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Ok, we made it through the 2012 NBA Draft and the Atlanta Hawks didn't sell either pick they had left (of course, after selling the other second rounder they had during the season, but hey.).
That may be too low a bar to set, just to be satisfied that they used the picks, but I was genuinely excited that there was no trap door to the evening, even if the picks themselves were less than sexy.
The vibe coming out of the draft from around other Bird Watchers was that the Hawks snagged two second round talents, despite using a first round pick to nab one of them.
The Hawks drafted John Jenkins, whom I thought was being considered for the 43rd pick when they worked him out twice, but ultimately they really wanted him and didn't feel that he would be there when their second round pick came up, sooooooo.....they took him 20 slots earlier. Trade down? Guess not.
So they got their guy, even if they reached and then took a 24 year old with their second round pick who needed a medical redshirt to finish his collegiate career.
Ok, got to focus, they kept the picks. That's....what we needed. Cheap, young, controllable talent to fill the seventh and eighth spots on the capped-out roster.
So, hey, what did the other experts think of our draft?
Atlanta Hawks
Selected SG John Jenkins No. 23, PF Mike Scott No. 43
John Jenkins was a great pick in the 20s, but Josh Smith is still sitting in Atlanta, and this week would have been the perfect opportunity for ATL to deal him for as many picks as possible, replacing him with any of the 10 different freakishly athletic wing players that went between 10 and 40 Thursday night. Jenkins will be good, but it feels like the Hawks missed an opportunity. GRADE: C.
Atlanta Hawks
John Jenkins (23): The best pure perimeter shooter on the board, this was a reach from new general manager Danny Ferry. Jenkins is one-dimensional and doesn't do much else besides shoot the ball. He's a below-average defender and can't do much off the dribble. He could be effective on the court with four studs, but it's unlikely that'll be the scenario. This was a sup-bar pick to open the Ferry Regime in Hotlanta.
Mike Scott (43): Skilled forward who had a terrific season for Virginia last season, but it's difficult to imagine him getting on the court for any meaningful minutes in Atlanta.
GRADE: C-
Oof. Reinforces our own blah feelings about the picks, but hey, where's the grading curve needed for not punting? Come on, Matt -- do you know what franchise you are dealing with. I mean, did you even see what we had to work with general manager wise before Danny Ferry?
His grades (Insider required for all):
Round 1: Here is what Chad had to say about the picks last night:
23
23
John Jenkins 6-4 212 SG Jenkins may be the best shooter in the draft. He's undersized and one-dimensional, but he has a super quick release and deep range. The Hawks needed shooters in their backcourt. -- Chad Ford
13
43
(From Phoenix)
Mike Scott 6-9 241 PF Scott was one of the most consistent scorers at the college level. He's tough, can score inside and out, and many teams thought he might end up in the first round. A nice pick for the Hawks here. -- Chad Ford
- 23
New Hawks GM Danny Ferry did well here, grabbing a player in Jenkins who is viewed by some as the best shooter in the draft. He reminds me of Klay Thompson, the former Washington State shooting guard who had a very good year with Golden State last season. Jenkins averaged 19.9 points and shot 43.9 percent from three-point range as a junior, and 8.7 of his 13.1 field-goal attempts were from long range.
Seth Davis also had this to add about Jenkins and Scott:
John Jenkins, 6-4 guard, Vanderbilt: "Probably a late first-rounder because he has that elite skill as a shooter. But he's a little undersized. Strictly a catch-and-shoot guy. Kind of like the Jodie Meeks of the draft. He measured well in Chicago. What he did at Vanderbilt speaks for itself. He has really improved his body and his strength since the season ended."
Mike Scott, 6-9 forward, Virginia: "He's a little undersized, but he never misses. He doesn't have NBA three-point range, he doesn't even have college three-point range, but he never misses from 17 feet and in. Tony Bennett can really coach, so you know the kid knows rotations and how to hedge."
Yahoo! Sports reviewed the Hawks picks:
UND 123 (23) John Jenkins(video) SG 6'4 205 Vanderbilt Mike Huguenin's Analysis: You never can have enough perimeter shooters, and Jenkins is the best pure shooter in this draft. His shooting stroke should be filmed and shown to every young player in the nation. He has great range and is money from the line. His defense and ball-handling are concerns, but, man, he can shoot.
ROUND 213 (43) Mike Scott(video) PF 6'9 241 Virginia Mike Huguenin's Analysis: Scott was one of the best players in the ACC and was the only consistent scorer for the Cavaliers, who made it to the NCAA tournament. Scott is a tough kid who can score in the low post and out to about 15 feet; he also is a good rebounder. But he lacks athleticism.
