| 30 Teams, 30 Days: Atlanta Draft Preview Authored by Jason M. Williams - June 20, 2009 - 9:28 pm
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2008-2009 Finish: 47-35
2009 Draft Picks: 19th, 49th
Pre-Draft 2009-10 Projected Starters:
PG: Mike Bibby (UFA)
SG: Joe Johnson
SF: Marvin Williams (RFA)
PF: Josh Smith
C: Al Horford
Key Reserves:
G: Ronald Murray (UFA)
SF: Maurice Evans
F: Solomon Jones (RFA)
C: Zaza Pachulia (UFA)
What The Hawks Do Well:
The Hawks, do in part to their versatility, were an above-average defensive team this past season. They surrendered just 96.5 points per game (10th), which allowed them to overcome an average offense (98.1 ppg, 19th).
They shot well from three-point land with a host of long-range threats, and Mike Bibby helped them take great care of the basketball. They could see a huge decline next season if they don’t retain Bibby. Not only would their ball-handling suffer (with a rookie likely running the show), but their defense isn’t great enough to overcome a less productive offense.
Bibby has allowed them alter what was a pretty bad offense prior to his arrival, which places great importance on his free-agent status.
There is a lot of talk about Josh Smith being placed on the trading block. If he is being shopped, I don’t believe it’s for the reasons many are citing. Atlanta learned a lot from their 2008 series with eventual champion Boston, and they applied that knowledge in their defeat of Miami this spring. They were a battered club, but they were cohesive.
Smith might not have the smoothest relationship with coach Mike Woodson, but he’s one of the nicest guys you could come across in the NBA. It’s unlikely that he’s a locker room cancer, as some have claimed.
Greatest Areas Of Improvement:
Foul Shooting
Some would consider it knit-picking, but only the Magic and Clippers were worse from the foul line this season. It helps to be able to not only take advantage of freebies over the course of the game, but especially in the final moments. Hitting more than 73.7% of their free throws might have gotten the Hawks a few more wins. It wouldn’t have gotten them the third seed in the Eastern Conference, but it might have helped their late-game confidence. Best of all, it’s an improvement that can be made internally with greater focus during either training camp or practice.
Depth All-Around
Atlanta is fairly deep at the wing positions with Joe Johnson, Marvin Williams and Maurice Evans, but even if they re-sign Bibby, they’ll likely need an upgrade over Acie Law at backup. They could use a traditional power forward to spell Smith, and their bench isn’t nearly as potent as the top-three teams in the East (Orlando, Cleveland and Boston).
Who’s Gone Number 19 Recently?
The 19th pick isn’t very promising when taking a look at the recent selections. Warrick is easily the best of the lot, while the others really haven’t gotten much of a chance to show what they have – whether it is do to injury or where they happen to be playing. However, there have been some very good players taken past nineteen. Rick Sund will have to do some strong prospect analysis.
2008
J.J. Hickson, Cleveland
2007
Javaris Crittenton, L.A. Lakers
2006
Quincy Douby, Sacramento
2005
Hakim Warrick, Memphis
2004
Dorell Wright, Miami
Who Should The Hawks Target?
-Terrence Williams of Louisville
Williams could be off the board, especially with the Nets intrigued at eleven, but he’d bolster Atlanta’s already strong back court even in the event that Bibby walked.
-Eric Maynor of VCU
Many feel as though Maynor is NBA-ready, which would make him ideal for the Hawks. He can play both guard positions, but Atlanta would almost solely play him at the point.
- Patrick Mills, St. Mary's
Mills would give the Hawks either a superb backup for Bibby, or a replacement should he sign with another club. He can step in with a solid jump shot as well.
-Ty Lawson of North Carolina
I don’t expect Lawson to be there, but if he is the Hawks should jump on him. He would have to work on his shot, but would be ready to run the show right away.
Picks Over the Past Five Years
They didn’t have a pick last year, and their recent history is hit-or-miss. Horford was a very good pickup, but Law hasn’t shown anything yet. Williams was a reach with the fifth pick in 2006, but Smith was a steal at seventeen in 2004. There is a new sheriff in town, so it’s tough to place too much emphasis on what the old regime did.
2008
No pick
2007
Al Horford, 3rd
Acie Law, 11th
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
Who Do the Fans Want?
According to Andrew Perna’s Atlanta Hawks Lottery Summit, an interactive forum featuring the responses of true RealGM hoops fans hoping to add their two cents to the Hawks Draft discussion, the fans of Atlanta have made it known that they would like to draft the best player available.
The Verdicts
1. What could the team have done differently to advance further in the playoffs?
killbuckner: If they had not faced the Cavs in the second round.
HoopsGuru25: They wouldn't have advanced regardless, but they would have won a few more games if they could score in the half court.
theatlfan: If they stayed healthy and had just been better. We were beat up, but Cleveland was too tough.
lunarblues: When we have all five of our true starters playing we are a very good team, but our bench can't handle starter’s minutes.
evildallas: There’s nothing the Hawks could have done to advance another round.
johnny878: It is doubtful the Hawks could of gotten past the Cavs, but they needed Joe Johnson to play like an All-Star. He played like garbage.
2. Where were the team’s biggest strengths?
killbuckner: An athletic frontcourt that can get out in transition, plus a lineup with multiple guys who can all hit from three-point land if opponents choose to double.
HoopsGuru25: Transition offense and 3-point shooting.
theatlfan: Perimeter defense, overall athleticism, and Johnson.
lunarblues: Athleticism from positions two through five. We rarely get out-matched from game to game at those positions. The perimeter game is starting to take shape as well.
evildallas: Athleticism and 3-point shooting.
johnny878: Athleticism.
3. Who had a surprisingly effective season?
killbuckner: Flip Murray was a revelation. He was put out with the backups in the second quarter and played unbelievably well. I'd say that Marvin Williams’ proficiency from outside was also surprising.
HoopsGuru25: Murray.
theatlfan: Mike Bibby, Murray, and Maurice Evans. The three veterans that were added to the team over the last 18 months really helped more than I expected.
lunarblues: Murray. He became what we had been looking for over a decade: A consistent scorer off the bench.
evildallas: Murray. Bibby had a more effective season than was expected, but that could have been because he was in a contract-year.
johnny878: Murray and Bibby.
4. Who had a surprisingly ineffective season?
killbuckner: Acie Law did nothing, which was a surprise to some.
HoopsGuru25: I guess you can say Law.
theatlfan: Acie deserves mention, Speedy Claxton is a perennial contender here, and Al Horford still hasn't stepped up from exciting prospect into legit NBA player. But I'm going with Josh Smith.
lunarblues: Law. At this point we might as well save his career by sending him somewhere else.
evildallas: Law showed nothing, which was less than our already-low expectations. Solomon Jones showed little, but that was expected to happen.
johnny878: Horford. It looks like he almost regressed from last year.
5. How confident are you in the front office heading into the offseason?
killbuckner: Very little confidence in the front office, but that has less to do with Rick Sund's bad moves than being burned in the past.
HoopsGuru25: I'm confident Sund won't do something completely idiotic like Knight, but I do wonder if he has what it takes to get into a bidding war for a star free-agent.
theatlfan: More than normal. Anyone is better than BK, and Sund is still somewhat in his honeymoon period. He made a couple of low-risk signings with Flip and Mo Evans that paid off big, so he knows when a little goes a long way.
lunarblues: I’m confident in the front office, but the to-do list is very long this offseason. There are a lot of variables, and I wouldn't be surprised if we lose a piece or two.
evildallas: Not very. I doubt the club will spend enough money to thoroughly evaluate the talent in the draft. The cap situation and sheer number of free agents makes the rest of summer difficult. Too many targets, not enough bullets.
johnny878: Not very.
6. What are the team’s biggest needs in the draft?
killbuckner: I don't believe in drafting for need with the 19th pick, but people see the biggest needs at point guard and center.
HoopsGuru25: BPA.
theatlfan: Any position outside of power forward.
lunarblues: Depth.
evildallas: Best Player Available, which is likely to be a point guard given the talent in this year’s class.
johnny878: BPA.
7. Who would you like the Hawks to take with the 19th pick?
killbuckner: I am currently on board the Ty Lawson bandwagon.
HoopsGuru25: I'm not sure who will be there, but I'll just throw Lawson’s name out there.
theatlfan: In a draft with 20-22 good prospects, I'm basically hoping for a faller. I'll keep hope alive for Jrue Holiday, but someone like Terrance Williams is probably more realistic choice.
lunarblues: We might have to make a trade to make it happen, but I really like Eric Maynor out of VCU.
evildallas: Jonny Flynn is my first choice, but he'll likely be gone. Maynor, DeJuan Blair and Patrick Mills are my fallbacks.
johnny878: Whoever the BPA is.
Click here to read other draft previews in our 30 Teams, 30 Days series
Who do you want the Hawks to draft at number 19? Feel free to contact Jason M. Williams with your thoughts. He can be reached at Jason.Williams@RealGM.com for comments and questions. |
