INSIDE THE NBA: The frontcourt review

The offseason moves are done and training camp doesn’t open for another month. That leaves us only one thing to do —- break down the Hawks roster as it looks on paper. Last week we took a look at the Hawks backcourt. Here’s a closer look at the Hawks’ depth chart before camp begins.

SMALL FORWARD

The starter: Marvin Williams, 6-9, 245

2008-09 outlook: Williams is entering his fourth year, the year most players make the leap if they are going to go from solid to spectacular. After spending his summer working on his shot from beyond the 3-point line, it will be imperative that he stays aggressive from that distance in live competition. When he’s aggressive and in attack mode, the Hawks are much tougher. When he’s not aggressive, Williams may or may not be making midrange shots. The Hawks haven’t pressed him into a role as one of their top three scoring options, but that should change this year with the backcourt demanding so much attention from opposing defenses. This is a huge year for Williams.

The backup: Mo Evans, 6-5, 200

The wild card(s): Jeremy Richardson, 6-7, 195; Mario West, 6-5, 210

2008-09 outlook: If there’s a place on the roster for either Richardson or West, and that’s not clear right now, it might be in the mix behind Williams. Richardson is a good shooter and knows the program, while West is as feisty a defender as the Hawks have and a relentless competitor.

The verdict: Same. Even with the expected improvement from Williams, the Hawks did not secure the services of an adequate backup.

POWER FORWARD

The starter: Josh Smith, 6-9, 240

2008-09 outlook: It took a while, but the Hawks made sure they kept Smith in the fold by matching Memphis’ five-year, $58 million offer sheet. In Smith the Hawks have one of the league’s truly unique talents, Shawn Marion and Andre Kirilenko are the only other players in the league that compare in so many categories on both ends of the floor. If he’s as eager to get back at it as he was after the Game 7 loss to Boston (Smith was in the Hawks’ weight room a little over a week later), the Hawks should be in great shape here. He’ll be a matchup nightmare for whoever is guarding him most nights.

The backup: Othello Hunter, 6-8, 225

2008-09 outlook: Don’t dismiss the rookie from Ohio State. No player made a stronger impression on the Hawks’ coaching staff during summer league play than Hunter, who plays bigger than his listed size. He could end up being the surprise of the season.

The wild card: Solomon Jones, 6-10, 230

2008-09 outlook: Jones is as gifted physically as just about any player on the roster. But in two years he’s yet to gain the complete trust of the coaching staff. Choosing not to play summer league ball didn’t help that cause.

The verdict: Better, thanks to the return of Smith and increased depth at center that will allow Al Horford to log minutes at power forward, too.

CENTER

The starter: Al Horford, 6-10, 245

2008-09 outlook: Coach Mike Woodson is still fuming over Horford’s runner-up finish in the rookie of the year race. Luckily, the second-year big man has already moved on. A member of the U.S. Select team that helped prepare the Olympic team for competition in Beijing, Horford was singled out by several of those veterans as the most impressive player on the prep squad. Horford’s so good he even turned his size disadvantage most nights into an advantage by simply outworking the opposition. Few teams in the league can boast a more promising young starting duo than him and Smith. Expect him to be a bit more offensive-minded this season, too. Another matchup nightmare for opposing teams most nights.

The backup: Zaza Pachulia, 6-11, 280

2008-09 outlook: After an uneven regular season, Pachulia resurrected his profile with a spirited effort against the Celtics (not to mention a feisty display of aggression against Kevin Garnett). The Hawks need him to return to the form he showed two years ago, when he averaged 12.2 points and seven rebounds.

The wild card: Randolph Morris, 6-11, 270

2008-09 outlook: Morris is a still project. But he’s had such limited minutes that it’s hard to know just what he can do. He has a chance to reinvent himself before the home crowd this season.

The verdict: Better. Horford’s no longer a rookie, and Morris, on size alone, gives this unit a gargantuan boost in the depth department.