Atlanta Hawks Minicamp: Partial List Of Invitees Announced

by Kris Willis on Jun 27, 2011 6:58 AM EDT

The Atlanta Hawks will hold a three day free agent mini camp beginning on Monday at Philips Arena. The names of the players participating is expected to be released on Monday. In addition to rookie draft pick Keith Benson, it has already been reported that former Seton Hall guard Jeremy Hazell will be taking part in the workouts as well.

The AJC's Michael Cunningham adds five more names to the list that is expected to be a part of the camp. Those players are in no particular order:

Vernon Goodridge 6-foot-9 Forward - Was the No. 5 pick in the 2010 Development League Draft by Springfield. After 33 games with the Armor, he was traded to the Maine Red Claws. Goodridge averaged 7.1 points and 4.8 rebounds combined in 2010. Goodridge went to training camp last season with the Golden State Warriors.
Donald Sloan 6-foot-3 Guard - Averaged 10.7 points and 4.4 assists during the regular season for the Reno Bighorns of the NBA Development League. Elevated his game in the playoffs with averages of 17 points and 6.8 assists.
Marcus Landry 6-foot-7 Forward - Landry has some NBA experience but played last season with Donald Sloan in Reno. Landry averaged 17.1 points per game while shooting 43 percent from the field.
Joe Alexander 6-foot-8 Forward - Former NBA Lottery pick who saw his rookie contract not get extended, bounced around to a couple of NBA teams before landing with the Texas Legends of the D-League. Alexander finished with impressive averages of 20.2 points and 8.9 rebounds per game this season.
Qyntel Woods 6-foot-8 Forward - The once troubled Portland and New York player that has made a name for himself overseas. Woods played in Poland last season and has redefined himself as a person after his troubles that eventually led to his departure from the NBA.

Ridiculous Upside's Scott Schroeder in an update this morning adds eight undrafted free agents that are also scheduled to be in Atlanta.

Through multiple sources, Ridiculous Upside has learned that Malcolm Thomas, Damian Saunders, David Lighty, Demetri McCamey, Brad Wanamaker, Eniel Polynice, Jeremy Hazell and Zach Graham will all be in Atlanta to workout for Hawks scouts after going undrafted last Thursday.

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@Kris_Willis

by Kris Willis on Jun 27, 2011 6:59 AM EDT reply actions

Do you know anything about Hazell?

by cory2223 on Jun 27, 2011 9:55 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

Anything in particular that you are searching for?

@Kris_Willis

by Kris Willis on Jun 27, 2011 10:28 AM EDT up reply actions

Good to see that Lighty is in there

He might have something to offer an NBA team, who knows.

Are NBA teams going to have to wait to sign any players they like in these minicamps due to the impending lock-out?

by KMarch on Jun 27, 2011 9:58 AM EDT reply actions

There is a few big men on the full list.

@Kris_Willis

by Kris Willis on Jun 27, 2011 10:28 AM EDT up reply actions

To answer your question....

I’d think so. Hard to say for sure though.

http://sportsandgrits.blogspot.com/

by Mr. Sanchez on Jun 27, 2011 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions

This is fantastic Kris.

I’m surprised that there are no Centers invited

Ron Artest = Ron (sm)Artest - He Is The Most Interesting Man In The World

by JoshChildressAfroIsCure4Cancer on Jun 27, 2011 9:59 AM EDT reply actions

Are they going to sign anyone before the lockout?

and joe alexander would be a great addition to this team and is very athletic. He can score and can really jump. Atlanta fans would love him

by Dwalk1217 on Jun 27, 2011 10:12 AM EDT reply actions

Agreed

He might actually provide more value than Williams.

"You could spend the next fifteen seconds of your life watching a man and a tiger scream together, or you could be an idiot."
Fact.

by Jesse28 on Jun 27, 2011 12:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Now we're getting ridiculous

Marvin, without the back injury, was a solid rotation player and has been for years. There’s a reason Joe Alexander couldn’t make year 3 of his rookie deal. Marvin would average better than 20 and 10 if he were in the D League too.

http://sportsandgrits.blogspot.com/

by Mr. Sanchez on Jun 27, 2011 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Besides defense, Marvin provided very little this past season

And it’s been a constant issue. If Marvin is to continue down that path, then give me Alexander, so long as he can defend that is. If not, then strike that last comment.

"You could spend the next fifteen seconds of your life watching a man and a tiger scream together, or you could be an idiot."
Fact.

by Jesse28 on Jun 27, 2011 12:47 PM EDT up reply actions

There ya go...

Marvin may “provide little, beside defense”. Alexander has shown he can “provide little, including defense”. Note the difference. What is the deal with a guy who put up 20 and 9 in the D League? Is it just cause he’s a former lottery pick? Do we not think Marvin would put up similar and probably better numbers at that level, considering even Mario West can put up near 15 per down there? Seriously, Mario had a sick stat line down there, a guy who’s good for a couple seconds off the bench (13.7 pts, over 52% from the field, over 36% from 3, and he did shoot them regularly. 5 boards, 3 assists, 1.5 steals. That’s Mario West! Marvin would dominate like Lebron down there).

Let’s look at Joe in the NBA (where Marvin’s at leasts registered double digit scoring and good D), he barely played and was out of the league within little more than a single season, AFTER BEING A TOP 10 PICK. If he had potential, they don’t cut you that quick. Even problem players, like former BC big Sean Williams, or another former Net Eddie griffin, if you have enough talent they’ll give you a chance. Alexander went to crap quick. That’s not a sign of an NBA caliber rotation player, or anyone capable of replacing Marvin.

http://sportsandgrits.blogspot.com/

by Mr. Sanchez on Jun 27, 2011 1:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Value being the operative word

I won’t disagree with any of the Marvin vs. D League comparisons because you’re right in that regard, but I think what Jesse is saying is that we might get more value from Joe Alexander (money spent to production given) than Marvin and right now, that would be hard to argue. When Damien is providing equal production at certain points of the season, it’s hard to question that Marvin is stealing money right now. I’m not sure how much farther he can regress, but we’re at the point where he’s not part of the ‘core’ and we’re not sure exactly what he brings to the table (defense included). So, I’d say you’re right – he WAS a solid rotation player, but not recently. He’s been a shaky rotation player and worse – someone we can’t even give away right now. I’m not saying give Joe Alexander the starting job (or really even saying anything about him b/c I seriously doubt he’s the answer), but Joe at the minimum could easily be more valuable than Marvin at ‘stealing money’ prices. If only we’d just tell marvin that he’s going to be a super sub (he can try to take over jamal’s 6th man spot) at best and end all that starting speculation and get us another SF that can move us up a notch – we’d all be better off.

Hawk Str8Talk

by Hawk Str8Talk on Jun 27, 2011 2:33 PM EDT up reply actions

The back injury had to strongly impact his play more than he let on...

at his age, you don’t just fall off a cliff like he did this year. Injuries had to be a large reason why he so quickly forgot how to produce anything at all. Because, again, players around 25 don’t go from decent to complete crap overnight like he did without a significant reason (i.e. the back injury).

And to be honest, I don’t think Joe Alexander would give us anything more than Adam Morrison has for all those teams he’s sat the bench for. Even Damien, who’s not exactly an ideal rotation piece, has carved out a much more productive NBA career than Alexander, and has done so since day 1. Hell, Mario West has shown more ability to stick on an NBA roster. Maybe he’s rekindled whatever got him that top 10 pick status, but I wouldn’t go putting any level of expectations on a player who Super Mario has outproduce over their NBA careers.

http://sportsandgrits.blogspot.com/

by Mr. Sanchez on Jun 27, 2011 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions

i by no means was saying that alexander will be a starter

but i agree he wasnt ready after college. Now that he’s had to go back and fix his game, I think he’s worth the risk. He’s an athletic freak and if he can come off the bench and score, then he’s worth signing.

by Dwalk1217 on Jun 27, 2011 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions

He's definitely worth at least a camp invite...

anything more would be earned on the floor.

http://sportsandgrits.blogspot.com/

by Mr. Sanchez on Jun 27, 2011 4:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Sorry

I wasn’t basing my opinion off his numbers in the D-League at all, but more on what I saw of him in college. I’m with you n the D-League numbers being bloated to hell and back. I just looked at it from the perspective that Marvin has been on this downard spiral for the last two years and I think that if Alexander has worked on his game, then the combination of he and Wilkins would provide more value per dollar than Williams, if we could shed him that is.

Honestly, it’s an old college fan thing really. I thought he had a good chance in the NBA because of his size and I always wanted to see him succeed. Still do and I wouldn’t mind seeing the Hawks take a flyer on him.

"You could spend the next fifteen seconds of your life watching a man and a tiger scream together, or you could be an idiot."
Fact.

by Jesse28 on Jun 28, 2011 7:42 AM EDT up reply actions