Peachtree Hoops - All Posts

Hawks workout Gobert, Plumlee, and others before draft.

2013-06-19T00:20:13Z

Today Rudy Gobert, the 19 year-old 7'2" French center, participated in a pre-draft workout with the Hawks and tweeted out a photo of his workout shirt.

Just finished the hawks workout #atlanta #hawks http://t.co/56E0agvIHw
— rudy gobert (@rudygobert15) June 18, 2013

With the Hawks not releasing the names of workout participants this year, we are reliant on players and agents, as well as well placed sources, to discover who is working out and when. Earlier in the week, Nubyjas Wilborn reported that Mason Plumlee (Duke; Power Forward), Jeff Withey (Kansas; Center), and a few other big men had worked out with the Hawks.

According to sources, Jeff Withey, Mason Plumlee, C.J. Aikan among others worked out for the Hawks today.
— Nubyjas Wilborn (@nwilborn19) June 15, 2013

Nubyjas told me that he spoke briefly with Plumlee who said that he would be back for a workout with the Hawks again once the NBA Finals were over so Mike Budenholzer can be in attendance.

Other players that have stated on twitter, have had their agents state their participation in a workout, or have been reported to workout (including potential first rounders, second rounders, and undrafted free agents) with the Hawks include:

Jamaal Franklin (San Diego State; Shooting Guard/Small Forward)***

Kerron Johnson (Belmont University; Point Guard)

Frank Gaines, Jr. (IPFW; Point Guard)

Ricardo Ledo (Providence; Shooting Guard)

Araslan Kazemi (Oregon; Power Forward)

Adonis Thomas (Memphis; Small Forward)

Romero Osby (Oklahoma; Power Forward)

Reggie Buckner (Ole Miss; Power Forward)

Kyle Weems (Missouri State; Small Forward)

Mfon Udofia (Georgia Tech; Point Guard)

Dwayne Davis (Southern Miss; Shooting Guard)

CJ Aiken (St. Joseph's; Power Forward)

***Franklin's visit reported by Andy Katz and has been unconfirmed as to whether he has been to Atlanta yet***

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We will continue to provide updates on prospect workouts as well as offering analysis on the possible draft choices as we near the NBA Draft on Thursday, June 27.

Clippers-Celtics trade breaks down, is good news for the Atlanta Hawks

2013-06-18T18:45:24Z

Those Atlanta Hawks fans that are holding out hope that Danny Ferry can capture the two biggest names on the free agent market this summer should have took a big deep breath on Tuesday after it was reported that the potential mega trade between the Celtics and Clippers was dead.

The deal as reported would have involved Boston's Kevin Garnett, negotiating rights with head coach Doc Rivers and other spare parts for Clippers center DeAndre Jordan and some draft picks. Eric Bledsoe's name was also bantered about but wasn't reportedly in the deal that was being discussed at the time talks were broken off.

Had this deal gone through it would have been a virtual lock that Chris Paul would have agreed to re-sign with the Clippers this summer. How the deal falling through will effect Paul's situation is unknown. Its also important to point out that the deal is reported dead as of this moment but could be revived at some point. The Clippers have vowed to continue their search for a head coach and reportedly plan to have one in place by as late as early next week.

For the Hawks this development doesn't really change anything. Paul to Atlanta remains a longshot but the odds would have shrunk considerably had the Clippers been able to secure both Garnett and Doc Rivers.

Nick Van Exel, Bob Bender officially join Larry Drew's staff in Milwaukee

2013-06-18T09:54:38Z

As was expected, the Milwaukee Bucks have announced the additions of Nick Van Exel and Bob Bender to Larry Drew's coaching staff. The two were reportedly helping Drew with draft workouts earlier this month but an official announcement wasn't made until Monday.

Van Exel worked primarily in player development while with the Hawks for the last three seasons. Bender had been with Atlanta for the last nine seasons. No word on whether or not assistant coach Lester Conner will also be a part of the Bucks' staff. Bob Weiss and Kenny Atkinson were also a part of the Hawks' staff last season.

The Hawks have announced the additions of Quin Snyder and Darvin Ham to Mike Budenholzer's staff in Atlanta. Ham previously worked in player development with the Lakers but what his role with the Hawks might be has not been disclosed.

Atkinson could be the only incumbent that might have a chance to stick in Atlanta. He was hired prior to last season after working in player development for the New York Knicks.

NBA Mock Draft 2013: SLAMonline projects Lucas Nogueira, Tony Mitchell to Hawks

2013-06-16T12:00:04Z

We have been following various mock drafts for the last couple of weeks and there has been a great deal of similarities in most of them. SLAMOnline introduces a couple of new names to the equation including a center prospect that until this point we have pretty much ignored.

No. 17 Lucas Nogueira - center - Brazil

The first thing that jumps out about SLAM's projection is that they have Mason Plumlee going one pick earlier to the Boston Celtics. Nogueira is another project big man that would fit into the stash for a year and save some cap room now plan.

While super raw on the offensive end, Nogueira has some professional international experience (Spain's Liga ACB), and only appears to be getting better against the better overseas talent (2013 adidas Eurocamp). And it says here that the new Hawks head coach worked with a pretty damn good 7-footer during his tenure in San Antonio, so I'm guessing he'll have a few lessons to share with the young fella when the time is right.

Here is a look at Nogueira's scouting report via DraftExpress:

No. 18 Tony Mitchell - forward - North Texas

Mitchell is a 6-8, 235 pound forward that has often been criticized for not doing more on the basketball court. Sound familiar?

You see, in a lot of ways Tony Mitchell is just a younger version of Josh Smith. Atlanta fans certainly hope the rookie is able to slide in and out of the two forward slots like J-Smoove has over the past few years. But at the same time, they also need Tony to be disciplined enough to know that 22-foot jumpers from the corner aren't a great look for him. Smith wasn't able to do that; now he's likely elsewhere.

Mitchell is a talent and if he hadn't coasted through his sophomore season he would likely be in the discussion as a lottery pick. Still he is a high upside guy and hopefully Mike Budenholzer and his staff will be able to take guys like Mitchell and push them to new heights in terms of their ability.

Of course he could also be the type of player that Budenholzer and the Hawks choose to stay away from. SB Nation's Jonathan Tjarks has been enamored with Mitchell for some time but I think a little less of him as a potential pick for the Hawks.

Finally here is Mitchell's scouting video via DraftExpress:

Atlanta Hawks announce the hiring of Darvin Ham as an assistant coach

2013-06-15T16:25:22Z

The Atlanta Hawks announced the addition of Darvin Ham to Mike Budenholzer's first coaching staff in a press release on Saturday. Ham spent last season as an assistant with the Lakers and is a former head coach of the Albuquerque Thunderbirds in the D-League. He spent the 2002-03 season as a forward for the Hawks where he played in 75 games.

Prior to his stint with the Lakers, Ham was the head coach of the New Mexico Thunderbirds of the NBA Development League in 2010-11 and an assistant coach with the Thunderbirds from 2008-10. As a player, the eight-year veteran appeared in 417 career games (45 starts) with Denver, Indiana, Washington, Milwaukee, Atlanta and Detroit, averaging 2.7 points and 2.3 rebounds in 12.4 minutes (.518 FG%). He also played in 55 postseason games (with the Bucks and Pistons; 11 starts), putting up 1.3 points and 1.2 rebounds in 7.4 minutes (.569 FG%), starting 11 times.

There was no indication as to what Ham's role might be with the Hawks. He began last season as part of Mike Brown's staff in Los Angeles and then remained with the team after Mike D'Antoni took over.

Kevin Pelton outlines how the Hawks could offer max deals to Dwight Howard and Chris Paul

2013-06-14T18:17:00Z

For those wondering if the Atlanta Hawks could sign both Dwight Howard and Chris Paul to max contracts this summer the answer is yes but it would take a little work on their part as outlined by ESPN.com's Kevin Pelton.

According to Pelton, the Hawks would have to trade Lou Williams and last year's first round pick John Jenkins or one of this year's first round picks without taking back any salary in return. We have already discussed a situation where Atlanta could take a European player from Europe like Giannis Antetokounmpo and sending a signed letter to the league indicating that he had no intention of playing in the NBA next season.

Still, to clear enough room to sign both Howard and Paul to the max, Atlanta would have to trade Williams and either Jenkins or one of this year's two first-round picks without taking back any salary. The team could use the pick as a carrot to get a team under the cap or with a trade exception to take on Williams, whose contract is reasonable despite the ACL injury that ended his 2012-13 campaign.

Atlanta would also have to renounce all of its impending free agents including Josh Smith and Jeff Teague. They would then be left to fill out the roster with the "room exception" and minimum contracts. Paul or Howard could also agree to less than a max deal as Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh did to give themselves more room to bring in other assets but that may be a hard sell. It will be up to Ferry to convince Paul and Howard that teaming up with Al Horford and taking a little less money to fill up the roster is what it will take to potentially win a championship.

The Hawks would have to renounce the rights to Smith and point guard Jeff Teague in order to make this all work. So Atlanta's cupboard would be nearly completely bare -- Horford, Howard, Paul and Jenkins along with one of the first-round picks and whatever free agents the team could sign using the "room exception" ($2.65 million, which could be split up) and the minimum salary. But Howard and Paul would be together -- and Atlanta is far and away the most realistic situation for making that happen.

So the situation is possible but there are a lot of moving parts involved and Danny Ferry will have to work quickly once free agency opens to get it done.

NBA Mock Draft 2013: NBA.com projects Mason Plumlee, Rudy Gobert to the Atlanta Hawks

2013-06-14T18:00:04Z

NBA.com's Scott Howard-Cooper has updated his latest mock draft and has the Atlanta Hawks going for a pair of center prospects with the No. 17 and 18 picks in the 2013 NBA Draft. Howard-Cooper projects Duke's Mason Plumlee to Atlanta with the 17th pick and 7-1 prospect Rudy Gobert at 18.

We have discussed Plumlee at length on a number of occasions but he is a name that remains to be in the mix for the late lottery to mid first round.

The combination of a developing offensive game and already-there elite athleticism for a big man has put the brother of Pacers rookie Miles Plumlee into a very good spot. He could go as high as late-lottery, in that Philadelphia-Oklahoma City range.

Plumlee is not my first choice for the 17th pick but as far as the center prospects go he is definitely in the conversation. Also in that conversation is 7-2 center Rudy Gobert of France whose length is intriguing to many teams.

Gobert had an underwhelming 2012-13 in France, but front offices see real defensive potential with the size and wingspan. They were also impressed he participated in the Chicago pre-draft combine when a lot of others with a chance for mid-first would have bailed. But not being in great shape for the early individual workouts could hurt.

Gobert is still very much a project and might be better suited to remain overseas for another season to further his development. However, he's the type of guy that could also get some seasoning in the D-League should a team like the Hawks take him but not have a lot of minutes available for him.

Here is a look at Gobert's DraftExpress scouting report:

Dwight Howard, Chris Paul reportedly want to play together next season

2013-06-14T15:21:12Z

Chris Broussard reports that Chris Paul and Dwight Howard have been in touch with each other and want to join forces next season.

Sources: CP3 & D12 hope to team up next season. Have been texting back & forth to figure it out. Story up soon on http://t.co/IRyv1niwQm
— Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) June 14, 2013

On the surface this report needs to be taken at face value and this report has already been rumored earlier this summer. Still if you are the Atlanta Hawks and are capable of clearing out all but $18 million in cap space, then this is the home run ball that you are looking for.

The Hawks are one of a few teams that have enough room to work this but getting both guys under contract won't be easy. The Dallas Mavericks are another option although they would have to do a little more work with their roster to shed some more salary.

In the meantime this should serve as a reminder of what is on the horizon once the NBA Draft is over and the free agency season arrives.

Peachtree Hoops - All Posts

Hawks workout Gobert, Plumlee, and others before draft.

Clippers-Celtics trade breaks down, is good news for the Atlanta Hawks

Nick Van Exel, Bob Bender officially join Larry Drew's staff in Milwaukee

NBA Mock Draft 2013: SLAMonline projects Lucas Nogueira, Tony Mitchell to Hawks

Jamaal Franklin still out with ankle injury, will visit Atlanta Hawks

Atlanta Hawks announce the hiring of Darvin Ham as an assistant coach

Kevin Pelton outlines how the Hawks could offer max deals to Dwight Howard and Chris Paul

Dwight Howard, Chris Paul reportedly want to play together next season

NBA Mock Draft 2013: NBA.com projects Mason Plumlee, Rudy Gobert to the Atlanta Hawks

NBA Draft 2013: Atlanta Hawks linked to Giannis Antetokounmpo

Dwight Howard, Chris Paul reportedly want to play together next season