Same-look Hawks seek to grow their core

By Michael Cunningham

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

With training camp set to open in about five weeks, the Hawks are in the peculiar position of having committed to the richest contract in the NBA while still facing the perception they didn't significantly improve their roster.

The Hawks signed Joe Johnson to a six-year, $123.7 million deal last month because they wanted to avoid backsliding after three straight years in the playoffs. But with no major moves since then and none on the horizon, there is nothing on paper to suggest Atlanta has taken a step forward during the offseason.

As it stands now, the top nine players from 2009-10 will be the same top nine in 2010-11. Aside from Johnson, Shaquille O'Neal was the only major free agent the Hawks pursued. He signed with Boston after Atlanta balked at contract demands that would have pushed its payroll above the luxury tax threshold.

The Hawks re-signed center Jason Collins, added free agent forward Josh Powell and selected guard Jordan Crawford in the first round of the draft. None of those players clearly provides what the Hawks lacked when they were dominated by Orlando in the Eastern Conference semifinals: dogged defense, dynamic offense, effective size at center, mental toughness, good chemistry and leadership.

The Hawks can boast that they return the core of a team that won 53 regular season games (including 34 at home), finished No. 3 in the East and was the third-most efficient offense. Yet even those accomplishments come with disclaimers. Foremost, the Hawks signaled their underachievement when they let go of coach Mike Woodson.

Atlanta was swept from the last two East semifinals, with Orlando setting an NBA record with its total victory margin of 101 points in the four games. Hawks general manager Rick Sund said taking those lumps is part of the growing process for a relatively young team.

Hence he is satisfied to return the same group to seek answers to some of the same questions that will follow them into 2010-11.

Coach Larry Drew said he will open camp with the same starting lineup: Johnson at shooting guard, Mike Bibby at point guard, Marvin Williams at small forward, Josh Smith at power forward and Al Horford at center.

The pecking order off the bench -- Jamal Crawford, Zaza Pachulia, Mo Evans and Jeff Teague -- looks to be the same for now.

After six seasons as Woodson's lead assistant, Drew takes over a winning program, but he will have no shortage of challenges in his first season as a head coach.

Drew is installing an offense that emphasizes ball and player movement with the hope the Hawks won't be as predictable. He'll have to get Johnson to buy into it since the All-Star guard produced big numbers with Woodson's deliberate style that is incompatible with Drew's motion offense.

Atlanta's personnel could stymie Drew's efforts to improve the perimeter defense. The defensive limitations of Atlanta's top two guards, Bibby and Crawford, were a major reason Woodson used a system that had players switch on most screens.

Increasing Teague's minutes from the 10.1 he averaged last season could help, but Hawks coaches are looking for Teague to be more assertive if he wants to unseat Bibby as the starter.

“He’s got to earn that,” Drew said. “It’s not just going to be handed to him. If he proves it, he has an opportunity.”

Drew said he also plans to use a “big”rotation at times with Horford at power forward alongside Pachulia or Collins. Those lineups still would seem to leave the Hawks lacking inside against East contenders Orlando and Boston.

The Hawks still must add one player to meet the NBA minimum of 13 players. They are in the market for a center but don't expect it to be the “impact” center that Horford has said the team needs to be a legitimate contender.

More likely is the addition of a minimum-salaried veteran, either a current free agent or a player who is released during camp. The Hawks also might bring young center prospects to camp and sign one as a developmental player.

As for chemistry, mental toughness and leadership, Drew said part of his job will be to set expectations in those areas and help them bring out those qualities. Drew hired assistant coach Lester Conner, who had a reputation as a hard-nosed defender during his NBA playing days, to help with that efforts.