Atlanta Hawks

The 2013 NBA Draft analysis continues this time with SI.com's Chris Mannix weighing in with his projections for the first round of the NBA Draft. If there is a trend in all of these projections it is that many expect the Hawks to go big with at least one of their two selections in the first round and Duke center Mason Plumlee is a popular choice. Mannix projects the Hawks to go with Plumlee with the No. 17 pick. If Josh Smith departs as a free agent, the Hawks could move Al Horford to power forward -- his more natural position -- and search for a more traditional center. They will go hard after Dwight Howard this summer, but Plumlee, an athletic 7-footer who has developed a solid low-post game, is someone Atlanta can develop. Plumlee measured out at the draft combine to be a legit seven footer with shoes on with a 6-foot-11 inch wingspan. Here is DraftExpress' scouting report video on Plumlee: At No. 18, Mannix projects the Hawks to take 19 year old point guard Dennis Schroeder out of Germany. Schroeder was reportedly given a first round promise by at least one NBA team at the draft combine and is projected somewhat higher in a few other mocks. Mannix thinks he has the potential to be a very good NBA player in the future. Schroeder, says an Eastern Conference scout, "is a miniature [Rajon] Rondo." At 19, he has natural point-guard instincts, excellent speed and an improving jump shot. Several teams in the 20s would love for Schroeder to fall. Hawks point guard Jeff Teague is a restricted free agent, and though he is likely to return, Schroeder has the potential to be a big-time starter in the future. Schroeder is listed at 6-foot-2 but has a wingspan of over 6-foot-7. His athleticism and playmaking ability have him projected to be a nice player down the road. He is a high upside pick that may not last this far in the draft. Here is DraftExpress' interview with Schroeder at the draft combine:

With the draft lottery now complete a more accurate picture of the 2013 NBA Draft is now possible as team needs can be taken into account. ESPN.com's Chad Ford has updated his latest mock draft and has the Atlanta Hawks going big with the No. 17 pick and taking Duke's Mason Plumlee. Analysis: Plumlee reminded everyone this week why he once was a highly regarded potential lottery pick. His elite athletic ability combined with a 7-foot frame make him a unique prospect at this point in the draft. At 23, he's a little older than everyone else, but I think a team that wants to fly up and down the floor like the Hawks would love having him on the floor. Interestingly, Ford has the Hawks taking Plumlee ahead of a couple of other big man prospects in Rudy Gobert and Gorgui Dieng. Here is a look at DraftExpress' combine interview with Plumlee: With the No. 18 pick in the draft Ford has the Hawks selecting 6-foot-5 guard Jamaal Franklin out of San Diego State. We have talked a little bit about Franklin before and it seems that an injured ankle that forced him to sit out the draft combine in Chicago hasn't necessarily hurt his draft stock. Franklin didn't play at the combine. His ankle was in a walking boot. However, the injury isn't expected to keep him out for long. While the Hawks have a pretty crowded backcourt, I think if Franklin can play some small forward he might be worth the trouble. His infectious energy and athletic ability should give the team a real shot in the arm. Here is a look at his draft combine interview from DraftExpress:

Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports The Atlanta Hawks had a chance to get Jeff Teague locked down last offseason when his value wasn’t as high. Atlanta decided to wait and now they are likely going to pay for it as Teague becomes a restricted free agent. He averaged a career-high 14.6 points and 7.2 assists a game for the Hawks this past season and now Atlanta may be forced to pay a much-higher price to keep Teague in town. Teague made a very respectable $2.4 million this season. I would think that he is going to get close to double that amount now, if not more. We also don’t know if other teams will make it nearly impossible for the Hawks to match any offer. I could see another team making an offer that has a huge final-year salary that could cripple Atlanta going forward. Atlanta is going to be forced to play the waiting game during free agency. The team is likely going to lose Josh Smith and they can’t afford to lose Teague as well. This isn’t going to be fun for Atlanta to figure out, because it could mean the difference between making the playoffs again next season or slipping into mediocrity. I’m sure the Hawks don’t want that to happen considering how far they got this season. I see Teague signing a deal that is four years for around $25 million, and I’m not positive that the Hawks are going to want to pay it or any more than that. Andy Schmidt is a columnist/writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter @ASchmidtSports, like his Facebook page or add him to your network on Google.

When Danny Ferry traded Joe Johnson to the Brooklyn Nets last summer, this is the moment we desired—this is the moment on which we were all fixated: the summer that will begin the process of shaping a new image and roster for a team that has been deemed irrelevant and fickle for so long. More than anything, though, this summer presents an opportunity to shed the proverbial skin that has covered the franchise since it’s relocation—a skin that symbolizes mediocrity, a skin that represents disorder. Over the past 10 months we’ve concocted our own visions—delusions of grandeur you might call them, but their potency still sits heavily with us: Dwight Howard and Chris Paul; maybe just Dwight Howard; maybe just Chris Paul. We think something is coming our way, something great, a notion that doesn’t account for the fact that Dikembe Mutumbo was the last big name free agent to sign with Atlanta. Mutumbo was signed in 1996. It’s been seventeen years since the Hawks have inked a marquee free agent—a concern that might only accentuate Atlanta’s stereotype as a weak basketball community and dysfunctional franchise in the eyes of a player. So Danny Ferry has his work cut out for him. He’s battling against memes like “Never Trust the Hawks” and dismissive fans who see the franchise only as an afterthought. He’s swimming upstream, trying to create a model of consistency and success, trying to build something that isn’t brittle and won’t crumble when tested. It’s not an easy task.Only a few franchises can maintain such a level of stability at a time, and almost all of them have one thing in common: a foundation, or as it’s more ubiquitously known, a superstar. One of those isn’t going to just fall out of the sky. Ferry’s trades last summer have positioned Atlanta to acquire that foundation. The options, relatively speaking, are abundant. The Hawks will most certainly throw their names into the Dwight Howard sweepstakes, with hopes of landing Chris Paul as well. Once those dreams are swiftly and unfortunately dismissed, Ferry will have the complicated task of maintaining and sustaining Atlanta’s current financial flexibility into next summer, when once again they’ll be at a crossroads of sorts. Another option through which Ferry can construct the team to his liking is the draft, which can certainly be a crapshoot. The Hawks aren’t going to select the next LeBron James with the 17th or 18th pick, but they have a chance to acquire solid, young role players who could play a vital part in the development of Ferry’s vision for the franchise down the road. In addition, two middle-first round draft picks are movable pieces. Ferry might seek to trade the picks for higher selections in later drafts, he might package them and move up in this draft, or he might simply stay put. All of those options could prove to be beneficial if executed properly. What’s so interesting about the Hawks in this year’s draft, however, is the lack of a positional need. The entire roster was practically emptied out the second David West blocked Josh Smith’s errant three-pointer late in Game 6. The Hawks have openings at every single position. If Teague comes at too high a price in restricted free agency, the Hawks could package their picks and trade up for a point guard like CJ McCollum. If the Hawks want to draft an able-bodied center and move Horford to power forward, guys like Steven Adams, Rudy Gobert, and Gorgui Dieng might be waiting. They should draft the best player available because the roster is so flexible at this point that hamstringing themselves to a specific need won’t best serve their undefined future. And of course before even thinking about drafting a player, you’d like for a head coach to be in place. Without a defined system, scheme, or plan under which to constitute a roster, there

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 Mr. Sanchez from Dawgsports.com help us scout Georgia guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. What are his strengths? Weaknesses? I’ll start with his weaknesses. He’s physically weak. Not badly, and he should improve as he matures and continues to work. But initially, veteran NBA players should be able to bully him some. His ball handling could use some work as well. He has plenty of strengths though. He’s typical size for an NBA SG and has the athleticism to play the position well. He’s quick and an explosive leaper, which shows on several come-from-behind blocks he made this past season on opponents’ fast breaks. He’s a good rebounder for a SG. He’s a good passer, and has an excellent shot, both catch-and-shoot and off the dribble. He was the focus point of Georgia’s offense, but when he was having a bad night or opponents focused hard on him, he would get others involved to help produce in ways besides scoring. He also looked to put in a lot of work improving his game between his freshman and sophomore seasons, so that bodes well for his NBA future as someone who will be coachable and work hard. What did he add to his team in college? What do you think he’ll bring to an NBA team? He added everything to his college team. He was the leading rebounder, scorer, top wing defender, facilitator on offense a lot of times. There was nothing he wouldn’t do to help win, which was good because he didn’t have much help from his teammates. What he’ll bring to the NBA depends on who lands him. He isn’t going to be an instant star or anything like that. But he should be able to step in as a starter or sixth man. If he has perimeter stars around him, he can be an excellent complimentary player to a dominant PG or strong SF. He can fill a role well, and knocking down open shots, moving the ball around, and working hard defensively. He’d be an excellent fit on a lot of teams, although unfortunately it seems the hometown Hawks would be among those who need him least with John Jenkins and Lou Williams on the roster. What kind of style is he best suited for? He could work in several styles. He has experience going it alone, so he could quickly mesh well with a team that runs a lot of iso offensively. He’s a good passer, and moves well without the ball, so he’d be just fine for a team that runs a lot of half court sets. He is a good athlete, so he’d work well in an up-tempo, pressing style. He is a solid all around player that could adjust his game to best suit whatever system his team uses. What sets him apart from other draft prospects at his position? None of the other SGs in the draft have had his level of responsibility. Guys like Oladipo, McLemore, Hardaway Jr, and others were on loaded teams. They had several NBA caliber teammates to help lighten their loads. They had big time guards and strong post players fighting for the opponent’s attention and game planning. Caldwell-Pope was it for Georgia. Opponents focused on him, and him alone, and he still found ways to succeed. He had no other NBA caliber teammates this past season, and had opponents trying everything possible to slow him down, and posted excellent numbers anyway. What NBA player would you compare him to? Some Georgia fans compared him to long-time NBA veteran Shandon Anderson, and that one can work pretty well. A player who can be solid in a lot of areas, and plays a significant role for a lot of years but never excels or stars. His upside may be a little thinner version of James Harden. What’s your favorite memory of him at Georgia? Do I have to pick just one? The come-from-behind blocks were huge jaw-dropping plays. He had those big dunks late in the game to put away the win over Kentucky this year. And he had a shootout

Expectations Zaza Pachulia really stepped up for a injured Al Horford in the shortened season. Unfortunately he may have been given too many minutes (lot of 38 plus minute games), which is ironic since Mike Woodson and Larry Drew had both minimized his court time the two previous years. Sadly Zaza wasn’t available for the playoffs. The expectations for this season were different between Larry Drew and a lot of the fans. From a fan perspective Zaza had proven himself as worthy of the center position in Al’s absence and gave us hope that maybe the big lineup would finally get an extended tryout. Larry Drew now trusted Zaza more, but still wouldn’t go big regularly. Since they weren’t going big you could only expect Zaza to provide energy and rebounding off the bench. Results Zaza got 15 starts in the 52 games he was healthy enough to play before having to shut his season down for his Achilles. He was averaging almost 22 minutes a night showing that he had finally earned the coaching staff faith for the first time since Al was drafted. Zaza’s points were a little off, but his rebounding numbers were as good as they’d ever been. Zaza was giving the Hawks exactly what they expected until he wasn’t able to go anymore. Highlight Game 3 of the season and it’s the Pacers at the Hawks. Josh Smith is still a bit gimpy but coming back after missing the trip to OKC. The starting lineup was Teague at point, Kyle Korver at the 2, Josh at the 3, Al as the PF, and Zaza at C. Yes, the big lineup giving us hope that maybe it could win out as Larry Drew tries to figure out the go to lineup for the Hawks. The Hawks outrebound the Pacers 51-41 and win the game by 3 behind 14 boards from Zaza. For reference the Pacers were the top rebounding team in the entire league, so this should have been a message to Larry Drew as to what identity the Hawks could have if they committed to it. Sadly, that message was never received. The Hawks only went big against certain teams and would often goes 3 weeks between Zaza starts. The Zaza/Al/Josh front line only saw 308 minutes of action spread across 37 games. Prognosis Zaza can still play effectively and he's proven that on the court the last 2 years. But an Achilles injury is rough. No one how long it will take Zaza to be back at full speed. This will likely make any suitor of the 6-10 center pause including the Hawks. Furthermore, Zaza’s cap hold is around 7.8M, which likely means that Zaza will be renounced to make free agent moves. That complicates his return if the Hawks are successful in free agency because they won’t be able to exceed the cap to resign him. Even with all that I think there’s a chance that Zaza could be back in Atlanta for the veteran minimum for 1 season to prove his health to the league or possibly for the room mid-level exception. Outside of those scenarios it will likely mean that Zaza has played his last in Hawks uniform although he’ll still be loved by Hawks fans.

The order for the 2013 NBA Draft is now set after the league held its annual draft lottery on Tuesday night. The Cleveland Cavaliers came out as the biggest winners of the evening moving up to snatch the No. 1 pick for the second time in the last three years. The Cavaliers selected point guard Kyrie Irving with the No. 1 overall pick in 2011. Here is a look at the lottery results: 1. Cleveland Cavaliers 2. Orlando Magic 3. Washington Wizards 4. Charlotte Bobcats 5. Phoenix Suns 6. New Orleans Pelicans 7. Sacramento Kings 8. Detroit Pistons 9. Minnesota Timberwolves 10. Portland Trail Blazers 11. Philadelphia 76ers 12. Oklahoma City Thunder 13. Dallas Mavericks 14. Utah Jazz The rest of the draft order was previously set thanks to reverse order of the team's 2013 regular season record. The Atlanta Hawks have two picks in the first round and will pick back-to-back at No. 17 and 18. Here is a look at the rest of the draft order. 15. Milwaukee Bucks 14. Utah Jazz 15. Milwaukee Bucks 16. Boston Celtics 17. Atlanta Hawks 18. Atlanta Hawks (from HOU via BKN) 19. Cleveland Cavs (from LAL) 20. Chicago Bulls 21. Utah Jazz (from GS via BKN) 22. Brooklyn Nets 23. Indiana Pacers 24. New York Knicks 25. L.A. Clippers 26. Minnesota Timberwolves (from MEM via HOU) 27. Denver Nuggets 28. San Antonio Spurs 29. Oklahoma City Thunder 30. Phoenix Suns (from MIA via LAL and CLE) Now that the draft order is set, actual draft analysis can center on team needs and individual player workouts which several teams have already begun. The draft will be held on on Thursday, June 27.

Dwight Howard and Chris Paul Planning Atlanta Rendezvous In any case, a league source says Paul will check out other teams, as Howard is expected to do. If Paul leaves, it could could pose a problem for the Lakers, who had enough already, if he and Dwight Howard decide to create a new option, joining up in Atlanta. Howard and Paul are pals. The Hawks can open up two maximum slots. They mused about Atlanta (D12’s from there, CP3 from North Carolina) years ago, before fate led them in other directions. Dwight Howard and Chris Paul Planning Atlanta Rendezvous In any case, a league source says Paul will check out other teams, as Howard is expected to do. If Paul leaves, it could could pose a problem for the Lakers, who had enough already, if he and Dwight Howard decide to create a new option, joining up in Atlanta. Howard and Paul are pals. The Hawks can open up two maximum slots. They mused about Atlanta (D12’s from there, CP3 from North Carolina) years ago, before fate led them in other directions.

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 Zaza Pachulia. The season:  Zaza Pachulia once again played through injury for most of the season before finally deciding to call it quits and have surgery to repair a sore Achilles.  Rarely was he healthy this year, as Pachulia played just 21 minutes per game after playing 28 last year, and his points per game were down by almost two as a result.  There’s no doubt the Hawks would have been a different team with Pachulia in the lineup, particularly in a playoff series against a big Indiana team that Pachulia had success against in the two games he played against them during the regular season. When Pachulia was healthy, he proved that even after 10 years, he can still be a force.  He is, as of now, Atlanta’s second-longest tenured player after Josh Smith, and he’s a favorite among fans.  He served as the number one backup center/forward option and was usually number one off the bench for Larry Drew.  As he’s done his whole career, Pachulia from a physical presence to a lineup that otherwise lacked it because of size.  For a big man, he was able to run the floor pretty well, and his mid-range jump shot improved when he didn’t hesitate on releasing it.  He shot 47 percent from the field and 75 percent from the free throw line, both of which are above his career averages. The future:  Pachulia’s future in Atlanta is as uncertain as most of the other unrestricted free agents.  Atlanta is a place Pachulia has called home for eight of his 10 NBA seasons, and he expressed that he loves the city and would like to be back.  A lot depends on what happens in the draft and free agency.  There are able-bodied players who can fill the role, but few have the combination of physicality and craftiness that Pachulia possesses. It’ll be hard for any General Manager to look past the string of injuries, including the Achilles, when debating on whether or not to make an offer on Pachulia.  I don’t think he’ll get an offer beyond the $5.2 million he made in 2012, though that could change if he can get healthy enough for training camp.  He has a great attitude and works hard, which makes Danny Ferry’s decision difficult.  He’s another one to watch closely come July 1. Photo by Kevin C. Cox/NBAE/Getty Images

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 Jeremy Mauss from the Mountain West Connection help us scout San Diego State guard Jamaal Franklin. What are his strengths? Weaknesses? Franklin’s biggest strength is his athleticism, strength and that he is very versatile. Standing right around 6’5″, he played a combo forward including playing the power forward position. His wing span, which is a shade under seven feet and being physical, allowed him to play the power forward position in college and do it well. Being physical and having to matchup against larger opponents will definitely help him in the league as he will be a shooting guard. He also has a great knack for getting to the basket which can help in driving with the ball, getting open for easy buckets and sneaking past others to get a rebound. His athleticism is a strength and weakness, because sometimes Franklin just plays too fast and can get out of control when pushing the ball on fast break. He also needs to be more consistent on his outside shooting. His three-point shooting hovered just above 30 percent from the closer college line, and he shot in the low 40 percent range overall. What did he add to his team in college? What do you think he’ll bring to an NBA team? He played three positions which allowed the Aztecs the best possible lineup, and also created mismatches against other teams. Being able to grab nearly 10 rebounds per game for a guy of his size helped the team get so many chances. Plus, his defense is underrated and something he has worked on. This past year he averaged just under a block per game and almost two steals. Franklin was a leader of the team and always wanted to be the guy to have the ball with the game on the line. Being a guard that can rebound as well as Franklin can is a huge plus, and he is not afraid to attack the basket or mix it up down low. He is athletic enough to come into the NBA right away and handle the defensive duties of matching up against most shooting guards. That is because he had to play against bigger players during his three years at San Diego State, plus his seven-foot wing span will allow him to get a hand on the ball or in the opponent’s face. Franklin can find ways to score and does not necessarily need to have the ball in his hands to score, and that is where his slashing capabilities to the basket will help out to get the ball near the hoop. What kind of style is he best suited for? With his type of athleticism, Franklin is suited well to an up-tempo type of offense, or a motion oriented offense to allow him to play off the ball to get open in creative ways. What sets him apart from other draft prospects at his position? He can rebound extremely well since he played out of position at San Diego State, so he had to hit the boards when he was assigned to one of the forward positions. Once again, that near seven-foot wingspan is a big deal when matching up on defense, as well as help defense, too. Most guards in the draft have not had to play as physical as Franklin did in college. On either side of the ball, Franklin had to work hard to get shots off and conversely match up with forwards who tried to post him and try to take advantage of the size difference. What NBA player would you compare him to? Shawn Marion comes to mind as the two are very athletic, and Marion is a very good rebounder for his size. What’s your favorite memory of him at San Diego State? This is somewhat out of the blue, but I would say it would be in their NCAA tournament game against Oklahoma when he attempted what was looking to be a sweet reverse dunk. The attempt actually turned into a layup as they ball bounced around a few times before falling in. Here’s what some of the national mock drafts are saying about Antetokounmpo: ESPN.com Analysis:  Atlanta is somewhat set in the backcourt, but I think Frank