Atlanta Hawks June 20th Workout Preview

You are correct Kris this is the most anticipated day so far with 2 guys that can legitimately add to Hawks quality depth. Swat is tied for the 5th best combination of height, length, and athleticism in the draft with Trevor Booker his combination is very similar to that of Al’s and they both had productive college careers. I can’t see why this guys is considered a 2nd rd pick in the minds of most other than he is slim and still needs to continue to develop. He is the best shot blocker in college basketball history and has proven more than almost any of these guys going before him. Brackins is tied for 4th with a combination better than Al’s, that says a lot considering he also can make jump shots already and would be a adequate replacement for what we thought we were getting in Joe Smith offensively. Character as is noted does not reportedly have good character and he is not that great to take a chance on when his attitude and approach is in such question.

Finally, I would love to have Swat but I don’t know how much value he holds at #24 when teams have him rated too low. I would not mind seeing the Hawks pick up a earlier 2nd rd pick to get a good player. I have been watching some so-called expert analysis and some of them have pointed out rightfully that the guy you can get at 20 will have a similar talent level to the guy you can get earlier in the 2nd round this year. That is why so many people were almost in a uproar after hearing statements from the Hawks front office that they were not looking for a impact player at #24. That’s just a problem to see a franchise so enable to do there homework.

Whiteside
Brackins
Varnado
Stanley Robinson
Terrico White

Not that I agree but I think that’s how they may lean

I like Booker also as I have stated so don’t think I don’t like him just because I did not put him in what I think the Hawks might be thinking

As a Mississippi State alumnus and big fan, I would love nothing more than to see Jarvis Varnado have a successful career with the Atlanta Hawks. With that said, I have serious questions about his ability to transition his shot blocking skill to the NBA. His lack of size is very concerning to me, as he could be little more than another Tyrus Thomas in the NBA. I’m very concerned about his ability to rebound in the NBA. Overall, Jarvis only averaged 9.2 rebounds per 40 minutes as a senior, and there were times where his rebounding disappeared. Early in his career, he played next to Charles Rhodes, who was a stronger rebounder. Mississippi State has always been a strong rebounding team. They lead the SEC in rebounding differential for something like 6 years in a row prior to the past two seasons. When Rhodes left and MSU was forced to play the undersized Phil Turner a the four position and the weak rebounding Kodi Augustus this past year, their overall rebounding numbers and differential dropped. I just don’t think Jarvis has the body for the NBA.

Craig Brackens would be a mistake pick. The guy is known as an offensive player, yet he is a very inefficient scorer that lets his man push him away from the basket and doesn’t gain position on the low block very well despite the fact that 40% of his offensive possessions come in low post situations. Defensively, he’s nonexistant at this point, and he’s not much better as a rebounder than Jarvis is.

Overall, I’d rather take Gani Lawal than the guys mentioned here. Gani may be limited offensively, but his rebounding ability dwarfs both Brackins and Varnado. He won’t block shots like Jarvis, but he will play better positional defense. Honestly, Jarvis reminds me a lot of former Alabama shot blocker Roy Rogers.