Atlanta Hawks

Expectations By some accounts Anthony Tolliver was the last Hawk to make the opening day roster. Larry Drew preferred a more seasoned player to the likes of Damion James and James Anderson. Prior to signing with Atlanta, Anthony Tolliver courted a position with the Hawks via social media proclaiming that he would provide a dimension the Hawks lacked in the form of a stretch big. Beyond the long distance shooting touch expectation that he set himself, I think expectations were modest in that we expected a professional who would do whatever it took to stick with the club, but not really breakout. Looking at his last two seasons in Minnesota provided the wide contrast of what we might see from Anthony. In 2010-11 he was efficient and engaged shooting almost 41% from 3 point range. In 2011-12 you saw bad Anthony. He appeared in 14 less games and average 4 minutes per game less than the previous year as he never found his groove shooting less than 25% from 3 point range. We could hope for the best, but there was reason to fear that he couldn’t back up his shooting bravado. Results In spite of the appearance of being the last guy to make the team it was apparent that he wasn’t at the bottom of the depth chart as he started game 2 at PF for an injured Josh Smith. That injury start turned out to be a rare occurrence as Anthony didn’t get his second start until February. Over the course of the season Anthony was the professional we expected playing in 62 games and even starting 11 and filling whatever role was needed without any ruckus. The real measure though of his season would be the long distance shooting he promised and in this area he was okay, but not thrilling. A firm meh would be my grade. We didn’t see 41% Anthony, but thankfully we were spared 25% Anthony as well. He split the difference with just under 34% of his 3 pointers made. To put it in perspective of the Hawks to attempt 100 or more 3 pointers he ranked 6th in accuracy just ahead of Devin Harris (yes, Josh was a distant 8th if you were wondering). Highlight This one was pretty easy. I think it was shortly after his wife had given birth with what I think is their first child. The date was March 6th and Philadelphia was visiting the highlight factory. With 2 minutes left in the 1st Anthony Tolliver came in for Al Horford and he hit one basket before the quarter ended. In the 2nd quarter he really came alive hitting 4 more shots including 3 from deep and added a couple free throws to finish the half with 15 points. In his 5 years scrambling to stick in the league I’m not sure if Anthony has been the subject of many walk-off interviews, but he was on fire that night. He added 2 more 3 pointers in the second half and finished with 21 points (71.4% shooting from 3) and 8 rebounds. It was quite the game to celebrate being a proud poppa. Prognosis Personally I’m not opposed to his return. You need some solid vets off the bench who know how to play. I’m not sure he’ll get the opportunity though. When you analyze the production from the backup SF/PF spot on the roster without emotion I think you come away with the feeling that we are not getting consistent enough shooting and more importantly strong rebounding from the spot. There is definitely room for more production there. A lot of projecting who makes the bench depends on the coach's philosophy and what stage he sees the roster at. A coach secure in the idea of building a championship squad might try to develop a more talented youngster, while a coach fighting for survival likely would find comfort in a veteran like Tolliver being on the bench.

The Atlanta Hawks haven't yet declared that they are moving on from the Larry Drew era but the writing is clearly on the wall. Its so clear now that Drew will start entertaining offers from other teams including the Milwaukee Bucks with whom he will meet this weekend to discuss their head coaching vacancy. Danny Ferry is going through the process of interviewing others for the Hawks' head coaching position. Ferry hasn't yet ruled out Drew returning but Drew acknowledged on Friday to Atlanta Journal-Constitution columnist Jeff Schultz that it appears to be a longshot. "After talking with my adviser on this, he doesn't like the odds. I don't like the odds, either. That's why I've decided to move on with other organizations." Besides the Bucks, Drew has reportedly drawn interest from one other unnamed NBA team. Previously he had been linked to the Philadelphia 76ers opening. Drew and the Hawks exceded many of the media's expectations for the team this year but in the end that doesn't appear that it is going to be enough to save his job. He has amassed a 128-102 record in three seasons as the Hawks' head coach and led the team into the playoffs in all three seasons. However, Drew understands the situation and knows the transition phase that the franchise is going through under Ferry. "Realistically, I wasn't Danny's hire from Day 1," he said. "I was Rick Sund's hire. Danny just kind of inherited me. I totally respect the position he took. He wants to do his due diligence and make sure I'm the right guy for the job. Really, this whole year, I was basically interviewing for the job. At end of day, if it happens to evolve back to me, I will be his hire." Ferry hasn't set a timeframe for hiring a new coach. In the past it week it has been reported that he has met with Stan Van Gundy, Mike Budenholzer, Nate McMillan and CSKA Moscow head coach Ettore Messina.

Daniel Shirey – USA Today Sports Images Whenever you move out of a house, it’s a relatively complicated process that you have to go through. You have to pack up all of your things and be on your way to a better place. You always pack up your really nice things that you want to keep for a while. You might keep a fair amount of knick knacks that fill space. Inevitably, though, you are going to have to leave some things, as well. You might have to leave a couple of things that are really nice, but that you don’t really have any use for anymore. You might be glad to get rid of some things. Then there are those things that you could use if you had them, but you’re not exactly sure if you really need them; those are the most difficult things to make decisions about. The Atlanta Hawks are pretty much in the same situation as someone moving, because, basically, they are moving on from a place that they’ve been over the past few years in NBA. They are likely going to cut ties with their former star Josh Smith, who has been more of a burden, despite his skills, as of late. They are also likely going to re-sign Jeff Teague and build around him and Al Horford. Like with someone moving, though, their toughest decisions will be about the players that they could have a place for if they kept them, but that might not be the best option for the team as they head towards this new phase for the franchise. One of the more high-profile players that fits that bill is Devin Harris. Harris had a nice year with the Hawks, serving as both Teague’s backup and a secondary option at guard. He played 24.5 minutes per game in his 58 regular season appearances and averaged a solid 9.9 points, 3.4 assists, 1.1 steals and two rebounds per game while shooting 43.8 percent from the field. He wasn’t other-worldly, but he was definitely solid. However, Harris just turned 30 this past February, an age where a lot of players with as many years under their belt as Harris start to see decline in their skills and in their numbers. Harris may be a serviceable backup guard still, but he’s likely not going to bring any dynamic aspect to the table for much longer. Harris is an unrestricted free agent this summer and the Hawks have a big decision to make regarding him. Because of his age and potential to decline skill-wise, though, the Hawks should let him walk. Could he play solid minutes for them as a backup point guard next year: probably. However, they have younger options like Shelvin Mack with higher upside that they can keep that would likely be better for them. As they move on as a franchise, Harris is a player that the Hawks should decide to part ways with. Cody Williams is a Senior Writer with Rant Sports. Follow Cody on Twitter @TheSizzle20 and like his Facebook page.

As we get approach the 2013 NBA Draft, we are reaching out to local experts to help us scout some of the players the Hawks may take in the first round.  We had Anson Whaley from SB Nation Pittsburgh help us scout Pittsburgh center Steven Adams. What are his strengths? Weaknesses? Other than his athleticism for his height, Adams has three main strengths as I see them – his rebounding, defense, and ability to run up and down the floor. He was able to step in for Pitt as the starting center right away and rebounded and defended well. He even posted a couple of double-digit rebound games in the non-conference portion of the Panthers’ schedule. While the competition wasn’t the most difficult, he still had some impressive performances considering he wasn’t very used to the American style of basketball. Adams also runs the court incredibly well and has the ability to get out quickly on fast breaks and beat defenders for some easy transition baskets. The part of his game that needs the most work is his offense. Adams is very raw when it comes to the offensive end, and while he improved as the season went along, he still is without a consistent ‘go to’ move. Many times it was evident he was trying to think his way through what he wanted to do – it just hasn’t been fully natural to him yet. His hands and play around the basket could use work as well. Adams frustrated fans at times by trying to lay the ball in rather than dunk it while he was around the hoop. And to top it off, he is a poor free throw shooter and currently without much of a jump shot. His offense leaves quite a bit to be desired. What did he add to his team in college? What do you think he’ll bring to an NBA team? For Pitt, specifically, Adams gave the team a much-needed defensive presence inside. He rebounded well and averaged about two blocks a game while altering quite a few more. Adams clogged the lane and made guards think twice before coming inside. He won’t contribute much on offense right away in the NBA, and rebounding in the pros won’t be as easy as it was in college. But if nothing else, he should provide a solid presence in the paint from the time he steps on the court. And eventually, the rebounding and the offense will come. What kind of style is he best suited for? Adams is very athletic and in reasonably good shape, so a team that gets out and runs would be a good fit for him. Eventually he should adjust to the slower pace of a grind it out half-court set but he’s not there entirely right now. Adams is also a solid passer so an offense that thrives on ball movement would work as well. What sets him apart from other draft prospects at his position? At this stage, it’s his rare combination of height and agility. Adams is a very athletic player and while he isn’t as developed as many of the other players in the Draft, he has a world of potential. There just aren’t too many seven-footers that are as athletic as he is. What NBA player would you compare him to? I’ve been comparing him to the Spurs’ Tiago Splitter a lot. Splitter isn’t considered a star, but Adams has a long way just to catch up with him. He’s a big athletic center that has really come pretty far all things considered. I could see Adams developing into that type of player – athletic, high energy, and a very solid contributor. He’s not on Splitter’s level right now, but that’s the type of player I could envision him becoming. What’s your favorite memory of him at Pittsburgh? Probably seeing the growth he made by the end of the season when he started to come into his own. He rarely was dominant at Pitt, but by the time he played his last game in the NCAA Tournament against Wichita State, he had advanced significantly as a player. I remember watching him in the press area for both of Pitt’s preseason games against Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) and Hawa

Jerry Lai-USA Today Sports Even before Nerlens Noel committed to the Kentucky Wildcats, he had one-and-done potential. His one season in Lexington came to a close much earlier than expected however, when Noel tore his ACL around the midway point of the conference schedule. Noel is not expected to be ready for the start of the 2013 NBA regular season, but that hasn’t hurt his draft stock much at all. With the 2013 NBA Draft Combine opening up on Thursday morning, Noel was obviously not participating, but rumors have been swirling that Noel is ahead of schedule on his rehab, and at this point it wouldn’t come as much of a shock if Noel hears his name called with the No. 1 overall pick. Even despite being unable to participate in the combine, Noel is making headlines for some of his measurements. According to ESPN’s Chad Ford, here are some of them: Nerlens Noel measurements: 6’10″ in socks and 6’11.5″ in shoes. 7′ 3.75″ wingspan and a very good 9-2 standing reach. — Chad Ford (@chadfordinsider) May 17, 2013 Ironically enough, Noel’s height and standing reach measured higher than that of last year’s No. 1 overall pick, Anthony Davis. The rumors are abundant on Twitter however, because Noel reportedly weighed in at 206 lbs. That’s not good for an NBA center. Put this into perspective, Bradley Beal weighs 207 lbs. and the two play completely different positions obviously. Noel is focused on the health of his knee and it probably hurts him enough that he can’t be out on the court proving his worth as a potential No. 1 selection. At this point however, if a torn ACL isn’t affecting Noel’s stock, why would his current weight? It’s a red flag, but it’s not anything that can’t be improved upon once he is selected. Follow Paul Seaver on Twitter: @PaulSeaverRS

We’re taking a look back at the season that was for each member of the Atlanta Hawks, as well as a sneak peek into what the future might hold.  Today it’s Mike Scott. The season:  Mike Scott’s rookie season was full of ups and downs but ended with him making the Hawks’ playoff roster after a late season surge that saw him hit double figures in the final five regular season games in which he played more than two minutes.  There were certainly frustrations along the way, as he was shipped to Bakersfield twice to play in the D-League, though I ultimately think that helped him develop his skills and build his confidence. I thought this was a very good first season for Scott.  He was in a rotation that gave him playing time that other second-round picks wouldn’t get, and he had a chance to prove himself at the end of the season.  He showed us that he has the ability to make mid-range jump shots and can fend for himself with the ball in the post.  He’s also a great locker room guy who loves to have fun.  His personality fit well with this team, and he’ll only get better as he becomes more comfortable in this league. The future:  Scott has a non-guaranteed contract for next season, but there’s little doubt he’ll be invited to training camp, and I’d probably go as far as saying he’ll be in a Hawks uniform for the first game of the season.  We know he’ll be playing in summer league in Las Vegas, where he’ll further get a chance to develop and improve.  He has been working out back in Virginia in the few weeks since the season ended, and that’s probably where he’ll be spending the majority of his summer. Scott certainly has some things to fine-tune in his game.  I’d like to see him develop more distinctive post moves, and he could work on his interior defense too.  The latter should come as he builds strength and gets more accustomed to the NBA style.  He already has a nice jump shot for a power forward, and I could see him developing into an Al Horford-like player in a year or two.  I’m excited to see him build on a successful rookie campaign. Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE/Getty Images

Per a report by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Atlanta Hawks have officially interviewed former Orlando Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy and also met with current San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Mike Budenholzer. This news comes on the heels of last night's Adrian Wojnarowski report that Ferry was strongly considering Euroleague legend Ettore Messina among his top candidates. As expected, Ferry and the Hawks have been pretty tight lipped about their coaching shortlist. To date the names that have managed to leak out include Van Gundy, Nate McMillan, Budenholzer and now Messina whom Ferry scouted at the Euroleague Final Four. Van Gundy is thought by most to be a long shot at best for the Hawks to land as he expected to wait another season before returning to the sidelines. Budenholzer is a candidate for other job openings and is also thought to be the eventual successor to Gregg Popovich in San Antonio. At this point we aren't sure when Ferry might make a final decision but he seems to be moving quickly of late through a number of candidates.

From the late night data dump comes this gem from Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski regarding Danny Ferry's latest addition to the Hawks coaching rumors: Ettore Messina, the Italian-born coach of CSKA Moscow, is among the top candidates to replace coach Larry Drew. Ferry and Messina have had contact about the possibility, and Messina is intrigued with the chance to be a global trail blazer in the NBA, sources told Y! Sports. Messina joins former Orlando head man Stan Van Gundy and Seattle/Portland coach Nate McMillan as rumored targets for the Atlanta Hawks GM. Messina is a celebrated Euroleague coach with an impeccable reputation, according to Yahoo!'s report. Exit Question: On a scale from 0 (stomach pains) to 10 (uncontainable excitement), how are you feeling about the pace, progress and choices in this coaching search?

Kevin Liles-USA TODAY Sports The Atlanta Hawks season can to an abrupt end when they were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Indiana Pacers, immediately putting them in preparation for the off-season. Besides finding a replacement for Josh Smith and trying to keep Jeff Teague around, one of their other top priorities should be to retain shooter Kyle Korver. Korver has only played one season with the Hawks after being acquired via trade from the Chicago Bulls for cash last summer, and the 6’7″ sharpshooter made an immediate impact on the Hawks lineup. Korver brought some much needed accuracy from three-point range and knocked down .457 of his attempts from behind the arc — good for second in the NBA — while also contributing 10.9 points and four rebounds in 74 games, including 60 starts, which was a career-high. While Korver does have his limitations, outside shooting is at a premium in today’s NBA game, and a team can never have too much of it. The Hawks ranked seventh in the league in three point shooting percentage this season and could rank even higher next year with Korver and fellow long-distance gunner John Jenkins in the rotation. Now the age of 32 and coming off a contract that paid him $5 million per season, Korver should be a relatively affordable free agency target for Atlanta and other teams around the NBA as well, as Korver has already expressed his interest in returning to the Hawks, and was quoted as saying, “ I believe Danny Ferry is going to do some great things here. I think it’s a great opportunity to bring in guys who are going to play fun basketball. I know the vision that he has, you know the kind of basketball that he likes to watch. I think he is going to bring in those types of guys. I like the same basketball that he likes. I’m very open to coming back here.” Korver’s statements and his familiarity of the organization make the likelihood of him staying with the Hawks a strong possibility, and retaining the veteran with the deadly jump shot would be a wise move for the franchise.

Okay, forget what I said about timing of a coaching change, the nature of a changing roster and the other variables that would have allowed the retaining of Larry Drew as Hawks head coach to make sense. Forget that because, as we are seeing from the Hawks Front Office, Danny Ferry doesn't require or desire a five year plan - the time is now. Completely out of his hands is the nature of free agents - well, for the most part. What is under his control is bringing in a head coach that he feels best accomplishes Task #1: Building a championship franchise. To blow out Joe Johnson and Marvin Williams last summer and decide to not re-sign Larry Drew is to say that Ferry doesn't want to monkey around with being ok. No longer is the sense of status quo valid - unless that status quo is the intention of building a champion. And it's not just the intent of changing bench coaches that makes this so, it's the level of targets that Ferry is going after. In the last two weeks we've seen Stan Van Gundy and Nate McMillan linked to job interviews - maybe the two most experienced, successful head coaches on the market already to talk to. Why does this indicate a change of paradigm in the HFO? We've long reminded that the Hawks haven't sought and hired a head coach with previous NBA head coaching experience since the team brought in Lenny Wilkens 20 years ago. Since Wilkens there's been Lon Kruger, a fallback college position from their true target, Tom Izzo. Then Terry Stotts, Mike Woodson and Larry Drew, none of which possessed previous experience as an NBA head man. To go after a seasoned, previously successful head coach such as Van Gundy and McMillan costs money, money previously not lavished on a Hawks head coach since Wilkens. If the Hawks are serious about bringing someone of this level in, whether it happens or not, it indicates a heightened level of seriousness about the team's on-court intentions. Now, it might be these discussions are less than we might think, and it's true that coaching candidates every year use open head count for their own publicity and to massage and message their value across the league. But even the conversation, the search, the statement that what's past is past and not to be settled on brings a feeling of hope and possibility of the team raising the bar from playoff maker to serious contender.