm
Seriously, I think the Heat, baring injuries, are gonna rule the East and West for the next 5 years whether we like it or not. Our $10 we have left after paying Joe ain’t gonna get us a winner even if we trade Josh, Marvin, and a few of the decent looking cheerleaders. Forget coaching for a minute, we got no green.
whereisATLEspn
June 28th, 2012
11:57 pm
Love the pick. I’ve seen him (John Jenkins) play a lot in the SEC and he is a lights out shooter. Watched him drain ^ straight 3’s against UGA. This kid is comparable to Ray Allen no joke. Very similar skill set. His size is not great and he could work on his dribble and drive but, overall a phenomenal shooter and could not be more pleased. Good start to the Ferry era.
Nash
June 28th, 2012
11:59 pm
Ferry should have been BOLD and clean house. No gut, no glory, no championship.
Homey
June 28th, 2012
11:59 pm
Took my boy to a game last season against the OK. seats halfway up, a couple of dogs, 2 beers for Dad, parking and a souvenir or two – $220. Watching the Hawks get blown out by OK – priceless.
Atlanta Fan
June 29th, 2012
12:00 am
Well, at least the Braves won tonight, oh wait….We still got the Thrashers…crap…
Atlanta Fan
June 29th, 2012
12:02 am
FIRST!
J Bird
June 29th, 2012
12:11 am
Atlanta Fan,
You’re what’s wrong with Atl. sports. Support your teams man throughout everything. Everyone in this city is a fair weather fan.
jdawg
June 29th, 2012
12:15 am
I agree with whereisATLEspn in both name and analysis. I have seen John Jenkins play numerous time in the SEC and he seemed unstoppable at times and took command of games. I think he will be a useful pro.
We need perimeter shooters. Perhaps Ferry wanted to add shooters in a possible trade for a center
A Real Hawks Fan
June 29th, 2012
12:17 am
Bunch of ignorant comments around here, as usual. Y’all should read up…
Go Hawks! Buck the haters!
http://www.nba.com/draft/2012/prospects/john-jenkins/
“Even though every team’s scouting report focused on stopping Jenkins, he managed to score in double figures in his last 68 games and make a 3-pointer in his last 60 games. Jenkins failed to make at least one 3 in only four of his 98 career games.”
Georgia coach Mark Fox-
“He is the greatest shooter that I have ever coached against. He’s the kind of player that you just cannot make any mistakes against or he’ll make you pay.”
Steve
June 29th, 2012
12:17 am
Love the pick. Perry Jones might work out for another team, but after watching him play he just doesn’t fit.
Jenkins immediately helps to add offense to a team with very little half court offense. Defenses have to respect him, and in short time they may have to respect him more than JJ and his quickly fading perimeter skills. This opens up room for Horford and more importantly help add some offense to the second rotation immediately.
ClayManBob
June 29th, 2012
12:18 am
Except for the occasional exception, just a bunch of wannabe players/coaches crying and mouthing off here. Give Danny Ferry and his picks a chance and then criticize later when there’s actually something to talk about. It’s possible they are better qualified to coach than most of you used-to-be middle school/high school/church team players.
ClayManBob
June 29th, 2012
12:20 am
Steve, you’re one of the sane ones. Jenkins will be a great player, given the right coaching and time.
The Lakers : The Latest Fuzz
June 29th, 2012
12:20 am
[...] Smith Trade Rumors: Hawks Resisting Offers On Star Forward For NowSB NationESPN (blog) -Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) -CBS Localall 126 news [...]
whereisATLEspn
June 29th, 2012
12:24 am
If you don’t like the pick, obviously you have never seen him play. His shooting ability will make you sh:t your pants. Either know what you are talking about or STFU. Just cuz your anonymous doesn’t mean you should talk out your ars. Go hate somewhere else or I3itch to someone who wants to here it.
Swingman912
June 29th, 2012
12:35 am
Good Pick. PJ3 was appealing on potential, but that kids been playing off potential since high school. He averaged about 17ppg in high school, no where near dominant, but Baylor offered him cuz of potential. Average freshman year at Baylor, but still a supposed top 5 pick last year based on potential. Went back to school, and didn’t improve in ANY aspect of his game as a whole. Sure he showed flashes both years, but he didn’t score, rebound, defend, or even try consistently. Draft time this year, he continually dropped in stock due to inconsistent workouts….22 teams passed on him before us. So they all made mistakes too?? I understand there wasn’t much risk in taking him, but we don’t need another hybrid forward playing multiple positions. Hasn’t worked for us yet… Yes he may be an All Star one day, but I like this pick because we drafted a player based on what we know he can do, and what he did do in college, not on what he was supposed to do but never showed…I know another guy who had ALL the skills coming out of High School. He went to a big named college and didn’t even start as a freshmen, but showed flashes off the bench of being the next all star in the league…he got drafted really early and ended up not being close to what he was thought to become…..his name????
MARVIN WILLIAMS
CHUUUUCH
Go Big Blue
June 29th, 2012
12:39 am
Stupid pick by the Hawks. Lamb and Teague both available, but you pick the guy that lost to them . . . stupid.
tjhook
June 29th, 2012
12:42 am
I’m officially in favor of Jenkins on the team because he keeps Smith down low or prepared to do a two man game or be ready to catch from another on a drive and kick. This should mean Marvin is on the way out.
Swingman912
June 29th, 2012
12:45 am
Vanderbilt beat Kentucky in the SEC tournament ^^^^ and won the SEC TOURNAMENT
Jenkins had 17
Lamb or Teague didn’t score in double figures
Gwinnett Fred
June 29th, 2012
12:45 am
He shoots 86% from the line – that makes him one of my favorite Hawks already!
Sebastian Valmont
June 29th, 2012
12:46 am
No matter who the GM is they always pass up on somebody stellar for someone they might have fallen in love with when they were working the players out… This is the same franchise the selected Jon Koncak ahead of Hall of Famer Karl Malone… SMH… hopefully they can get some worthwhile undrafted free agents to come in to give us a little bit of youth on the roster… these guys are getting old… I think they were up there with Dallas as probably the “Oldest” teams in the league on paper anyways.. Scott Machado is a guy I would like to see on the team… second best passer in College last year in my opinion … Well… still a fan of the hometown team… Good luck Danny Ferry… may the force be with you…
tjhook
June 29th, 2012
12:47 am
@swingman912,
You on it, playa! Spread that good news to the population! I remember a sharpshooter with average athleticism. He played for the Indiana Pacers- you might remember his name . . . REGGIE MILLER!!!
tjhook
June 29th, 2012
12:48 am
Other great shooters: vinnie Johnson, Ricky Pierce, Dell Curry. I think they were worth a roster spot
superiorblogman
June 29th, 2012
12:50 am
Would not mine seeing Ferry mauled by Pits
John Jenkins
June 29th, 2012
12:54 am
Mark – You’re wrong about this kid. I guess you didn’t see too much of him at Vandy. He was the best shooter in college basketball last year. Period. He was constantly double-teamed, he works incredibly hard to get open, and doesn’t loaf on any play (see Josh Smith). He’s got the talent and the kind of character the Hawks organization has not had since Steve Smith. Jenkins might turn out to be the biggest steal in this draft and will hopefully make many All-Star teams in the future. First time I’ve said this since Al Horford, but: great pick, Hawks. Welcome to Atlanta JJ.
superiorblogman
June 29th, 2012
12:57 am
John Jenkins
June 29th, 2012
12:54 am
Mark – You’re wrong about this kid. I guess you didn’t see too much of him at Vandy. He was the best shooter in college basketball last year. Period. He was constantly double-teamed, he works incredibly hard to get open, and doesn’t loaf on any play (see Josh Smith). He’s got the talent and the kind of character the Hawks organization has not had since Steve Smith. Jenkins might turn out to be the biggest steal in this draft and will hopefully make many All-Star teams in the future. First time I’ve said this since Al Horford, but: great pick, Hawks. Welcome to Atlanta JJ.
This post is a joke. The guy was the #1 option on a team that had 3 lottery picks and never could even make it to the sweet 16. The guys is a soft player that does not perform well under pressure and that is the last thing that the Hawks need. Lastly, we have no post game so the only shots he will be getting is off of Teague’s penetration and we all know Teague is far from a pass 1st PG.
Swingman912
June 29th, 2012
1:03 am
@tjhook
Good call on Reggie Miller!!! One thing that always translates is knockdown shooting!!!
Anybody thinking this is not a solid pick is lost
Joe Johnson
June 29th, 2012
1:04 am
We got one and he’s a better shooter than me….
Columbus
June 29th, 2012
1:18 am
You people crticizing the pick need to understand some things. Ferry just got on the job. But he knows MUCH more than any of us about the status of Jones and the TYPE of players to put on a roster. Jones has health issues and Ferry knows MUCH more than any of us about that and also he tends to be a slacker at times and personally, I dont want “potential” that doesnt always show up. BAD combination. Maybe Ferry wants some “LEADERSHIP” on the team or other intangibles that is lacking. I dont know but I DO know that Ferry knows much more about building a team than any of us. He knows they TYPE of players he wants, who is likely NOT to be on the roster a year from now and Jenkins may be part of a trade deal. He is a sound pick. I like it. hawks do NOT need any more MAYBES or PROJECTS. Jenkins is solid and is a GREAT shooter. Makes it harder to double Joe in the playoffs and if you do, that opens up a LOT of room for AL and others. Jenkins also is not bad in the clutch. Best shooter in the draft. Ferry has an idea of who is likely to not be here and why Jenkins fits into the plans and the “BIG PICTURE” We dont. Solid pick. Better than a maybe that doesnt show up all the time.
We already got Marvin in case you forgot….
superiorblogman
June 29th, 2012
1:26 am
Ferry is typical thinks more of himself than anyone else does. He thinks he is smart because of Duke and thinks he could actually play because he could shoot when honestly he could not play a lick he could shoot the ball for someone his size. He sounds as stupid as Sund did when he took Jordan Crawford and made the great assessment that Jordan could really put it in the hole and said he liked scorers. Well now Sund Jr. makes the great assessment that he likes shooter’s. They have a lot in common bald headed fools who make bad decisions.
Ron
June 29th, 2012
2:15 am
“Perry Jones III of Baylor is the kind of player – long of limb – that former GM Billy Knight made a habit of taking among the draft’s top 10.”
This sentence alone to end all frothing at the mouth over Perry Jones in Atlanta. HA!
Ron
June 29th, 2012
2:24 am
“This post is a joke. The guy was the #1 option on a team that had 3 lottery picks and never could even make it to the sweet 16.”
LOL
“The guys is a soft player that does not perform well under pressure and that is the last thing that the Hawks need.”
LMAO
“Lastly, we have no post game so the only shots he will be getting is off of Teague’s penetration and we all know Teague is far from a pass 1st PG”
LMFAO… So nobody gets open looks on the Hawks right? The team that finished 5th overall in 3 point percentage in the entire league?
(And if we have no post game, that’s why Josh will be traded… to get a real center.)
superiorblogman
June 29th, 2012
3:14 am
F Atlanta sports I am done will not watch or support any of them for the rest of this calender year. Danny Ferry is horrible. John Jenkins is not even a rotation player. He is the same thing is Vlad Rad a specialist who will not even get in the game for weeks at a time. We just gave him a guaranteed 3 year contract for that. What a waste of money for a team that always complains about it.