Atlanta
Philip Maymin
Basketball News Services
How long will the Hawks be a rebuilding team? In times such as these, the GM must acquire tradable assets. More important even than putting together a team is putting together a portfolio of players that can be packaged, when the time is right, for other players that would help you more. How has Billy Knight been doing in that department?
The draft pick of Josh Smith is a no-brainer. Local boy with upside? You can't really pass that up. That draft pick satisfied a different criteria of GM's in rebuilding teams, namely, finding any gimmick possible to get people to come to the games while you are rebuilding. Still, if Knight were interested in acquiring tradable assets, Jameer Nelson would have been a better pick.
The draft pick of Josh Childress is perhaps not as obvious, given the players who were still available. Perhaps taking Luol Deng or Andre Iguodala would have proven to be better and more tradable assets in the future.
The acquisition of Al Harrington and Antoine Walker, on the other hand, are excellent moves for Atlanta. Both players are highly desired by other teams but for different reasons. Walker's expiring contract and high level of play could make him this year's Rasheed Wallace: a player moved to a team at the trade deadline looking to make the final push into title contention (Miami Heat anyone?). Harrington is an explosive small forward who could play some power forward, and with his ability to showcase more of his talents given the minutes he will receive in Atlanta vs. Indiana, he will be another guy other GM's are calling about.
If they had landed Erick Dampier at their reasonably priced offer, that would have been yet another quality asset.
So overall it appears as if Knight has gotten some good assets out of trades but perhaps more cornerstone-like players out of the draft: the best explanation for the unusual draft would be that he sees some talent in these kids that others, as of yet and relatively speaking, do not.
TEAM NOTES
Angry at the Hawks owners? Pleased with how they've handled the offseason? Got an idea for how they can make more money? Send email toowners@hawks.com.
The Atlanta Hawks are looking for talented, enthusiastic individuals with a love of performing to become a part of the 2004-05 Atlanta Hawks Dance Team. Preliminary auditions for the squad are slated for Sunday, September 12 on the Hawks Practice Court at Philips Arena. Registration begins at 10:00 a.m... A pre-audition workshop will be offered on Wednesday, September 8, also on the Hawks Practice Court. This “prep clinic” serves as an overview of the Atlanta Hawks Dance Team program, while offering instruction and preparation for the audition. Cost is $25 per person to attend and all participants must be registered in advance.
SportsFeatures.com reprinted this Hawks press release: The Atlanta Hawks' roster has undergone dramatic changes over the last few months, as only one player remains from this time a year ago. In that spirit, the team has re-designed its official website (www.hawks.com), giving the web world a different view of the organization as well.
Lars Ahlstrom ofThe Bootleg Magazinewrites: The ninth recipient of The Bootleg Honor Roll award is Josh Childress.Despite missing the first nine games of the season, Childress dominated conference play last season and was voted the 2003-04 Pac-10 Player of the Year – the first Stanford player ever to receive that award. Childress averaged a team-best 15.7 points and 7.5 rebounds per game for a Stanford team that won its first 26 games and finished at 30-2 for the season... In late-June, Childress became the highest draft choice in Stanford basketball history when the Atlanta Hawks selected him with the sixth overall pick in the NBA draft. Childress also became the ninth Stanford player to be picked in the first round of the NBA draft.