With the 24th pick in the SB Nation Mock Draft, the Atlanta Hawks select...

by The Human Highlight Blog on Jun 23, 2010 8:00 AM EDT

UPDATE: From the Bill Shanks Show this afternoon.... Peachtree Hoops on the Radio: Draft Style

SB Nation has been ongoing with its Mock Draft, thanks to both the benevolent and all knowing Ridiculous Upside and each of the team blogs that have contributed their thoughts and picks to the process.

As the (fake) draft wore on, it looked good for Kris and myself that we would get one of the big men that has been slotted around our pick in the mock drafts, but watched in faux shock as Solomon Alabi, Hassan Whiteside, Kevin Seraphin, and Larry Sanders went quickly after our hopes got high.

Even Jordan Crawford, who interested as a scorer (and a monopoly on Crawfords) went at 23 as we prepped for our pick.

At #24, it was our turn. We looked at the bigs that were left (Daniel Orton, Craig Brackins, Jarvis Varnado) as well as shooting guard Quincy Pondexter, and was surprised to find a guy whom will likely be gone when the real Hawks make their pick on Thursday night.

It doesn't register on the Wow-O-Meter, but our philosophy was to grab the best player available. We were hopeful that a few bigs would fall further (Whiteside, in particular) but we went with the best player we felt was left on the board as well as a guy that can help the Hawks immediately in Texas forward Damion James.

It ended up being boiled down to two players, Orton and James, who has been taken in the teens by many mock drafts.

Orton, at 6'10, was very interesting as the last big man generally felt to be taken in the first round, but offered little in terms of on-court sample to latch onto, and not big enough for us to gamble on a project. At 7'0, he would be a no-brainer.

Varnado, who is my fetish pick (blocked shots and rebounds, everybody!), is a reach here and we would have wanted to trade back for a future first rounder and swap spots with someone with him in mind to pick but, alas, that's not allowed here, so he wasn't fully considered with Orton and James still on the board.

In the end, we decided that James brings more NBA ready game to the Hawks than the other players left on the board, and is able to score inside and out which, presumably, makes him a good fit in Larry Drew's new offense. He's likely a better fit behind Marvin Williams at the 3 than Maurice Evans, but may be duplicating things should Josh Childress decide to play out his qualifier in the ATL. James brings a reputation for hard work and production to the ATL and we're happy to add him to our playoff rotation.

It's not a huge upside pick like Orton might have been, but a safe bet and some immediate help. Spread the word! Feel the safeness!

Join us for the NBA Draft Selection Thread here on Peachtree Hoops the day of the draft (That would be Thursday). Comment on who picked what and stay with us through the Hawks picks in the first and second round. Resist the indifference and climb aboard!

Poll

Grade the Peachtree Hoops Selection of Damion James at #24

A

23 votes

B

44 votes

C

28 votes

D

13 votes

F

12 votes

120 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Playing it safe

safe pick, i would probably be disappointed with it, but at this point you just want a player that will be able to contribute. i heard the guys defense is good but his offense is shaky. he would be of some use next year once mo evans finally leaves.

by Bryant Singleton on Jun 23, 2010 8:45 AM EDT reply actions

Good point...

…and even cheaper than Mo as well, though I doubt he can shoot the corner three like Mo.

by The Human Highlight Blog on Jun 23, 2010 7:48 PM EDT up reply actions

B

I guess it will take a full season of Drew for me to shake off my expectations in regards to draft picks from the Woodson era. If the Hawks keep the 24th pick, I have no expectations right now that that player will contribute much of anything next season. I’m hoping for Sund to show some creativity and move up in the draft.

by redwards95 on Jun 23, 2010 9:01 AM EDT reply actions

I'm curious

Who would you trade to move up? Who would you target in the draft to warrant moving up?

Peachtree Hoops

by Kris Willis on Jun 23, 2010 9:04 AM EDT up reply actions

Depending on how high you wanted to move up, you could trade this year’s draft picks, Marvin Williams, Jeff Teague, and/or Jamal Crawford. I don’t have anybody specifically in mind to target. I just think you improve your chances of getting better by getting a higher pick. The higher you pick, the more likely you will get a player who has real talent and can contribute this year. Until I see otherwise, I assume the player the Hawks pick at 24 will only play during blow outs and won’t ever really make an impact on the club. I hope that Sund and Drew prove me wrong of course.

by redwards95 on Jun 23, 2010 10:24 AM EDT up reply actions

The question is

by moving up is the player that you are drafting better than the one you are trading? I don’t see any of those guys and the 24th pick moving you into the top 5.

Peachtree Hoops

by Kris Willis on Jun 23, 2010 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions

What could Chill bring back?

Or perhaps Mo brings in a 2nd that could be used either for a falling player that might help in the rotation (Willie Warren? Varnado? etc) or a stashed Euro like Plessis, Serraphin, etc.

by Mr. Sanchez on Jun 23, 2010 11:08 AM EDT up reply actions

Problem with drafting up

is that you have to give up something is that you have to give something up. i don’t see any starters being traded at the draft, we dont have money to give, and our subs wont get us much ether. if anything i would be looking to trade down, pick up some extra future picks (or money if it means resigning joe) and trying to bolster our pieces.

by Bryant Singleton on Jun 23, 2010 9:07 AM EDT up reply actions

At 24

I feel like that’s an excellent pick. I’ve seen him going in the lottery in several mocks, so it’s something of a shocker for him to fall so far in the SBN Mock. James has some solid upside with fairly limited downside. He’s supposedly got a great work ethic, which should serve him well if he’s going to improve his jumpshooting and ball handling. He’s been an efficient scorer, and he’s got great length.

While the Hawks should be looking just for the purely best overall player this year, since there are big questions about how the roster is going to look come the start of the season, I think the one position that just isn’t a serious area of need is center. Zaza is a solid back-up who’s under contract for a few more years, and Horford is obviously excellent. If there’s a decent alternative, I hope the Hawks avoid taking a big.

I think this is an A+ pick.

by Bronn on Jun 23, 2010 10:03 AM EDT reply actions

I think Horf and Zaza are more PFs...

and would say that’s the one spot we’re ok at, not C. But then we have pieces that could fill most place, we just need better depth. With questions about Teague’s ability at this level, Joe’s return, Marvin’s ability, and the lack of a classic C, I think we need everything, to an extent.

by Mr. Sanchez on Jun 23, 2010 11:10 AM EDT up reply actions

to an extent meaning we don't need an immediate starter,...

but do need better depth at all 5 positions (except probably PF with Smoove, Horf, and Zaza able to play there and the ability to sign a cheaper vet ala Joe Smith among others).

by Mr. Sanchez on Jun 23, 2010 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions

Thanks, Bronn!

Began to wonder a bit what I didn’t know about James…..broken eyelids, colon seizure—could have been anything really….

Don’t forget everybody, SBN-Atlanta kicks off tomorrow, which includes all sports Atlanta and will have the tremendous input from Bronn himself. Be sure to check that out tomorrow….we’ll have a feature in the morning about it as well, with the linkage.

by The Human Highlight Blog on Jun 23, 2010 10:43 AM EDT reply actions

I'm just upset that the Hawks haven't even worked James out.

They don’t feel that there’s potential he’ll fall to them, I’m guessing, but I’d love to see him as the pick at 24. It would let the fans know that the front office is realizing that there actually isn’t a back up SF on the roster, just Mo Evans, who is a 2-guard.

I don’t see what there isn’t to like about James-I guess the fact that he was a four year college player counts against him, but it shouldn’t necessarily. He’s an efficient scorer, a rebounder at both ends, and a physical defender. He’s not going to have the quickness to guard the best small forwards, but I think he’d do a better job than everyone except Marvin did last season. With the 24th pick, taking a guy who should be a solid role-player instead of gambling on some kid who’s got little except for size seems like the right move.

by Bronn on Jun 23, 2010 5:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Especially if Chillz isn't coming back

…don’t forget, like I said on the show, they might not pass on James if he is there, regardless of workout. He played for Texas, so there wasn’t a shortage of footage on the guy, that’s for sure.

by The Human Highlight Blog on Jun 23, 2010 7:44 PM EDT up reply actions

Excellent Pick...

If Bledsoe is around, pick him…
If this guy is around… Pick him!

He has the making of a dominant player… Kinda like that other soon-to-be free agent James guy… what’s his name again?

Joe is a Beast
Al is a Beast
Smoove is a MONSTER!

by Garrison Hayes on Jun 23, 2010 1:31 PM EDT reply actions

You had me...and then you lost me...

Can you expand on your true thoughts, GH?

by The Human Highlight Blog on Jun 23, 2010 7:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Can't

Argue with this guy he was a candidate for player of the year early on when Texas was ranked in top 5. I really like his midrange game and think he would send Marvin to the bench in 2 or 3 years max. I’m really hoping Chad Ford knows what he is doing when he says Whiteside will be there for us. Look at how rotation PF and C’s are paid in this league and you will see why we should take a potential rotation big over some smallish 2G like Dominique Jones, Jordan Crawford, or Terrico White. Getting a rotation big for a little over 1 million dollars for the next 3 or 4 years is a steal.

by Truthspitter on Jun 23, 2010 2:19 PM EDT reply actions

Agreed.

Wait, is it ok to agree with someone who agrees with me, or is that just supposed to be left unsaid?

Totally agree on the shooting guard comment, though I hedge on Crawford if he can become another Ben Gordon…that is useful down in this range for sure.

by The Human Highlight Blog on Jun 23, 2010 7:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Just now listened to the audio

Your mention of Priest Lauderdale echoed some of my own thoughts about Daniel Orton and Tibor Pleiss. That is, they’re young, they’re big, and that’s about all they have going for them. I’d much rather avoid getting someone marginal like that who may never work out, especially given the Hawks’ persistent reluctance to utilize the D-League to develop players.

by Bronn on Jun 23, 2010 6:47 PM EDT reply actions