Meet the Hawks: a roster breakdown for the 2009-10 season

By Sekou Smith

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Hawks are days away from Wednesday's start of the regular season, and the roster is set.

Second-year forward Othello Hunter won the battle of the free agents to snag the 13th spot on the roster, edging out seven other hopefuls for the job.

With all of the jobs settled, it's time to break down the Hawks' roster, position by position:

The starters

Marvin Williams, small forward

Ht: 6-9 Wt: 240 Age: 23

Experience: 5th season

2009-10 salary: $7.5 million

What to expect: Williams is healthy and eager to continue the breakout season he was having last year before missing the final 16 games of the regular season with a back injury. Hawks coach Mike Woodson has a larger role planned for him this year as well.

Josh Smith, power forward

Ht: 6-9 Wt: Age: 23

Experience: 6th season

2009-10 salary: $10.8 million

What to expect: Smith has goals of being an All-Star and All-Defensive team pick, which means he has to rebound and block shots at an elite level. If Smith plays consistently on offense and defense, his defensive goal should be within reach.

Al Horford, center

Ht: 6-10 Wt: 245 Age: 23

Experience: 3rd season

2009-10 salary: $4.3 million

What to expect: A polished and more efficient offensive game is what Horford worked on throughout the offseason. He's the key to balancing the floor on offense.

Joe Johnson, shooting guard

Ht: 6-7 Wt: 240 Age: 28

Experience: 9th season

2009-10 salary: $14.9 million

What to expect: Johnson's in the final year of his contract and bent on proving that he and the Hawks belong among the league's elite. The challenge will be matching his previous production in fewer minutes.

Mike Bibby, point guard

Ht: 6-2 Wt: 195 Age: 31

Experience: 12th season

2009-10 salary: $6 million

What to expect: Bibby's in the first year of a new deal and free to orchestrate for this team the way he did earlier in his career in Sacramento. He'll also have to manage to maintain with fewer minutes now that the backcourt rotation is deeper.

The reserves

Jamal Crawford, guard

Ht: 6-5 Wt: 200 Age: 29

Experience: 10th season

2009-10 salary: $9.3 million

What to expect: Woodson wants Crawford to lead the league in scoring off the bench while Crawford wants to average 10 assists. A happy medium works just fine for the Hawks.

Jeff Teague, guard

Ht: 6-2 Wt: 180 Age: 21

Experience: Rookie

2009-10 salary: $1.3 million

What to expect: Forget what's gone on with rookie guards in the past under Woodson. Teague will play and play often this season, anywhere from 12 to 18 minutes a night.

Mo Evans, guard/forward

Ht: 6-5 Wt: 220 Age: 30

Experience: 7th season

2009-10 salary: $2.5 million

What to expect: The Hawks' utility man is ready to fill in if anything happens to Williams or Johnson while also providing quality minutes wherever he's needed in the meantime.

Joe Smith, forward

Ht: 6-10 Wt: 225 Age: 34

Experience: 15th season

2009-10 salary: $1.3 million

What to expect: The veteran big man the Hawks so desperately needed a year ago, Smith will be asked to work in relief of both Josh Smith and Horford.

Randolph Morris, forward/center

Ht: 6-11 Wt: 275 Age: 23

Experience: 4th season

2009-10 salary: $855,189

What to expect: Morris shed major weight and polished his game in hopes of making the playing rotation, and it might have worked. If he's in the mix early, expect bigger things down the road.

Zaza Pachulia, center

Ht: 6-11 Wt: 275 Age: 25

Experience: 7th season

2009-10 salary: $4.7 million

What to expect: Playing on a unit with Crawford and Teague could pay off in a big way for Pachulia. Someone has to be on the receiving end of all those passes.

Jason Collins, center

Ht: 7-0 Wt: 255 Age: 30

Experience: 9th season

2009-10 salary: $1.1 million

What to expect: Collins is the fifth or sixth big man in the rotation, depending on where Morris is slotted. He'll be needed against the bigger centers in the league.

Othello Hunter, forward

Ht: 6-8 Wt: 225 Age: 23

Experience: 2nd season

2009-10 salary: $736,420

What to expect: Hunter's still a bit raw, but he has a chance to pursue a role behind Marvin Williams as an energetic rebounded and defender, if he the opportunity arises.