Mark Bradley

By Lee

April 24, 2008 9:27 AM | Link to this

How do you expect someone who wasn’t great in college to be great at the pro level? He was a 6th man!!

By Tone Loc

April 24, 2008 9:27 AM | Link to this

The whole team is a joke and with no future lottery picks coming this is what we are stuck with. FAN-tastic. I’ll be at the games on Sat and Mon, but I’ll be wearing a bag over my head.

By Vick Supporter

April 24, 2008 9:31 AM | Link to this

I hate to bash people, but its the truth and I’ve been saying this about Marvin the last 2 years. Damn, Chris Paul could have done something with this team

By Bravesfan79

April 24, 2008 9:34 AM | Link to this

I wish we had traded him while he had value like me and so many other fans were calling for over the past 2 summers. Now wed be lucky to get a 2nd round pick for him.

By jim

April 24, 2008 9:39 AM | Link to this

I can’t believe Billy Knight still gets paid by the Hawks after passing on Paul & Roy and taking Marvin and Sheldon— he has ruined this francise.

By dbrown3527

April 24, 2008 9:40 AM | Link to this

It’s one thing to miss on what will become one of the great point guards to come out in while; but to pick a player that will be turn out to be a journey man (if he’s lucky) is entirely differnet.

By ItsMeMann

April 24, 2008 9:47 AM | Link to this

Right on Lee, there is nothing more need to be said he is a bust.

By Dan

April 24, 2008 9:57 AM | Link to this

With that pick we should have gotten an impact player ala Carmelo or Isiah Thomas. Instead we got an Alan Henderson or Armond Hill.

By GoHawks

April 24, 2008 10:00 AM | Link to this

Unfortunately he’s a complete bust. He’s goofy and awkward on the court. Like you said he doesn’t have an outside shot, just midrange, and around the basket he’s not strong enough.

Sometimes he shows glimpses, like last night when he grabbed the ball and had a huge one handed dunk in traffic. But they aren’t nearly often enough.

Meanwhile the Point Guard who everyone thought we should have picked is now probably the league MVP and goes for 32 points and 17 assists in one playoff game. It’s unbelievable.

Knight and Woodson better be fired the same night this series is over.

By casehunter

April 24, 2008 10:24 AM | Link to this

dont blame hime for going second in the draft. blame knight. his last day wont be soon enough. just wait and see what other small forward he will take in this years draft. Billy Knight is the sole reason that this team has been and will be the laughing stock of the NBA

By Dr. Warren

April 24, 2008 10:30 AM | Link to this

DAN,

Armond Hill led some very good Hawks teams and played the point with savvy and skill. He was far more valuable than Marvin Williams.

By Coach Pierce

April 24, 2008 10:56 AM | Link to this

As a Hawks fan for all of my 26 years on earth, it makes my stomach turn everytime I watch a game or SportsCenter and see the statlines for Chris Paul, or even Derron Williams(who carried his team past Arizona to the Final Four and eventually losing to UNC in the championship). In fact, the Hawks wouldv’e been better off taking Marvin’s teammate PG Raymond Felton, at least he started, and made a million plays for UNC that season. I don’t care how good Billy Knight thought that Marvin could become, he passed on two point guards that were already great, and we’ve needed a point guard ever since we traded Mookie Blaylock. Bibby’s good, but he isn’t the type of PG this team needs. This team needs a PG who can run the break, and get break down a defender and get a bucket for himself or a teammate when asked to. It was also stupid for Billy to draft Shelden Williams over Brando Roy.(AND I’M A DUKE FAN!!!) The Hawks will spend another several years searching for a PG(unless Acie Law pans out) while Utah and New Orleans will watch their PG’s compete for allstar appearances and MVP trophies. Byron Scott and Jerry Sloan probably have Billy Knight on their Christmas list, since he gave them such great gifts!

By lawrence

April 24, 2008 11:17 AM | Link to this

woodson cannot coach or teach ,they look lost.Every time i watch them all i think about is CP3 CP3 CP3 what could of been.As for marvin he stinks , what a joke.

By Pete Babcock

April 24, 2008 11:21 AM | Link to this

If I was still there, I would FIRE MIKE WOODSON and I would FIRE BILLY KNIGHT.

If I was still there, I would FIRE MIKE WOODSON and I would FIRE BILLY KNIGHT.

If I was still there, I would FIRE MIKE WOODSON and I would FIRE BILLY KNIGHT.

If I was still there, I would FIRE MIKE WOODSON and I would FIRE BILLY KNIGHT.

If I was still there, I would FIRE MIKE WOODSON and I would FIRE BILLY KNIGHT.

By cp

April 24, 2008 11:45 AM | Link to this

Marvin has the tools but I don’t think he will ever put them all together to become the player most thought he would be. He will end up being a decent small foward and that really is about it. Marvin Williams will always be remembered as the guy the Hawks took instead of Chris Paul and Deron WIlliams. Those two are leading their respective teams to the second round and our guy is not playing any better than our 6th man. This alone should cost BK his job.

By steve

April 24, 2008 11:50 AM | Link to this

I must confess that I am not an NBA fan. I’m a big basketball fan, I just don’t care for or keep up with the NBA. However, I am a big UNC fan. I really thought Marvin Williams had the skills to become a great pro. Of course, he only played one year at Carolina and everyone raved about his future. Why has he not developed like many of us believed he would? I am not sure, but I do think that if he had stayed in school a couple of more years would have helped him immensely. Leaving early does not help all players, sometimes it backfires.

Marvin, you left school too early!

By LL Cool Scott

April 24, 2008 11:57 AM | Link to this

Marvin Williams = Sam Bowie

By traptout

April 24, 2008 12:04 PM | Link to this

Charles and Kenny said something interesting on TNT last night- ” the Hawks don’t have a go to guy.” Which brings me to ask- what is Joe Johnson supposed to be? He is Robin, not Batman. Billy F’ed up selecting both Williams, but his biggest mistake is hiring coach Woodson. To Marvin’s credit, he and the other players aren’t being coached up. If we had’ve selected Chris Paul perhaps he would not be CP3 under Woodson. Maybe Marvin is great with better coaching. We have no offensive, or defensive, strategy. We don’t run plays and as a unit we don’t play hard. I love Al Horford. Billy fot atleast 1 right. Its time right now for the Hawks to scrap what they’ve been doing and run everything thru Al. Woodson needs to suck it up and start Zaza, Al, Josh Smith, Joe, and Bibby/Law and bring Marvin, J-Chill, and Solomon Jones off the bench and start looking towards the future. Bibby is not an eastern conderence PG. We need to loose his 14 mil next year. We have to explore trading Marvin and/or one of the Joshes to get a legit 5 so Al can dominate the 4. Rick Carlisle, Avery Johnson, and perhaps Don Nelson will be available. Where is Lenny Wilkens? How about Dominique hire himself? Thanks Hawks for making the playoffs. Now I’m hungry for a star and a competitive team.

By Atlanta Falks?

April 24, 2008 12:05 PM | Link to this

Chris Paul, Nuff Said :(

By EJH

April 24, 2008 12:06 PM | Link to this

Let’s remember hawks fans Milwaukee passed on Chris Paul as well for Andrew Bogut, and they have not made the playoffs with him either. And if anyone else had been picking 1 or 2 they would have taken Williams and Bogut too. If the Hawks had the third pick they would have taken Paul in that draft. Just as they had the third pick in last years draft and got Horford. So it is just the luck of the draft and your position where you pick. Now on to Marvin williams, I still think he could be a great player in this league. He just has to work harder to develop his game; extending his range out to the three point line, working on his post moves, his ball handling, and his defense. These are things you work hard on every off season to get better for the up coming seaons. If he does that for the next two off seaons he will become that player. But he has to stop deffering to the other players and become more agressive and not be so passive. This guy does have the tools to take over a game it just that he has not honed in on his skill set, but I think he eventually will.

By Chikara

April 24, 2008 12:06 PM | Link to this

I want everyone to think about something: Chris Paul gets drafted and is coached by Byron Scott, a former championshp guard who coached the Nets (with a star PG of their own) to back to back Finals appearances. So Paul already had someone experienced who could show him the ropes….

Deron Williams is drafted and coached by Jerry Sloan, one of the NBA’s best taskmasters and a hard nosed disciplinarian who coached Utah to back to back Finals appearances with a star PG. So Williams had someone experienced who could teach him discipline and execution. Remember Deron was in Sloan’s doghouse his rookie year until he got himself together.

Marvin Williams is drafted and coached by Mike Woodson, who has had zero experience as a coach and knows NOTHING about execution, discipline, or leadership. So what would happen as a result? Marvin is never taught discipline and execution and above average talent is diminished.

Many people will blame the player, and he deserves some of the fault, but one can’t help but think if he was taught by a Popovich or Don Nelson would he be as timid offensively. I don’t think so.

He was a go-to person when UNC won their title. Remember he hit the winning shot that year and everyone raved about his talent.

Bottom line while Marvin Williams is still young and talented to be a top scorer one day, Woodson’s time has passed and Marvin needs a real disciplinarian to work on him.

By cp

April 24, 2008 12:33 PM | Link to this

The Bucks needed a center and took Bogut. The Hawks needed a pg and took another foward… The Bucks have made the playoffs with Bogut. I think many Gms would tell you that right now Bogut is still a better player than Marvin. People keep saying Marvin needs to work on this and that in the summer. Well guess what, he is in this third year and still having the same problems from his rookie year. Seems to me the guy is not working hard at all. Josh Smith works on his game every summer. I just dont see that with Marvin Williams. His almost 15 points are some of the most non impactful points in the game. Most of his points come when its early in the game or when the game has pretty much been decided. I have yet to see Marvin make a big play or make a big bucket in crunch time. I once thought that Paul might not be the pg he is today had he played with the Hawks but I woke up. That kid is too talented to be held back by coaching.

By Dan

April 24, 2008 12:41 PM | Link to this

This subject is just a dead horse. I am more upset about the Hawks picking Sheldon Williams over Brandon Roy. Marvin, at least, was highly thought of by everyone. I remember listening to NBA Radio and every GM that was interviewed said they would take Marvin at #2. So, I give Billy Knight slack on that pick. Plus, as almost everyone has said, Marvin is an OK player.

Sheldon Williams, on the other hand, was not even that. He was way overrated at Duke (imagine that, right?). I watched Paul Davis torch “the Landlord” during Williams’ senior year. Paul Davis doesn’t even see the floor for the Clippers, by the way.

Taking Sheldon Williams will always make me question Billy Knight’s ability to judge talent. There is an arguement, at least, for taking Marvin.

By JSS

April 24, 2008 12:49 PM | Link to this

When is everyone going to realize that Marvin is going to be: “ta da” Lamar Odom. Someone around year 5 or 6 he’s going to get what he will never be, and then he will exploit the things that he can be… That is some team’s 3rd or 4th option and the long and lengthy defender that someone 6’9” should be…

Oh by the way, did you get a gander at Acie Law’s assessment of himself following last night’s game? Acie Law, IV. stated: “I just want to watch a lot of film because I feel like I can be in the places on the floor that I need to get to, but it’s so different in the NBA because everything closes so quickly,” Law said. “I need to learn the offense that we’re going to run like the back of my hand. I need to know my teammates and their likes and dislikes, and I need to work on my game - shooting, ball-handling, decision-making, defense, everything.”

If the kid can see his current limitations, why can’t the bloggers?

By Koren

April 24, 2008 1:06 PM | Link to this

Marvin and Sheldon over CP/D-Will and Roy. … that hurts…. the hawks could have had the second coming of Thomas and Dumars. Playoffs or not, How Billy Knight has a job right now is beyond me.

By Dr. Tobias Funke

April 24, 2008 1:12 PM | Link to this

Never thought I’d say this, but MAN! I sure do miss Pete Babcock & Bob Weiss.

By F.P.

April 24, 2008 1:22 PM | Link to this

Hindsight is 20/20. First of all, I do believe that Billy Knight needs to go just for draft Shelden over Roy. However, I remember when Marvin came out. He was being compared to Garnett & experts felt that Paul was too small to take an NBA pounding.

Who wouldn’t want a Garnett on their team. Rajon Rondo is the point for Boston & they have the best record in the league. Ok, so Marvin didn’t blossom into Garnett & Paul’s an MVP candidate but on draft day NOONE knew that would be the case so give me a break.

By dbrown3527

April 24, 2008 1:39 PM | Link to this

EJH, I also remember for some reason everybody was high on this kid but if you read some of his weaknesses prior to the draft he was a questionable pick;I believe that everybody was shortsighted when it came to his up side. Being a sixth man in college having questionable defensive skills, foot work, and limited scoring options nobody in the top ten should have given him a second look

By Rutuger

April 24, 2008 1:41 PM | Link to this

“Marvin is good?”

*Marvin who? Sure as hell not Williams!!*

By Dude

April 24, 2008 2:03 PM | Link to this

I posted here each of the last two drafts so I am not jumping on the bandwagon here. It was obvious from day one that these were not the correct picks. Now could anyone have known what the right picks were, maybe not. But I can flat out tell you we knew these were the wrong picks. Sheldon should never have been selected that high in the draft. This is no surprise. As Mark points out, Marvin was not a #2 pick. Was Childress a top pick. You are allowed a bust, but only Horford is a reasonable value for where he was selected.

My bet is that Acie Law will be okay but not good enough to matter. His shot wasn’t that great in college and it hasn’t improved any this year.

Sorry but it is time for Billy to take some responsibility for his picks.

By Rutuger

April 24, 2008 2:07 PM | Link to this

All of you who insist that nobody knew it was a mistake to draft Marvin over Chris Paul are just plain wrong.

Everyone I talked to—and most people on these boards—questioned the move, and many were outraged. We were in desperate need of a PG at that time, and instead BK drafted the one position we didn’t need.

It’s NOT hindsight—most people knew this was a bad idea!!!

By Nate

April 24, 2008 2:55 PM | Link to this

You give Marvin to much credit. Marvin Williams REALLY SUCKS! I MEAN REALLY! He’s to soft and all he wants to do is shoot jump shots.

By Jeff Walker

April 24, 2008 3:12 PM | Link to this

None of the hawks play to their potential. Woodson can’t motivate a shrew. Just look at some of the players who left here. Jason Terry, Boris Diaw. They both played much better under a better coach. The hawks have the nucleus but they die after 3 quarters. Joe Johnson should cruise throught the first 3 quarters and have the green light in the fourth but he’s so busy trying to keep them in the game through the first 3, he runs out of gas in the fourth. Again that’s the coaches falt. Yes we should have gotten Chris Paul and a host of other point guards. The hawks history is to draft on potential instead of proven players.

By Dennis G. Berdanis

April 24, 2008 3:14 PM | Link to this

Marvin isn’t the problem, although I’d like to see more out of him. It’s havinga defensive minded coach that admits he can’t get these young guys to play defence. We need another Hubie Brown in here!

By Miles D

April 24, 2008 3:19 PM | Link to this

To all my true Hawks fans! Ain’t nothin gon git right til our management gits right. It like the Falcons’ and even the Braves. Management knows nothing about the game so quite naturally the make all the wrong moves in coaching, drafting, etc. Until they start letting these businessmen with REAL KNOWLEDGE of the game purchase franchises because their are people out there who do have real knowledge like, former players that can help create a better and more competitive franchise, even the bad ones. But there are somebody or somebodies that don’t allow this to happen because the want to keep a glass ceiling if you will! SO, LETS BE SMART AND HONEST ABOUT IT. THEY WILL DO JUST ENOUGH TO GET US TO BUY A SEAT BUT NEVER ENOUGH TO KEEP US COMPETITIVE YEAR IN & YEAR OUT!

By Jay Stiltner

April 24, 2008 3:50 PM | Link to this

Rutuger- I couldn’t agree with you more. Any college basketball fan out there familiar with the ACC would have known and seen how good Chris Paul made Wake Forest during his two-year tenure there.

They would have also noticed that Marvin Williams was the 6th man on that 2005 UNC National Championship team. Williams couldn’t impact that squad in the same respect because they were already loaded with talent.

I’m sick of all these “pro” fans that see what Paul has done in the NBA and only now want to complain about Billy Knight’s mistake for not drafting him instead of Williams.

It was so clear to me and others that Paul was going to be an amazing NBA player. All this garbage about it being easier to draft in hindsight is a crock in this case. If Knight and his assistants were true evaluators of talent, they wouldn’t continue to screw up every draft - excluding the Al Horford pick last year.

Not drafting Paul is becoming the worst blunder in the history of the Atlanta Hawks. Everyone wants to beat the Paul mistake into the ground and they should.

He’s on the highlight reel every night. He’s an all-star. He’s a top 3 MVP candidate. It kills me to see where the Hornets are now and where the Hawks could be.

As far as Williams is concerned, he’s a superbust for a #2 overall lottery pick. He has no post game, he doesn’t play defense, he doesn’t rebound and his midrange jump shot - which is all he’s got - only falls half the time.

And it doesn’t help his cause that Mike Woodson is a horrible coach who can’t develop talent and can’t run an offense. Everyone on the floor just stands around. No cutting to the basket, no screens to gain open shots and no pick-and-rolls to get easy buckets.

I can only pray that Knight and Woodson get the boot after the Hawks get swept by the Celtics. My worst fear is that the owners will look at this season and view it as one in which the Hawks made progress.

By Bravesfan79

April 24, 2008 3:58 PM | Link to this

JSS: You mean Lamar Odom the Basketball player?? That played for team USA??
Give me a break, the only thing Marvin and Lamar will ever have in common is there both black.

What does Marvins game consist of? He can hit layups (sometimes) and can come off the bench and hit a 15 ft shot. Dosent that describe about 99% of the NBA??
I see nothing that makes Marvin special. I think Mario West is more special than Marvin because he has 1 thing he can hang his hat on. (even tho woody dosent know how to use him or anyone else on the bench)

Yes you heard it here, A guy that was a walk-on in college, and didnt even get drafted….. is a bigger asset to us than the number # 3 pick in the draft!!

And im not even being biased because i love GT hoops and hate UNC. Its just the truth.

By Mark Bradley

April 24, 2008 3:59 PM | Link to this

Anyone who ever likened Marvin Williams to Kevin Garnett has obviously never seen the two of them in person. Garnett is strong — skinny but strong — and plays above the rim. To use a word I don’t much like, he’s “explosive.” Williams is not. He is, as mentioned above, a finesse player. He is, to invoke a comparison I made before the 2005 draft — feel free to look it up — like Shareef Abdur-Rahim in that he’s more skilled than gifted. That isn’t to say Marvin can’t be a meritorious pro — Shareef surely was — but you’d like the No. 2 pick in the draft to be a guy with a bigger upside. Or at least I would.

By Najeh Davenpoop

April 24, 2008 4:00 PM | Link to this

Marvin is good?

News to me.

I didn’t realize having exactly one skill, shooting 18-foot jumpers, and completely sucking at rebounding, passing, and team defense made you good.

I’ll admit, I actually wanted the Hawks to pick Deron Williams, not Chris Paul, in the 2005 draft. Clearly Paul has turned out to be better, although if you ask me both will end up in the Hall of Fame some day. But damn, calling Marvin good is a bit of a stretch.

And it’s nice to think that Milwaukee made an equally foolish move… except they didn’t. Two years earlier they invested a first-round pick (which was originally ours, which Pete Babcocksucker gave up in the Glenn Robinson trade) on TJ Ford. At the time they believed they were set at point guard, and who knows, if Ford hadn’t got injured they might have been. So at least you can make the argument for them that CP3 and/or Deron would have addressed a position that had already been addressed. You can’t say the same thing for Billy, who already had (and continues to have) two small forwards who are light years ahead of Marvin.

By PSack

April 24, 2008 4:04 PM | Link to this

Get Rid of

BIBBY —paid too much for his production) WOODSON—(assistant coach) WILLIAMS—(inconsistent) KNIGHT—(Chris Paul Derron william) PACHULIA—(sorry and lazy)

Keep Johnson, Smith, Horford, Law

Raid the CBA or look overseas for ROLE players THAT CAN DEFEND!!

By preston

April 24, 2008 4:56 PM | Link to this

okay, Mark Bradley and the rest of you guys….how long are we going to pour salt into this wound? We all know that Marvin Williams has not come close to doing the things that we expected out of him….we all know that his game has been the same now for 3 yrs, and I personally will not hestitate to say that this is as good as it gets with him. The “potential” talk has gotten old rather quickly also…..Marvin has terrible hands and foot balance, which unfortunately are part of his natural attributes, and not bad habits which can be improved. Williams has a good jump shot that hits nothing but net….when he is on, but again we all know that those nights have been far and few between. Marvin will probaly be and is probaly better doing what he did in college, and that is contribute to his team off the bench, but I think that it is safe to say that he obviously is not a starter…..I think Marvin may have had 2 or 3 games this whole season where I can recall where he “lit it up”, and Salim or Richardson could probaly do that in a week of solid starts. We should actually stop complaining about what we missed in Paul, and be very happy for New Orleans. If any city deserved something good, and something to lift the spirits of the fans….it was definately New Orleans, and watching Paul play for them ain’t all that bad.

By JSS

April 24, 2008 5:05 PM | Link to this

http://www.nba.com/playerfile/lamarodom/careerstats.html vs. http://www.nba.com/playerfile/marvinwilliams/careerstats.html

Look at the first three years All that Lamar did better was to have a few more assist and to score a smidge bit more…

I like Mario, he hustles, but come on now, it is alright to hate him because of the college allegiances but unless it is a UGA player other than #21 or Vern Fleming, let it go…

By ATLborn

April 24, 2008 5:19 PM | Link to this

You have to keep pouring salt over this wound because its been the same story with the Hawks for 20 years or so. We always find a way to blow our draft picks inspite of how much talent is available.

For every one all star u name me that the Hawks have drafted since 1982 I could name you three busts. The list goes on and on, from John Koncack to Rumeal Robinson to Priest Lauderdale to Marvin Williams to Sheldon Williams.

We need to chase Billy and Woodson off w/ a stick. Tell ‘em “gone”, “get”! I hope the rumors are true and that the Hawks mismanagement group plan on running off the current GM and Coach and hiring Larry Brown to run the show. I don’t think he should coach but should maybe have a Bill Parcells type role and hire a coach while he runs the operations and evaluates talent.

It’s time to tear this roster apart and start over again. No one on this roster is beyond being traded. We need to start over again and build up from the draft. Package Joe Johnson and Marvin Williams and see if we could trade for the top spot to get Derick Rose. Send both the Joshes and whomever else we need to to pick up Beasley. Promise next years pick and any other player we can to land a pick to get Eric Gordon.

We need to make some drastic moves in order to reverse this curse!

By ATLborn

April 24, 2008 5:24 PM | Link to this

Horford may be our only keeper but if we can land the 1 or 2 pick for him in a straight exchange or for him and a 2nd rounder and some cash we oughta do it.

By Submariner683

April 24, 2008 8:05 PM | Link to this

This franchise has had by far the worst drafts of all the NBA teams, and one can argue the entire North American sports world.

In the last 23 years this franchise has made one bad pick after another. Somehow they still managed to win through it all. They had a decent core with Cliff Levingston, Nique, Willis, Doc Rivers, Antoine Carr for a few years. In the 90s trades and free agency brought them competitive teams led by Mookie Blaylock, Steve Smith and Mutombo. None of those teams helped themselves out much through the draft.

Some of the picks were down right laughable. Roy Marble, Dallas Comegys, Ed Gray, Priest Lauderdale, Adam Keefe, Doug Edwards, Reshown Mcleod. Must I go on?

In that period of time, I can only think of a few picks that were worth anything. Jason Terry who is doing well in Dallas. And Alan Henderson who was a decent journeyman.

I think Josh Smith and Al Horford are solid, but play pretty much the same position.

Let’s look at the really dumb moves in recent history:

Trading their #1 pick, which was Pau Gasol, (wouldn’t that be nice to have had that guy for the last 6 seasons), Lorenzen Wright (who Atlanta gave up a #1 pick to get) and another 1st round shooting guard for Shariff Abdur Rahim. Even at his top, he wasn’t worth all that. The fact that he was an old 28 when he came to Atlanta and never played anywhere near the level he played at in Vancouver is another story.

Very bad move, very bad.

Then, a couple of seasons ago, the get Joe Johnson. They overpay him, and they send how many #1 picks to Phoenix? 2? 3? I really can’t remember. Granted, they have been protected, but that protections is over. 1st of all, I know he was restricted, but did anybody really think that Phoenix would/could match that offer? If they really thought that, with that insane money, why not go even higher and make sure that there was no way Phoenix would match. They were not going to match that money. Hats off to Phoenix for playing that one out. Got a 1st rounder in Diaw, and some more 1st round picks for a guy they had no intentions of resigning at that price.

Of course, then there are the draft picks. Marvin was only a freshman, and not even a very impressive one. I don’t know why they don’t trade out of that position and get one of the PG studs. Not to mention they already have a few guys who play that position or very similar.

Sheldon Williams. Give me a break. News to NBA GMs, do not draft Duke players. They are NBA snake bites. Of all the McDonald’s All-Americans and all the hoopla about Duke basketball, they have only produced one really good player, IMO. Elton Brand.

I don’t know how the Hawks’ management manages to keep their jobs. An average fan can come in and make better basketball decisions. I’ll do it for a lot less, give me call, please…:)

By O'brien

April 24, 2008 8:21 PM | Link to this

EJH, 12:06 pm. When Milwaukee drafted Bogut, if I’m not mistaken, they used a lottery pick 2 years before on TJ Ford, so why would they take another PG, especially when they needed a center?

By Reality

April 24, 2008 9:19 PM | Link to this

I’m not a Billy Knight defender — but remember it was Billy Knight as the Grizzly’s GM (b4 Jerry West) that fleeced Atlanta by trading Shariff Abdur Rahim for Pau Gasol.

That said there is no excuse —-AND THERE HAS TO BE A STORY—- behind the Shelden Williams pic. Maybe Shelden had some ASG pictures…. :)

By Reality

April 24, 2008 9:28 PM | Link to this

Mark Bradley - BTW - given that you appear to do your home work before commenting/editiorializing…. what was Billy Knight’s rationale for selecting Shelden Williams when so many more talented players were available? It wasn’t just Brandon Roy and Randy Foye; he also skipped the true point guards Rajon Rondo and Marcus Williams.

What was the rationale???

By Mark Bradley

April 24, 2008 10:16 PM | Link to this

Billy Knight’s rationale on Shelden Williams was bizarre even by Hawks standards. He went into that draft saying the Hawks wouldn’t pick to address a specific need. (Meaning: Point guard.) Then he picked Shelden Williams because he said the Hawks, who had won only 26 games that season, needed better interior defense. It made no sense then; it makes less now.

By bigeasy830

April 24, 2008 10:33 PM | Link to this

The reason Marvin is more talented than gifted is because he has no heart. What I mean when I make that statement is that Marvin is not aggressive. He is a very docile person. That explains why he did not start in college. He gave up a starting position to be a “team player”. All the great ones want to compete, they want to dominate, the great ones do not settle to be the 6th man, not ever. In last night game it was obvious that KG and Marvin was mixing words, KG showed out, Marvin kept arguing like a little woman. The kid has to show up big next game and he must continue to show up big or it will prove that he will never be as good as he should be, because he simply do not have the personality to do so.. He just may not have the mental make-up. This next game has to be his coming out party or he will be a bust. To all you bloggers that suggest all GM’s would have taken Bogut and Marvin 1 and 2, that is simply, WRONG. Some GM’s actually do their jobs and know talent. They do not pick who the so called “experts” believe they should take. Example, Houston Texans. Every one, all the experts, loved Reggie Bush and Vince Young. They took Mario Williams. If you still believed they made a mistake, don’t ever call yourself a sports buff again. See, some GM’s know what it takes to make a great TEAM. In football you build with linemen, O and D linemen, the game is won in the trenches. In Basketball you build around a great center or a great point guard. The Michael Jordan’s of the world are very rare. The Bucks drafted what they thought would be a great center. Now what’s the HAWKS excuse. Marvin tried to show a little fight the last game. But, we need him be be a beast. A bully. A baller. A Pimp. We need him to tell KG, and I will quote Wayne Brady from that episode of the Chappell Show, “Do you mean to tell me that Marvin Williams is gonna have to choke a BIAAAAATCH”. HAHAHAHA. And if you do tell him that Marvin say it like you mean it and put some base in your voice.

Great article Mark. I agree with you 100%. Don’t let the haters get to you man. I consider you my brother from another mother. Now let me hold 5 dollars I need help on some gas to get home I will pay you next check day. Well lets make it 30 dollars cause Damn gas is high.

Holla if you hear me, Say Amen if you feel me.

By Najeh Davenpoop

April 24, 2008 10:45 PM | Link to this

Bigeasy — Amen. Holla.

My theory on Shelden was that Billy Knight realized the Hawks had to make the playoffs in ‘06-‘07 for his grand plan to be a success. BK knew that if the Hawks missed the ‘07 playoffs, he would most likely be handing a lottery pick to Phoenix, which would have obviously certified his tenure as Hawks GM as a failure. He saw Shelden as the most NBA-ready inside presence available and reached for him because he thought Shelden would instantly solidify the defense and post scoring enough to make the Hawks a playoff team. Needless to say that pick failed spectacularly.

This also explains the head-scratching Speedy Claxton signing — Billy realized his original plan of having Joe Johnson as PG was not gonna work, so in order to make the playoffs in ‘06-‘07 he overpaid for what he thought was the best point guard option available in free agency. Both the Shelden pick and the Speedy signing were calculated to have the Hawks in the playoffs last year and not make Billy look like a total buffoon. Lucky for him the ping pong balls bailed him out, or else we would have missed out on Horford, we’d still be in the lottery, and Billy’s career would look like even more of a failure than it is right now.

By Scott

April 25, 2008 12:19 AM | Link to this

I want to be the GM of an Atlanta spirit owned team because you can do the worst job in the world and they will still keep you on and pay you.

By Enough

April 25, 2008 3:28 AM | Link to this

Bradley, you are being kind because Marvin is really lacking that it. All the Hawks minus Josh Smith and Horford lack that it factor. Josh has been coached to play to his strenghth driving and posting, too much wing play out of him. I still think its hard to assess any of these guys under Woodson, there just seems to be lack of direction. Honestly, any one watching the Hawks you can see flashes in all these guys. Its getting a coach who can push these guys to consistency. Bad play is rewarded with even more playing time. Even a little league coach would clear the bench to drive the point home to starters and key reserves. I wouldn’t give up on this crew yet, lets be real they are overmatched and out coached before the tip-off. With the right GM, whom can add pieces and the right coach whom can match the style with the players, the Hawks could be scary good next year. But wouldn’t it be nice if Woodson inserted West, just to be a stopper. Let him hound Rondo and disrupt there flow every now and then. The kid Richardson actually looks better than Williams and Chills in his brief appearances. Counter Cassell with West also. But, I really don’t think its as much the players as it is the coach and whatever the heck they are running around doing on both ends of the court. Looks like five guys in a pickup game against a well oiled machine the last two games.

By corey

April 25, 2008 7:30 AM | Link to this

Marvin is a bum im so tired of seeing him miss open jumpshots miss layups get burned on defense he is not a good player at all he is just in the way i cant believ he was the 3rd pick decisions like this make the hawks look really stupid marvin has to be gone next year

By paul

April 25, 2008 11:10 AM | Link to this

This team also needs a sharpshooter. JJ Redick is gettting almost zero playing time in Orlando. Yet, when he plays, he lights it up. I don’t get it. I think the Hawks could get him for a song. Horford’s going to be a great one, but I think he needs to get bigger, stronger. As to Marvin—you know, he’s good. But he wasn’t a great player in college. Bibby—I don’t care how much he helped the team. He’s an OK player at best. Johnson’s been off. I really like Childress and Smith, though.

I’m not sure about Woodson, either. In the two Boston games, there appears to be no real scheme going on. It’s almost like the playgrounds. They just don’t look wel-coached. Like they’re not buying in to Woodson’s system (which appears nonexistent, anyway).

By GA Buckeye

April 25, 2008 11:32 AM | Link to this

I am just glad to see their is so much passion and interest in the Hawks from this Board. Let’s keep Horford (at the 4), Joe J., Josh Smith (at the 3 or 4), Bibby and Childress (at the 2 or 3)(coming off the bench) as a nucleus and build, not blow-up and re-build again. Because I don’t think this is the right fit, we need to jettison M. Williams, Z. Pachula, and any other pieces to try and get a serviceable starting Center (defends the middle, rebounds, scores occasionally), a quality backup PG (Lue would have been a good stopgap), a good backup 5, and another scoring option coming off the bench…

By hop

April 25, 2008 11:52 AM | Link to this

WHO CARES! CERTAINLY, BILLY KNIGHT DOES NOT!CAN ANYONE BE AS STUPID AS BILLY KNIGHT IN RUNNING A SPORTS FRANCHISE, NOT IN THE HISTORY OF ATLANTA SPORTS AND THAT IS SAYING SOMETHING.

By GT80

April 25, 2008 1:00 PM | Link to this

There is a decent core to build on this years modest increase in success. Keep the faith and we will see some fruits in the near future. Of course this is all pending #2 coming true.

By T

April 25, 2008 9:41 PM | Link to this

I’ve read most of the posts and it seems most agree that Marvin is a bust. There are a few who think he can still blossom into something. With that thinking, there has to be a GM out there that is willing to trade either a good player or a high pick for Marvin. Go-to-work-son (new GM) and make it happen. It is plain to see that Marvin is a “slow motion” guy off the court and when play is not going on. And when he tries to pick it up and hustle hard for a play or two, he is out of control. Almost all his points are irrelevant and he can not play defense. I agree with MB article that he does some things good, but nothing great. Unfortunately, the Hawks need something great. TRADE HIM WHILE YOU CAN if the hawks do not, they just multiply their mistake dafting him!

By koncaker

April 25, 2008 10:47 PM | Link to this

Why stop at Marvin? And don’t get me wrong, I like Marvin. He is one of the most eloquent young guys in the league. I also think he can get better.

But we also missed with Chill. I like Chill. Good guy, just like Marvin. But we could have had Iguodala. Just look at what the man is doing for Philly. They could beat Detroit!

Picked Shleden Williams instead of Brandon Roy.

Keep Horford and dismantle this whole team.

By Submariner683

April 26, 2008 12:22 AM | Link to this

Didn’t realize Billy Knight was the GM for the Grizzlies when the Gasol deal was made. He really put a number on the Hawks. Which begs the question, how could he pull off such a one-sided deal with the Hawks, then turn around for the Hawks and make bad pick after bad pick and make another one-sided deal with Phoenix?

Was he brilliant before or just lucky? Or are their other staff members with the Hawks making the decisions? Or is there something in the water at the Hawks headquarters to keep this team making bad decisions? It almost looks like Knight has been trying to dismantle the Hawks organization from the outside now inside. Almost at the point of investigation worth. IMO.

By Joshua

April 26, 2008 9:46 AM | Link to this

You know if Billy Knight and Mike Woodson aren’t fired in the off season I may have to find a new team . 25 years I’ve been a fan and every since Billionaire Ted sold the team it’s sucked , Also even though the allure is there I don’t want Larry Brown either , Look the Hawks aren’t that bad and Brown will over cap the team and bring in a bunch of malcontents . What we need is to ditch Marvin Williams re-sign Josh Childress and find a nice sign trade for a center with Josh Smith . This team can be salvaged and JJ and Bibby are a nice core with Al , But Smith has been out of control , Williams is a sissy , and the C’s have just collapsed on JJ and Bibby . Hey whatever happened to ZaZa Salim and the rest of our bench ???

By Joshua

April 26, 2008 9:54 AM | Link to this

I wouldn’t say the Joe Johnson deal went so badly ok two first rounders is alot yes , Diaw hasn’t done much but one good season and with out Joe the Hawks would still be a 20 win team . He’s also been a member of USA basketball and an all star and those are good pub for the Hawks and the city of Atlanta . What the Hawks need they don’t have is the role player types like a Brent Barry James Posey or Robert Horry , If the Hawks had one they’d probably be a lot more respectable . I’ve seen Josh Smith just flail out of control for bad shot after bad shot , Marvin Williams bullied around and into really bad shots and theyr’e inneptitude has led Chill Bibby JJ and Big Al in to some bad spots , What the team needs is some better basketball iq’s and a little less bounce .

By Long Time Fan

April 26, 2008 10:57 AM | Link to this

My problem with Marvin is he is too soft and doesn’t play any defense. Woodson is a defensive coach and Marvin, Smith,Pachuglia, and Bibby are playing no defense in this series and that is why they are down 2-0. The litany of bad first round draft picks should include passing on Deng and drafting Josh, who doesn’t understand that he cannot shoot threes. Horford, Childress, Johnson, Bibby is a good nucleus but we need a coach who will run and a GM who can evaluate talent and admit when he has made a mistake. Fire Woodson and Knight, make Dominique the GM and hire Carlisle or Avery Johnson if he becomes available as coach, and trade Marvin and Josh to the Bobcats for Emeka Okafor or to the Bulls for Deng and we will finally contend for years!

By koncaker

April 26, 2008 12:09 PM | Link to this

Hawks want Larry Brown right now.

I like the idea of Nique as GM Long Time Fan

By Guitar Crazy

April 26, 2008 1:50 PM | Link to this

I have never written on this site before, but you guys that suggest that we trade Horford to get draft packs are insane….

By ctimhines

April 26, 2008 2:16 PM | Link to this

Billy Knight is and was a joke, and so were most of his “wing” draft picks. His failure to draft Chris Paul or Deron will go down as one of the all time blunders of this franchise, worse than the wasted Koncak, Keefe, or Rumeal Robinson picks. He truly gets the award for worst drafting in franchise history. But hey, maybe he and Isiaha Thomas can get together and go ruin someother franchise together.

By richbrave

April 27, 2008 12:07 AM | Link to this

Guitar Crazy:

And thank you for some posted sanity.

But for those not so sane, listen the Wizards will take Horford anytime.