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Yeah!!! Top 3 Pick For Atlanta!!!
Living in Atlanta, I hope the Hawks don't get boned in this draft, I really do. You can only stand so many Chic'FilA promotion nights, before you get sick of the losing and empty seats
Yeah!!! Top 3 Pick For Atlanta!!!
!!! NO GREG ODEN!! GODDAMMIT!!!!!!
the third pick is still very nice though.
They can get a great player at 3, and either Conley or Law with their 11th, they could make big improvements through this draft
Oh yeah, this is definitely a GREAT night for the Hawks....but it would have been nice to get a complete franchise resurrection with Oden or Durant....now they definitely have their PG of the future and then another nice pick too.
So what should they do with the #3 pick? Considering their logjam at the forward position, it's not necessarily a given that they take a guy like Horford or Wright.
I'd LOVE for Corey Brewer to be a Hawk....but I also wouldn't mind trading out of the #3 spot for the right price.
Maybe take a chance on Yi?
Okay I'm gonna start the official "Draft Corey Brewer and Mike Conley!" campaign here for the Hawks.
This team is playoff bound next season!
This is ALMOST the perfect scenario for the Hawks (just missing out on top 2 hurts), and it gets me excited to see this team in action.
It's tough to project what the Hawks will do with this pick, seeing as how they've drafted both talent-over-need (M. Williams) and need-over-talent (S. Williams) in recent years.
If they choose need-over-talent, I think they reach a bit and grab Mike Conley Jr. with the #3 pick, knowing that he will most likely be gone by #11. Under this same philosophy, they could also grab Joakim Noah....who would provide toughness, rebounding, shot-blocking and great energy to the floor.
If they choose talent-over-need, it could go a number of different directions....
Corey Brewer is an incredibly versatile player and a great defender, but everyone would kill Knight for taking yet another swingman.
Brendan Wright is an extremely athletic and lengthy PF with good inside game, but he doesn't have the weight (as of now) to hang in the post and doesn't have the reliable outside shot (a la LaMarcus Aldridge) to fall back on.
Yi Jianlin is the flavor of the month with a great face-the-basket game and good athleticism, but the Hawks don't need another one of those outside-in players.
Al Horford is a tough inside player with great athleticism, a developing outside shot, and good intensity, but Hawks drafted Shelden Williams last year to bring that interior toughness.
Overall, I think the safest/best pick is Horford. While he duplicates many of the talents of Shelden, he is just flat-out better, plays with a greater intensity, and has more upside. He's also a better athlete with the ability to play the running game.
Here's a scenario I could see....
Atlanta takes Al Horford at #3 and then has their choice between a seasoned college PG with limited upside (Law) and a raw, high-potential PG (Crittenton). I would think with local ties (GTech) and the size/athleticism combo that scouts drool over, the Hawks would take Crittenton and wait a year or two to hand him the keys, with temporary guys Lue and Claxton filling the void.
Thems my thoughts on the Atlanta Hawks draft possibilities.
Side Note: The only downside to the Hawks not giving up their pick (as well as Diaw proving lazy and crappy in season 2 w/ suns) is that Billy Knight will continue to have a job. All I can hope for now is that Belkin wins the court case, fires Knight and hires someone that will actually comprehend how to build a playoff-calibur team...sadly Mono, I don't think they make the playoffs until this guy is gone.
Joakim Noah won't amount to much. He'll be a slightly better Bo Outlaw. I like Brewer and Conley on the Hawks. Maybe trade down a sport or two and still get him (Conley). I really think he'd make a difference for the open floor talent Atlanta has, plus he's tough and strong leader.
If Im the Hawks I take Wright at 3, then hope that Conley slides to 11, and if he doesnt have a nice consolation prize in Acie
You could certainly make a case for Conley, and that might just be where he goes because he's not too much of a reach at #3 and does fill a need.
Of course, what I love is that this makes Billy Knight look like an utter jackass because he traded away the 35th pick in arguably the deepest draft in NBA history on another backup PG, in Anthony Johnson, when he already had two....Claxton and Lue.
The big question about taking Conley at #3 is who will be available at #11.
I think Noah could still be there, if teams fall out of love with him, and I think he's great at that spot.
They could also hope that a guy like Spencer Hawes drops to them.
They could also take Splitter and hope he can work a reasonable buyout with Tau.
The reports that Hibbert is going back to school are a big hit, because I think they would've taken a hard look at him as well.
All of those scenarios have big "ifs" and the other scenario has them taking YET ANOTHER swingman (Green, Thornton, Julian Wright, etc.), which would get crucified in the media.
BTW, I disagree with your assesment on Noah. He may not have a great outside shot, but he would be a great fit for the up-tempo style that Atlanta likes to play. He's the most intense, hustling player in this draft. He plays good defense and is a great rebounder. Again, he may never be an offensive force, but he'll be a factor in every play with his hustle and athleticism.
Varajao 2.0
As it stands right now, I don't think Conley makes it out of the top 10, and sadly I don't think Acie works on this Atlanta squad.
Yes, he's a floor general and a playmaker, but he doesn't have the athleticism to play the up-and-down game that Atlanta like with their roster full of 6'8 swingmen playing every position on the floor.
Also, I'm not high on Brendan Wright. While he's got incredible athleticism and imposing wingspan (helping to block shots and grab boards), he simply isn't strong/big enough to play 4 in the NBA. I'm aware they said the same thing about LaMarcus Aldridge, but he has a nice 18-footer that he hit with enough regularity to keep him in the game on the NBA level. Brendan Wright could be great in 3-5 years, but he doesn't come to the NBA with that body and skill set ready to contribute in the next two.
I don't think Atlanta risks Conley not being there at #11. He would be great fit for the Hawks. I could see Atlanta trading that #3 down a couple slots to Boston so Boston can get the big of their choice out of Horford, Wright, or even Hibbert. And, Atlanta will still have that #5 pick to get Conley at a little more of a discounted salary, and maybe they can pick up a future pick or acquire someone like Ryan Gomes in the process. With that #11 pick, the Hawks will probably have a few choices of big men. If Noah is there, I think you take him for value. But, Spencer Hawes might be available.
I think Noah will be much better than a Bo Outlaw type. I think people really think he's not as good as advertised because he has weird technique with his jumper and he is very skinny. He is crazy long and he doesn't get tired. He would fit better in a uptempo system like Phoenix, Denver, or Golden State. And, if he can find the right fit, I think he could be very good.
I think at worst case he's Varejao.
Best case he's Kirilenko without a shot.
Either way, Joakim Noash could be a quality player for Atlanta.
See, and I love Wright, think he could be amazing. He reminds me of a little shorter Tyson Chandler with more offensive ability and upside. But you could very well be right as well, he could be destroyed in the NBA
Varajao...times 10. These two are commonly lumped together for two reasons. One is the hair and two is the fiery at ude...but that's where it stops.
Varajao on defense is prone to taking charges (most on questionable flops), while Noah has the ability and desire to send anything you put up into row 7. Noah is also a much better rebounder than Varajao. Noah is also a better athlete than Varajao. I also happen to think that Noah's offensive game is a little better. I understand the wacky jumpshot, but I think that leads people to perceive Noah as offensively inept....not true, this kid can put up points if he needs to.
How about they take Brewer at 3, then package Childress + #11 for a pick in the 6-9 range to take Conley. Does anyone think that could work?
If they take Brewer, then Childress is expendable. And he's still a very young player with a ton of talent. Plus there isn't a huge dropoff in talent from the 6-9 spot to the 11 spot in this draft.
I dont see it. the kid had no jump shot, not very many back to the basket moves, and cant back anyone down because of his lack of strength. I think his best case scenario is Varejao, I dont think he will ever affect a game offensively except for put backs and hustle points. I dont think he is very good personally.
I'm not high on Noah either, but I think he's got alot more natural talent than Varejao. Also, he's got leadership abilities and other intangibles that will really help out a young team that looks directionless alot of the time. He'll never be a great player, but he could be a key component and a "glue guy" on a championship team.
I wish I shared your optimism about the Hawks making smart draft-day moves, but I've lived in this area for too long and have become accustomed to Billy Knight's series of questionable decisions. That doesn't mean I think they pass on Conley Jr. If he's their top-rated guy, I think they'll snag him at #3, but I wouldn't presume to suggest that Billy Knight would actually do something as intelligent as trading down to get Conley for a better value at a lower pick. Unless Boston comes to them with the idea because they want to make sure they get their guy, I think Atlanta stands pat.
At some point, they are going to have to stop taking versatile swingmen/combo forwards and get betteer players at the power positions. Pachulia should be a back-up center, Lorenzen Wright should be insurance, and Shelden Williams should not have been a lottery pick. They need better quality at the 4/5. Corey Brewer is not only redundant, but unnecessary.
I could see Wright going that direction as well. What I'll say is that with Wright, more than anyone else in this draft I think, is a projection pick based on what he could become....what he gives you in the immediate future with his lack of size and lack of perimeter skills is questionable.
I think we should just agree to disagree on this one...
I think for a young team with their talent level, their best chance at quick success is to adopt a run-n-gun Phoenix Suns type of small ball offense.
If they get Conley and Brewer, they can run a lineup of Conley, Johnson, Brewer, Smith, and Marvin Williams out there and absolutely run people to death. Plus, Josh Smith and Corey Brewer are going to be defensive beasts, so they can still play defese.
Also, I think you underrate Zaza and Shelden...I think they both are gonna come up big next year. Shelden may not be worthy of a lottery pick but he's going to be a very solid player for them.
Hey Tony, I see that Royal is going to be a free agent. I saw him play a lot at Texas and remember him having steller d, what would you think of him as a backup on the Spurs? Also, the more I think about it, the more I think the Hawks have to take Horford
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