| 30 Teams, 30 Days: Atlanta Draft Preview Authored by Christopher Reina - May 27, 2007 - 7:50 pm
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Draft Picks: 3rd, 11th,
What they do well
Like so many teams in the NBA, particularly ones who have had trouble making the playoffs, the Hawks have very young and exciting wings, but below average talent at the point guard and center positions.
Joe Johnson is absolutely the most underrated great player in the NBA, residing in the franchise player strata just below his good Team USA friends in Cleveland, Denver and Miami. Johnson averaged 25 points, 4.4 assists and 4.2 rebounds per game last season.
Meanwhile, Josh Smith elevated his game another notch with averages of 16.4 points, 8.6 rebounds and nearly 3 blocks per game.
Where do they need improvement?
While a surefire franchise player will not be available to the Hawks with the third pick, the consolation of that pick is more valuable to the franchise than it would have been to any other team. Any pick below 3rd and it would have been shipped to Phoenix and now they will be able to finally select a point guard who can mean to them what Chris Paul and Deron Williams have meant to New Orleans and Utah.
A center is also a position of need, but there is only one center in the draft worthy of a top-three pick.
Who they should target?
- Mike Conley, Ohio State:
Conley fits a critical need and would instantly give the Hawks much needed offensive stability despite being just 20 years old when he plays his first NBA game. He is an excellent penetrator and would create a ton of lay-ups for Smith and Williams. Barring a major trade, Coney should and need to be the selection here.
- Brandan Wright, North Carolina:
There is little doubt in my mind that Wright is the third best prospect in the draft and the gap between him and Durant is similar to the gap between Chris Bosh and Carmelo Anthony in 2003. He is a significantly more polished ballplayer than Marvin Williams was when he was Atlanta’s pick in 2005.
- Yi Jianlian, China:
The 7-footer has many skills Knight doesn’t currently see on his roster and if he feels the upside is present and that he could play some center, the trigger could be pulled.
- Al Horford, Florida:
Horford would bring Atlanta many of the same qualities and drawbacks that Shelden Williams bright last season, which makes him a highly unlikely selection here.
Picks since 2000
2006
Shelden Williams, 5th
Solomon Jones, 33rd
2005
Marvin Williams, 2nd
Salim Stoudamire, 31st
Cenk Akyol, 59th
2004
Josh Childress, 6th
Josh Smith, 17th
Donta Smith, 34th
Royal Ivey, 37th
Viktor Sanikidze, 42nd
2003
Boris Diaw, 21st
Travis Hansen, 37th
2002
Dan Dickau, 28th
David Andersoen, 37th
2001
None (Pau Gasol traded for Shareef Abdur-Rahim)
2000
DerMarr Johnson, 6th |
