Atlanta Hawks Draft History:

I reviewed the rosters of the NBA. Six #1 Hawk choices play in the league. Stacey Augmon, Adam Keefe, Kevin Willis, Ed Gray, Roshown McLeod and Alan Henderson. Six players from the last 12 drafts. Not good. Quality of players? Henderson is the only player with marketable value as we read. But, take into consideration the trades involving Atlanta draft picks or the previously noted former #1 choices. Steve Smith and Grant Long were acquired for Atlanta's 1996 #1 pick and Willis. Now Steve Smith becomes a result of a Atlanta's draft. Grant Long was traded along with Augmon for two Detroit #1's and two #2's. Grant Long has since returned to the team via free agency. Don't forget how Mookie Blaylock was aquired - former #1 Hawk choice Rumeal Robinson. Good moves! Bottom line: Steve Smith, Mookie Blaylock, Roshown McLeod, Grant Long, Alan Henderson, Ed Gray plus this years 20th pick (via Detroit) and Detroits future #1 and #2 (believe in 2001) were aquired through the draft. Look at those names. All but Dikemebe Mutumbo is considered the nucleous of next years team. In a round about way, the team was built by this past decades draft.

So, whats my draft history analysis? Sorry Mr. Babcock (Hawk GM). Draft Grade: D- (Way Below Average). Your picks speak for themselves. Chris Washburn, Douglas Edwards, Rumeal Robinson, Adam Keefe, Gaylon Nickerson, Shammond Williams, Preist Lauderdale, dare I say Ed Gray. A sorry bunch. But you've made a couple of dandy trades. Mr. Babcock, I suggest you look at history. Trade your picks wisely. Atlanta Hawks Draft History:

Hawks Team Needs:

Hawks Starters:

Steve Smith - Off Guard Smith's creaky knees hinder his chances of ever playing a full 81 game schedule again. Prove being the considerable number of games he missed this past season. His bad knees have robbed him of quickness prohibiting Steve from playing quality 'D'. Smith now plays funnel defense - force his man towards Deke. He is an adept ballhandler and can make the good, smart pass enabling the offense to work as one. Remember, Smith was a point guard early in his career with Miami. But now to where he shines, Mr. Smith can light it up. He is known throughout the NBA as one of the finest outside shooters around. Atlanta, which sorely lacks scoring punch, depends on Smith to be thier number one go to guy. At 6-8 Smith often get clear looks over smaller off-guards for his shot. Off-season talk has him moving to the 3 position for the upcoming season. This would mask his loss of quickness though put him in a postion where muscle type small forwards would eat him up. 1998-99 Grade: B

Mookie Blaylock - Point Guard Mookie is a tough guy to figure. He has everything you'd want in a point guard except, what? Maybe what is needed is a point guards mentality. Pass first. Shoot second. But in a way you can't blame him since Atlanta's offense had but one guy (Smith) who could create his own shot. Mookie tryed to step up and provide some offense. Results were not up to everyones expectations. This is not to say Mookie can't dish it though, he can. He's a great ballhandler and driver. It just seemed that he was firing up the threes a bit to much, a little to quickly before the offense could set. Defensivly Blaylock is one of the better tough D point guards around. Much of Atlanta defense revolves around his ball-hawking style of play. My inclination is that once the Hawks acquire another 'go-to' guy on offense Blaylock will become the point guard people are hounding him to be. 1998-99 Grade: C+

Dikembe Mutumbo - Center One of the best moves Atlanta has ever made was to sign Deke as a free-agent. Quality centers do not grow on trees. And yes, he is a quality center. Deke's a 7'2" shot blocking, defender and rebounder deluxe. The kind of guy you can win it all with as your starting center. Defense and rebounding is what you'll get. Expect nothing else. Trying to make Deke your number 2 or 3 go-to guy is not a good option. Unfortunatly he has not always accepted this fact. Also Mutumbo ballhandling is poor but from what I hear his sense of humor about it, is not. 1998-99 Grade: B

Alan Henderson - Power Forward Henderson concerns me. What I saw of him in 97-98' was good. He was a live-wire. The bouncy, stringy strong type that seemed to excell at being 'in the right place at the right time'. Basically he made things happen, an enigizer. But, and I mean But. What happened in 99'? Injuries. Sure. But he didn't seem to have the knack that he had from the previous season. The question I have is he really the power forward that a team can go all the way with? Hmmm. He seems to be a bit of a tweener. Is he big enough to muscle with the Malones and Davises? Offensivly. Looks like an inside, effort, putback points type. Outside shot? Natta. Defense. Quicker then most 4's. Plays good defense with effort and heart. Bottom line on this guy is you gotta like his upside. But when will we see the real Alan Henderson? 1998-99 Grade: C-

Roshown MacLeod - Small Forward I pencil MacLeod in as a starter at this time due to his raw talent and since thiers no other candidate, at least until after the draft. I consider the return of any other previous small-forward starter to next years starting lineup as a decline in the teams potiential. Roshown could be the starting 3. Duke grad. Seems to have an basketball smarts about him. I remember him hitting some long jumpers in his college days, so he can shoot. Nice size for a small forward, 6-8.

Coaching

Lenny Wilkens. Head Coach. How ya doing Lenny? I'm a Seattle native since day 1. Remember you leading us to the '79 championship. Read an article about you just returning from a May vacation in Seattle. It said something like 'you looked relaxed and tanned'!!?! Tanned? In Seattle? Anyway, Lenny does the job. Record speaks for itself.

Ownership

Ted Turner. Man it don't get any better than having Ted Turner buy your childhood 'Team'. Owns the Hawks and Braves (guess he's not much of a football fan). Definitely more hands-off with the Hawks than the Braves.

General Manager

Pete Babcock. It would be a very interesting job being a GM. Babcock I know natta about except Hawk fans seem to be on him a bit. Isn't Pete involved with the Braves also? Review of Hawk team history leaves me pondering? Money = Players + Coaches = Winning. Hawks management seemed to be a bit complicent shortly after Round 2 Playoff disaster.

Summary: I like the nucleous of this team. It's got possibilities. The team is one quality player short of being a contender. Hawks needs another scorer type who would also have to play tough D. Due to last years disappointment Blaylock is getting fingered as the employee who needs to be 'looked-at'. But, realistically the Hawks squad of last year didn't have the pieces.

Draft Needs: The Atlanta Hawks needs are:

1. Another creative scorer
2. Championship ball handling play at point guard
3. Bench depth at all positions

Bottom line, Hawks need to acquire a player(s), through the draft by trading picks that will improve team needs. Rumor has Hawks trading existing picks to move down. That sounds encouraging. But use the pick wisely. I'm hearing rumblings about a tradeup for Andre Miller, but who knows?

Players Considered:

Steve Francis The next Alan Iverson. Interesting. I haven't seen anybody as quick as Iverson in over tens years. Francis is that quick? If he's a nano second slower then Iverson then he might not be worth the number one choice. Toronto eying Francis for McGrady, #5 and #12. Chicago best be dealing.

Andre Miller Rumours has Hawks interested in Miller. Seems to be the steady, smart type. A Lenny type of player. Andre is not quick as point guards go. He's a Mark Jackson type. Hard to believe him going around picks 3 to 6, but?

Baron Davis Saw him play last year. He's got game. Don't know why teams would be scared of him except for a 'bad-knee'. I'd take the chance. His gears are set up for the NBA. Quick, strong leaper. Seems to be team oriented player. Capable of tough defensive pressure. Hits alot of jumpers from long distances so his shooting is better than one may think. Projecting Baron in a Hawk uniform dosn't leap out at me; or does it? Say, take Baron Davis over Andre Miller? Ya. Baron is a 'special' type of player.

Evan Eschmeyer 6-11, 250. Power-Forward/Center. Didn't see him play. Best rated center in a weak center position draft. Word is positive about skills. Could go higher than 16. Has that career backup look, but?

James Posey I'm hearing alot of good things said about Posey. 6-7 215, quick, strong. D'ed other teams point guards in college? Shooting ability is encouraging. Would be surprised to see Posey available at 17. In my draft I flipped-a-coin, Marion over Posey.

Chris Herren 6-2, 205. Pleasant words are coming from the press that this guy can play point-guard in the NBA. Put on a good display of 3 point shooting during a Hawk workout. Considered quick enough to play the point. No burner though. Hawks have interest in him at 27 or low 2nd round. I was ready to snag him at 27 if Ketner was not available.

Player Selected:

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