ajcsportstalk

By Richard

June 28, 2006 08:25 PM | Link to this

This is another in a long line of bad picks for the Hawks. We just drafted a Adam Keefe Clone.

By JMar

June 28, 2006 08:25 PM | Link to this

I’m considering purchasing season tickets just so I can make Shelden Williams my own personal A-Rod. This is a joke, it has to be.

By Dru

June 28, 2006 08:25 PM | Link to this

Atlanta Hawk Basketball ruined for another 10 years….If the owners want to sell the team out of this city just do it right away so we dont have to suffer anymore. i will take an expansion team over the Hawks any day!

By Darkman

June 28, 2006 08:26 PM | Link to this

If i was unsure before, i know now that billy is not a stright thinker. We past on a superstar two years in a row and will not have a first round pick next year because of the dumb trade we made with the suns. I am just woo by this selection man.

By ShawnMac

June 28, 2006 08:26 PM | Link to this

I guess there is nothing we can do about it now..lol

By Shawn B

June 28, 2006 08:26 PM | Link to this

IT SUCKS. Williams could have been had five to seven picks later. There were some potentially consistent all-stars available at,GUARD, that they passed on. What is the thing with forwards here. WE NEED GUARDS.

By Kappy

June 28, 2006 08:26 PM | Link to this

I think i like the pick. look, we needed interior defense. that much is clear. we still need more depth there. it can be argued that joe johnson is our primary ballhandler, was top 20 in assists, and that we dont need a PG.

i just know we needed to upgrade our interior defense and hopefully we’ve done that.

By Tyson

June 28, 2006 08:27 PM | Link to this

I CAN’T BELIEVE WE JUST WASTED A #5 ON SOMEBODY THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THERE AT 10-15. I USED TO SUPPORT BILLY. NOT ANYMORE. BILLY, I AGREE WITH ALL OF THE BILLY BASHERS NOW

By charles

June 28, 2006 08:27 PM | Link to this

I like the pick for the Hawks as it addresses an area of need…..defense. The Hawks had no interior defense last year, giving up well over 100 points a game. While Josh Smith racks up the swats, they are more on smaller players, and he doesnt cause players to reconsider driving the lane. Shelden Williams will provide that intimidation factor. Hopefully the Hawks will address PG in the second round with Will Blalock, or by free agency.

By Van Halen

June 28, 2006 08:27 PM | Link to this

Perhaps the discontented are still paying to watch this sorry team and were hoping for Dwayne Wade or a Jordan. Our defense last year was horrible. This pick will boslter the defense and give the team a better chance to win. The Hawks can score, they just can’t stop anyone. Marvin Williams and Josh Smith are still maturing and will develop into star players. Shelden Williams, an actual college graduate, is the best pick at 5. He is not another project.

By Michael

June 28, 2006 08:28 PM | Link to this

Once again the Hawks have messed it up. The only way the Hawks can redeem themselves if they package a deal and move into the first round and grab a point guard, or pick up someone like Maurece Ager or Dee Brown in the Second Round. If they do not do that they do not deserve to have fans because they would have deceived and betrayed them. Get rid of Billy Knight.

By QB

June 28, 2006 08:28 PM | Link to this

One word: FOYE!

By JMar

June 28, 2006 08:28 PM | Link to this

With competent leadership, we would likely have Joe Johnson, Boris Diaw, the Lakers’ pick, next year’s Hawks pick, and have either traded down to get Shelden Williams and something extra or have drafted a player better than Williams. As is, we continue to be awful.

By dee

June 28, 2006 08:28 PM | Link to this

I can’t believe this!!!! No Hawks games for me this year until Billy Knightmare is out of this town. He just passed on 3 potential all-stars! Wow………SO MUCH FOR HAVING A GOOD PICK

By Jake

June 28, 2006 08:30 PM | Link to this

Randy Foye is the one pick you could make Billy, and you wouldn’t hear any of this!!!!! If you are going to take S. Williams, AT LEAST TRADE DOWN FOR HIM. FIRE BILLY KNIGHTMARE!!!!!!!!!!!11

By Brandy

June 28, 2006 08:32 PM | Link to this

Sheldon is a great pic…..we are gonna need him in the post!!! I’ve watched him play for 4 years, and i am sooo glad he landed up in the A!!!

By uga4ever

June 28, 2006 08:34 PM | Link to this

Foye could easily be a top pick in the draft. They are comparing him to Wade and Billups. Why? I knew you would blow it BK. Yes, Shelden will be a decent player….never an all-star. You just passed on 3 potential superstars in Foye, Roy, and Gay. I never supported you, but I still hoped it was just a rumor that you were using #5 on S. Williams. WOW!!

By K. Arnold

June 28, 2006 08:35 PM | Link to this

I agree with all you guys how do you pick Sheldon Williams when we need a POINT GUARD! I mean where do you expect to play him at Joe Johnson plays the 2 Josh Smith at 3 Marvin at 4 if we dont resign Al and Za Za at 5. Sheldon can not play the five so you Billy Knight you are drafting a guy that will never start is Josh and Marvin continue to play well. LASTLY I WANT TO SAY SHELDON WILLIAMS IS NO ELTON BRAND. Outside of Brand and Grant Hill Duke players have been bust i.e. Jay Williams, Lattener, Maggattte, Avery, Langdon, just to name a few

By Steve

June 28, 2006 08:36 PM | Link to this

Wow, I can’t believe we just wasted the number five pick. I feel like I just got kicked in the gut…

By Jim

June 28, 2006 08:37 PM | Link to this

FIRE Billy Knight!!! What kind of pick was this? I guess ownership enjoy playing in front of empty seats night after night….

By ShawnMac

June 28, 2006 08:37 PM | Link to this

Anybody know what the chances are that we trade Al Harrington?

By JMar

June 28, 2006 08:38 PM | Link to this

Come on, UGA - they may be comparing Foye to Billups and Wade, but they’re comparing Shelden to Dale and Antonio Davis! Whom would you rather have?

By JMar

June 28, 2006 08:39 PM | Link to this

With a competent front office, the chances of trading Al Harrington in a sign and trade are close to 100%. As is, probably next to nil.

By Jay

June 28, 2006 08:39 PM | Link to this

I think Billy Knight made a good pick. We needed a rebounder and interior defensive player and we get that from a mature college grad who played four years of basketball at Duke. Now we just need to trade the 33rd pick to Portland for Jarrett Jack.

By John

June 28, 2006 08:39 PM | Link to this

What’s it gonna take for BK to figure out that everybody hates his picks? Maybe he really think SW is the best player available at 5, but if your ENTIRE FANBASE hates you for making that pick, don’t you need to take that into account a little? What’s the solution? Is our media being a little to soft on him? Is it going to take them calling him out to finally get through to him?

By charles

June 28, 2006 08:40 PM | Link to this

K.Arnold,

Cory Maggette is a bust? What league are you watching? No one is comparing Shelden to ELton Brand. But no one on the Hawks current roster brings to the table what Shelden does either. The Hawks need a veteran point guard to lead these young guys to the playoffs. Putting a rookie PG in is not going to do the trick.

By Van Halen

June 28, 2006 08:42 PM | Link to this

All of you are a bunch of cry babies. If you don’t like the pick, don’t watch. Shelden Williams is a grown man and will stop the bleeding on defense. This team is young and they are improving. It takes time to grow a team. You all can jump on the bandwagon around Feb. when this team is heading towards the playoffs!

By wannabe Fan

June 28, 2006 08:42 PM | Link to this

As a braves falcons and G-Tech season ticketholder I am always hoping for a reason to be excited - disillusioned again is all I can say as we desperatly needed a point guard. Sign me off as glad that I can hold on to my hard earned cash another year as I won’t be spending another another cent on this ridiculous franchise. How low can you go. Who’s in charge of these loser’s.

By scott

June 28, 2006 08:44 PM | Link to this

who really cares.this shows why no one goes to games.

By Chris

June 28, 2006 08:44 PM | Link to this

crap…crap…crap…exactly how do you tell the 15th best player in the draft that you will pick him at 5 so everyone in the league knows and you can’t make a deal unbelievable…If they would have traded down and got anything else along with Sheldon with this pick I would have been ok with it. You have no fan base and you take a player that is almost universally ridiculed. This pick makes no sense to me.

By Evan

June 28, 2006 08:45 PM | Link to this

Well, I’ve certainly not been overwhelmed by recent Hawk draft picks. However, while Sheldon may not have a wow factor, the team picked exactly who they wanted. The pick fills a need which some seem unwilling to understand.

Yeah, piont guard is the biggest need but this draft is simply not solid at point in the lottery. Hawks missed that boat last seen when Chris Paul sailed past.

Ideally, the Hawks will pick up Dee Brown in the 2nd who has a lot of potential as a sleeper pick. He could go higher.

By Charles

June 28, 2006 08:45 PM | Link to this

I just do not get it. I am confused and outraged. He is what 6”7” and they list as 6”8”. I just don’t get it. We need a taller player that can bang or a passer who would make the players better. I was for Billy Knight but now I am not so sure? The jury is out on Billy Knight.

Better yet Billy Knight is on the clock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If the team does not get in the playoffs we need to make an uprise to get Mr, Knight out of here.

By Chris

June 28, 2006 08:46 PM | Link to this

I guess the Duke fans that live in Atlanta will now be fired up about the Hawks.

By MARC

June 28, 2006 08:47 PM | Link to this

WHY NOT TRADE DOWN MR. KNIGHT? WE WOULD HAVE GOT SOMETHING AND STILL GOT SHELDON WILLIAMS. I REALLY DO LOVE THE HAWKS EVER SINCE THE DAYS OF D. WILKENS, BUT NO DISRESPECT YOU ARE MAKING INTO HARDER EVERY YEAR. I BELIEVE YOU HAVE REALLY GOOD INTENTIONS, BUT IT MAY BE TIME TO HANG IT UP!! WHEN YOUR TIMES UP IT’S UP! THIS TEAM IS AT A STALEMATE, IT IS GETTING NO BETTER, MAYBE WE CAN STILL DO IT IF WE TRADE FOR A

ALLEN IVERSON OR

JASON TERRY WE REALLY NEED THIS AS THE FANS!!!

OR DO THE FANS STILL COUNT??????????????

By just tired

June 28, 2006 08:47 PM | Link to this

I just heard the analysis of this pick on ESPN. The consensus is that this is a horrible pick by most of these analyst. Why wasn’t a deal made with A. Harrington in a sign and trade or trade down to get more picks? I would like to apologize to the guys on this blog who I thought were not giving Billy K. and Woody a fair shot. My opinion has completely changed. I think Billy K. wants us to believe that his arrogance and bravado equate to basketball intelligence and smarts. In contrast this one picks shows us that his arrogance and bravado equates to stupidity and stubborness. The hawks don’t have a clue what they are doing and why draft a PF who was abused by Sean May, Cedric Simmons, and Eric Williams. What do you think he is going to do in the league against pro bigs? Horrendous pick! Somebody does need to be fired! Waste of talent and a franchise! Spirit group with this management and coaching you need to sell to Belkin. I’m disgusted by this pick and feel let down as a fan!!!!!

By Fred

June 28, 2006 08:47 PM | Link to this

What an absolutely horrible pick. There were at least ten better players in this draft than the one we got. He is too small to play center in the NBA, he cannot score and he has no personality. I am absolutely sick. I have constantly defended the Hawks, but Billy Knight’s ineptitude is overwhelming me. For the first time, I am really rooting for Belkin to get the team and get rid of the buffoon running things now.

By jonathan

June 28, 2006 08:48 PM | Link to this

Billy Knight is a meta-moron. I do not know if I can take any more of this. WE ARE THE WORST FRANCHISE IN THE HISTORY OF SPORTS!!! To not at least trade down and get draft picks or prospects is criminal. Billy Knight is a smug, arrogant, worthless excuse of a G.M. And for round two, no draft picks for the next two years!!! Joe Johnson is great. However, so is Diaw. I pray Steve Belkin comes in soon and fires anyone who has had anything to do with this pathetic excuse for a franchise. Billy Knight must go. Beyond being a P.R nightmare, he is a useless G.M. I mean his claim to fame is the Pau Gasol trade he made with who? Oh yeah, the worst franchise in the history of sports.

By Shawn

June 28, 2006 08:48 PM | Link to this

I’ve watched him for 4 years and he’s a college player, he’s not 6-0, but closer to 6-8. Had he not played for Duke, he would have spent half his time on the bench with fouls due to all his over the back fouls and elbows he throw, that won’t cut it in the NBA.

Also, with the loss of Harrington and his 19ppg, the Hawks will be losing much more in scoring than Williams will save on the defensive end. Plus, he won’t be swatting away balls from 6-2 guards, he’ll be getting attacked by much bigger, stronger, and more athletic players.

Bad pick, and it will cost the franchise

By CJ

June 28, 2006 08:48 PM | Link to this

Charles and I’m sure Doc when he logs on…it is true the Hawks needed a defensive PF. But Williams 2006 is going to be no more than a solid role player. Hey honestly I think he’ll have a long career, and alot of teams would’ve appreciated him on the roster. But solid PF in that ilk are available every year via trade or free agency. Why use a high pick on a role player when you have potentially greater talent at a needed position avaialable. This is the same mistake BK made last year. And I’m assuming he’s going to take Marvin’s spot on the bench now. He MAY start…but he won’t be an offensive player. He’d be undersized at center. When harrington leaves we’ll be short a 18+ ppg player and Johnson will be the only player that can actually break opponents off the dribble. Thats a problem. Everyone else are pretty much set shooters. Salim can’t play the point effectively, Lue is a set shooter/poor passer, Ivey is heady but can’t stay in the game(Woodson). Is there any gaurd out there that is better than who was currently available in the 1st round? I don’t see it..

By SUE

June 28, 2006 08:49 PM | Link to this

I DIDN’T KNOW THAT YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO LET THE WHOLE LEAGUE KNOW WHO YOU ARE GOING TO TAKE 2 WEEKS BEFORE THE DRAFT. I THOUGHT YOU WEREN’T SUPPOSED TO REVEAL YOUR HAND. I GUESS I AM WRONG. THE ONLY PICK IN THE DRAFT EVERYONE KNEW WAS THE HAWKS PICK AT #5. WHY IS THAT?

By JMar

June 28, 2006 08:49 PM | Link to this

No, Shelden doesn’t have wow factor, and he will be a decent pro. But with the fifth pick, a decent pro is not what you should be looking for. Remember the last time we went with the “sure thing decent pro” with an unusually early pick? His name was Josh Childress. Meanwhile, he’s coming off the bench for one of the worst teams in basketball, and the guys most of us wanted, Andre Iguodala and Luol Deng, the guys with the wow factor, continue to wow and still show far more potential.

By Jarrard

June 28, 2006 08:52 PM | Link to this

Well, we don’t have any first round picks next year. So, I guess Sheldon Williams is our future. I used to like BK. Not after tonight. We now officially have the worst general manager in the league.

By QB

June 28, 2006 08:52 PM | Link to this

There are no good free agents available worth the money they will be overpaid. What the hawks need to do is fire Woodson and Knight. Make a trade for some kind of good gaurd like Rondo or Williams and get Larry Brown to coach up the youth on the team he is great at teaching fundamentals which this young team needs!

By Ike J.

June 28, 2006 08:54 PM | Link to this

Mark my word- Billy Knightmare just passed on future all stars in Foye and Roy (chris paul anyone). We used a #5 pick on a decent pro who will never be an all star. Wow!! FIRE BILLY KNIGHT

EVERYONE SEND AN EMAIL TO THE ATLANTA SPIRIT

By mountain_jim

June 28, 2006 08:59 PM | Link to this

I think it’s likely a more agile dealmaker would have succeeded in trading down if he had to have this pick.

I wanted Foye or Roy myself.

mj

By Robert

June 28, 2006 09:00 PM | Link to this

I just hope Belkin takes over the team before BK runs it into the ground. The current ownership and management have no idea how to run an NBA team. You suck BK.

By Artie

June 28, 2006 09:01 PM | Link to this

No surprise at all. Just another blown draft by the Hawks. They needed another 6’9” “tweener” like a hole in the head. When will the Hawks organization wise up to the fact that Billy Knight is simply poison?!?!

By Glutton for Punishment

June 28, 2006 09:01 PM | Link to this

Dont you think it is interesting that none of * YOUR POINT GUARDS* are off the board yet. We are at number 14 and they are ALL still have not been picked… I have heard that NONE of the PGs were that good and maybe they were right??….

By jay

June 28, 2006 09:01 PM | Link to this

I think people are judging the Chris Paul pick prematurely. It’s too early to say Paul is going to be a better pro than M.Williams. Marvin Williams is going to be a excellent player in the NBA, its just a matter of time. He began to show the type of player he will be toward the end of the season last year, thats why he made 2nd team All-Rookie.

By billyknightsux

June 28, 2006 09:04 PM | Link to this

The sooner Steve Belkin gets control of this team, the better.

By Artie

June 28, 2006 09:08 PM | Link to this

I’m all for giving Steve Belkin a shot!!!! The Hawks are nothing more than the K.C. Royals of the NBA.

By charles

June 28, 2006 09:10 PM | Link to this

Glutton, you nailed it. Marcus Williams tested out horribly with his physical tests. He has the vertical leap of a hippo. Rondo has no offensive game. Farmar, Rodriguez and Gibson are nowhere near lottery picks. The Hawks didnt need another scorer at that pick. Am I upset BK didnt make a trade down? Hell yes. But given that he didnt I was not upset with the pick of Shelden

By Bob

June 28, 2006 09:10 PM | Link to this

The organization does not have plan that makes any sense. They are killing us as fans. I may have watched my last game.

By chris

June 28, 2006 09:10 PM | Link to this

Everybody on this board needs to give sheldon a break. He is goig to come out and be a pretty darn good ball player. yes we can blame Bk but dont blame sheldon. He does not know how to loose so he will come in and be a hard nose player. Who knows billy may come out and make a trade and we could end up with a good point guard. We can still come out of here with a good draft.

By YouThoughtElginBaylorwasInept?

June 28, 2006 09:11 PM | Link to this

Perhaps we are all just looking at this thing wrong. Maybe Billy Knight’s ultimate plan is to make sure that the Hawks are so bad next year that we will be guaranteed the best chance at getting Greg Oden. Remember when the Clippers were the punchline for, oh I don’t know, twenty years? I am afraid that we are closing in fast.

By Hawk Hack

June 28, 2006 09:11 PM | Link to this

RANDY FOYE, RANDY FOYE, RANDY FOYE, enough said, Billy Knight should do us all a favor and take a hike, he’s a joke, the Hawks entire organization is a joke. When the hell are we ever going to see a playoff game at Philips Arena?

By Astro Joe

June 28, 2006 09:13 PM | Link to this

Where are all of the Marcus Wiliams advocates from the past few weeks as Marcus STILL has not been selected (as of the 16th pick)? And you thought we reached for Shelden?

And boy, I sure am glad Orlando didn’t select Brewer because he would have been a tough defender for Johnson.

By Fire Billy

June 28, 2006 09:13 PM | Link to this

Every year I watch the draft, and every year since I can remember the Hawks have been horribly disappointing in their picks. They always make the pick that none of the fans want, it doesn’t matter who the owners or gms are. This pick is disgraceful and if the Hawks don’t pick a fantastic point guard at some point in this draft Billy Knight should be fired. I really do think they are trying to move the team now.

By JMar

June 28, 2006 09:14 PM | Link to this

I cannot believe Marcus Williams is available at 17 and there’s nothing we can do about it.

By JD

June 28, 2006 09:14 PM | Link to this

is anyone paying attention? no point guards have been taken with the first 16 picks. randy foye is not really a point guard-kyle lowrey was really the point on last season’s villanova team. keep watching to see what develops.

By RPH

June 28, 2006 09:14 PM | Link to this

While I sort of understand the Williams pick, what I don’t understand is why didnt we trade down a few spots to fill this need. I will be very suprised if Williams ever cracks the starting lineup, so in those terms wouldn’t it have been smarter to pick a guard to play a little point and help spell JJ at the 2 spot? I agree the hawks could use a veteran pg but who in the world wants to come to ATL? While Williams might be nba ready and can contribute some time off the bench, does he really improve our defense that much coming off the bench??? I mean wouldnt a pg that can defend and distribute the ball help improve our defense just as much as Williams? How many years in a row can the hawks draft guys to fill the small forward/power forward spot and and it help the team??? We need a starting pg and a center, which we still have yet to address. Think about it is Williams coming off the bench behind Marvin really that great of an addition at #5 in the draft??

By CJ

June 28, 2006 09:18 PM | Link to this

Look Glutton it’s not about BK bashing. It’s about NOT maximizing your assets and opportunities. BK ALWAYS settles for OK or just enough…never for more which even the most rudamentary GM is able to do at times. NY, Golden State they suck too..but we are right in the pit with them. Those kind of decisions actually hurt the franchise for years..and as a sports fan, Hawks fan that has been with them for years it’s too much. I’m sure once the LLC realizes that the Hawks have lost any prestige or respect left and become a further laughing stock…and they see ESPN dogging them on their high def TV’s then maybe they’ll have a clue. Then again it’s a chance they’ll get booted out all together. The process has already started..nearly all(if not every) NBA mind don’t regard these moves or trades as wise.

By Vol

June 28, 2006 09:18 PM | Link to this

Roy was available and the next best pick. I guess nobody thinks much about Marcus Williams, who some people really wanted.

I like Williams and hope we keep him. I just think he was a 10-15 pick, not a 5 like Roy.

What happened to the Rockets trade where we would have picked up Willams (for less money) and Head for Roy?

By Bigboi

June 28, 2006 09:21 PM | Link to this

We really don’t need a point guard,we still have Tyrone Lue. He showed lots of improvement towards the end of the year. I hear that we’re trying to trade Al Harrington, and Josh childress to Houston for Dekembe Mutombo. With that trade our center problem is taken care of also.

By JMar

June 28, 2006 09:22 PM | Link to this

That’s very funny, Bigboi.

By billy g

June 28, 2006 09:23 PM | Link to this

I agree with the pick. Now draft a PG in the second round. Barrea or Blalock will do very well.

By Vol

June 28, 2006 09:23 PM | Link to this

I sure would trade somebody for a draft pick to get Marcus Williams. Kind of like the Falcons picking Jimmy Williams unexpectedly late. Might shore up that PG position easier than we thought.

By pat

June 28, 2006 09:26 PM | Link to this

This pick stinks, a role player at best, not worth the 5th pick, but BK is making the selection and this guy doesn’t know what he is doing, when does Belkin take over

By Frank Werhun

June 28, 2006 09:27 PM | Link to this

Great pick! You build from the middle, out. You start with defense. We just cut 10 points off our awful points-per-game-allowed average. Keep it up, Hawks!!!!

By jon koncak

June 28, 2006 09:27 PM | Link to this

Trade Billy Knight to the LA Sparxx for a player to be named later…

By CJ

June 28, 2006 09:29 PM | Link to this

Looks like Woodson says the Hawks want to sign a gaurd. The only realistic prospect it seems is Bobby Jackson. Maybe we get a gaurd before the night is done? Anyone want to guess..

By T

June 28, 2006 09:29 PM | Link to this

They keep mentioning this Atlanta team that had the number 5 pick taking Sheldon Williams from Duke… Do we even have an NBA team here in the ATL because I thought we had a NBADL team. anyone….anyone?

By Astro Joe

June 28, 2006 09:31 PM | Link to this

Guys, it looks like there will be some interested guards available at pick #33. We may end up getting a very quality guard in the second round. Seems like all these teams desparate for PGs are not convinced that the ones available in this draft are worth the pick. So I guess Larry Bird is an idiot too.

Also, if you guys think that Shelden would have lasted beyond Houston at #8, you’re CRAZY.

By Jimmy G.

June 28, 2006 09:32 PM | Link to this

Billy Knight likes fowards more than Dan Reeves likes tight ends. What is this idiot thinking. O.K., there can only be one of three reasons for this…1, BK beleves that Belkin is going to gain control of this team and will fire him anyway so why not screw Belkin on the way out (but he screws us, the fans as well). 2, BK has a trade or two lined up that will ship out one of our fowards for a center and or a point guard. 3, Billy Knight and Isiah Thomas share a brain….I think its option number 3.

By JMar

June 28, 2006 09:35 PM | Link to this

Thank goodness, Marcus Williams lasted to our 21st pick that we got from the Lakers! This is working out perfectly! Oh, wait…

By Leon79

June 28, 2006 09:35 PM | Link to this

Quick Quiz: Name the last Duke player that REALLY panned out in the NBA. Enough said.

By David

June 28, 2006 09:36 PM | Link to this

We’re getting into the range now where it’s feasible that Williams or Rondo makes it back to us…or at least close enough that we can trade up to get them.

By charles

June 28, 2006 09:36 PM | Link to this

Well at least Isiah Thomas makes BK look like a good GM. RENALDO BALKMAN????

By AL

June 28, 2006 09:38 PM | Link to this

BAD BILLY, NO GO TO YOUR ROOM AND DO NOT COME OUT TILL THIS TEAM IS IN THE PLAYOFFS.

IF HE DRAFTS ANOTHER 6’8 PLAYER AND HE CAN NOT PLAY POINT OR CENTER I WILL NOT ATTEND A GAME THIS YEAR LIKE LAST.

By QB

June 28, 2006 09:38 PM | Link to this

The hawks need to hope Rondo is still available. He plays defense can rebound well for a guard and has speed. He can be coached to shoot. He can be all NBA defensive first team in two years.

By charles

June 28, 2006 09:38 PM | Link to this

Leon79…..ever heard of Elton Brand?

By HawksW810

June 28, 2006 09:41 PM | Link to this

Jay, thank you, not only did the Hawks pass on Paul, but so did several other teams. This 2020 Monday night QBing is the joke, you want a pg people? They can be found in the FA market, this dude has natural physical abilities in the post few teams in the NBA has. At 6’9”, a wingspan well above 7’, tho his movement is somewhat stiff, that’s mainly due to his muscular body, this guy is the enforcer the Hawks need, toughness before all else, a PG has to gel with your system, a TRUE PF can play on any team. The last time the Hawks had a true PF, his name was TRUCK ROBINSON. This kid’s body can handle another 15lbs of power and he can rotate with J. Smith and Zaza, relax with this PG stuff, Paul would not have made this young team, with a rookie coach that much better, believe me he would not have been rookie of the year on this team, just as Diaw would not have been most improved. I like where we are going, chill and watch! PG in the 2nd rd and through free agency.

By JimDog

June 28, 2006 09:41 PM | Link to this

Billy Knight is trying to insure that we keep our pick next year in what looks to be a great draft. Who wants to guess what foward we will pick in the second round? If you need me I as a Hawks fan will be cutting eye holes out of a brown paper bag!!

By David

June 28, 2006 09:42 PM | Link to this

I like the pick though I regret we couldn’t acquire Luther Head in the process. The player added to the Hawks works for me. Not trading down to select him later is what troubles me.

As for the point guard need, Mike James is a stud. He’s a 20 points/6 assists guy who shoots 47%. We are circling to the point where we could trade back up to get Marcus Williams, though.

By Glutton for Punishment

June 28, 2006 09:42 PM | Link to this

Dont mess with Billy Knight…. Atleast we are not the NY Knicks…. YEA !!! And all you M. Williams lovers….. HE IS STILL ON THE BOARD… WHY????

By Steve

June 28, 2006 09:43 PM | Link to this

Per Billy he don’t really care what our opinions are. I wonder what free agent he will trade for this year. What a moron!

By billy g

June 28, 2006 09:45 PM | Link to this

Possible second round picks:

Will Blalock: Gifted PG skills. Is only 6-0 but he has long arms. Great leader.

Jose Barrea: 5’-11” dynamo. This guy lead the Puerto Rican team to great success. He handled Chris Paul and Derron very easily. His outside shot is not polished and he is short. Otherwise, a very good player.

Solomon Jones: 6’-10” with pteradactyl arms. He is tough and played well in the Big East.

With the news that we will go after a FA PG, the night makes more sense.

By walter

June 28, 2006 09:46 PM | Link to this

ive been a hawks fan for 21 years and after this pick i am no longer a hawks fan.

By David

June 28, 2006 09:48 PM | Link to this

What cracks me up about the Chris Paul second-guessing is that the talking heads and pseudo-experts doing it are the same ones who swore last year that the Hawks got the best player in the draft. If you didn’t have a problem with it then, don’t act like you hate it now.

And for the record, rookie season notwithstanding, I would still take Marvin Williams over Chris Paul for the rest of their careers.

By QB

June 28, 2006 09:49 PM | Link to this

Think about this could have been the hawks starting lineup.

1.Foye 2.JJ 3.JSmooth 4.M Williams 5.ZaZa

Bench:Jchill,Salim,Lue,Free agent foward

By GM R

June 28, 2006 09:52 PM | Link to this

Why didn’t he trade down? Same as he should have done with Childress. The trouble with BKs plan is that there is no plan. Perhaps we can ask Ben R to offer him a motorbike ride?

By Rico

June 28, 2006 09:53 PM | Link to this

Does it really matter? This was Billy “my way or the highway” Knight’s last pick. He will be gone before Christmas.

By charles

June 28, 2006 09:55 PM | Link to this

QB, while Foye may turn out to be a good or even great player, what I see on that plate is a lot of stringbeans with no beef. The Hawks will never go anywhere with a doughnut defense, which is what that lineup would produce. Williams fills that much exploited hole on the interior.

By Skydawg

June 28, 2006 09:56 PM | Link to this

Who gives a damn..its the NBA. Atlanta has been and always will be a football town. Even in the height of the Braves success, this was still a football town. I’d rather watch the Thrashers play any day than watch the Bozo the Clown management of the Hawks. Its unbelievable that on one hand you have Don Waddell (very savy) as a GM and on the other you have Billy Knight (very moronic). I wonder if Billy Knight went to the Dan Reeves school of sport drafting. Give me a tight end…no give me a another mediocre forward. What a joke!!! Good thing football is just around the corner.

By chris

June 28, 2006 09:56 PM | Link to this

Sergio and farmar are still on the board if we can get one of these two point gurads to slip into the second round they will be much better than what we have at the point right now.

By Shawn B

June 28, 2006 10:01 PM | Link to this

I hate this pick as much as everyone else on here.

HOWEVER,those talking about why the Hawks didn’t do a sign and trade with Al Harrington, you can’t do a SIGN and trade until after the free agency period begins, so that was not a possibility. They should have traded down though if they were planning on passing up on the future all-stars that teams got behind them.

By Leon79

June 28, 2006 10:02 PM | Link to this

Charles, notice I said REALLY. Elton Brand is serviceable, but considering the storied program from whence he is came….he’s just o.k. This team lacks an inside presence and Williams will never be more than just o.k. Trading down here would have made sense if you’re not going to take a chance on an athletic point. Veteran toughness can be found via free agency. Where’s Dan Roundfield when you need him?

By David

June 28, 2006 10:04 PM | Link to this

Dee Brown is now the PG I would like to see wearing a Hawks jersey.

By Ian

June 28, 2006 10:05 PM | Link to this

This could have been the dumbest pick the hawks could make and yet again it was not a suprise. Hey Billy, the point isn’t to draft as many swing men as possible. I hope you are fired soon

By QB

June 28, 2006 10:05 PM | Link to this

We need a guard that can play good defense to stop guards from penetrating into the lane. Foye fills up a stat sheet wit points, steals, rebs, assts. It was just a no brain pick get a free agent center like Pryzbilla to block shots and rebound. You need to use your draft to get complete players which at 5 we would have had in Foye

By BullDawg Rick

June 28, 2006 10:07 PM | Link to this

The Hawks pick is so par for the course…

Afterall they are the Hawks..

All forwards, no center, no point…

By David

June 28, 2006 10:09 PM | Link to this

Elton Brand was second team All-NBA and got MVP votes. That’s night and day more than “just o.k.”.

By M bragg

June 28, 2006 10:09 PM | Link to this

Billy Knight just doesn’t seem to have the aptitude to be the GM of an NBA team…seriously, this is nothing personal but he just seems to not be very intelligent.

By Abu

June 28, 2006 10:09 PM | Link to this

GO GREG ODEN 2007!!!!!! but judging the hawks past 5 picks look for us to pick a bum

By Greg

June 28, 2006 10:09 PM | Link to this

The water at Phillips must be bad. It has effected Billy Knight the same way it did Pete Babcock.

By hawksnumba1fan

June 28, 2006 10:10 PM | Link to this

I am dissapointed, no VET will want to play for us dont they undserstand. WOODY is a horrible coach, Knight is a idiot I just dont know what to say about us picking all these darn 6”9 players.

By Jimmy

June 28, 2006 10:12 PM | Link to this

Can we run Billy out of town now please??

By Numba1Fan

June 28, 2006 10:14 PM | Link to this

My God what is this idiot thinking with that pick…… All I can say is that there better be a trade for a point guard. We coulda picked up another big body for rebounding via free agency and drafted a point guard with this pick. Up to now I though BK had done ok except to overpay for Joe Johnson, now I am convinced this guy is NUTZ!!! if they do not trade Al Harrington for a PG.

By

June 28, 2006 10:17 PM | Link to this

Ummmm lets go Thashers!!!!! Oh yea and fire Billy Knight! Please

By Matthew

June 28, 2006 10:18 PM | Link to this

I don’t so much have a problem with Williams as a player as I do our obsession with forwards. In a draft where the guard position is the deepest in a few years, we refuse to draft an obvious need at that position. This is just as bad as Dan Reeves obsession with TE’s.

By chuckie d

June 28, 2006 10:21 PM | Link to this

Get rid of these stinkin’ owners….bring on Belkin can he be any worse? The Hawks and the city of Atlanta are the laughing stock of the league. FIRE Billy Knight now!!!!!!! Can you say, we need a point guard….huh Billy?

By

June 28, 2006 10:23 PM | Link to this

please fire BK immediately, another blunder having plenty of opportunities to trade up to get a pg late in the first round and we don’t pull the trigger, please leave this franchise Mr. Knight, you are horrible

By

June 28, 2006 10:23 PM | Link to this

HERE IS THE DIFFERENCE IN A GOOD GM AND A BAD ONE

Colangelo- Built Phx into a powerhouse for years to come… plus next year they get 2 first round picks (one being the Hawks)

Jerry West- Gets Rudy Gay and Kyle Lowry on an already playoff caliber team. Plus they have 2 first round picks next year

Paxson- They get Tyrus Thomas on an already playoff team that is one of the youngest in the league. They started rebuilding when the Hawks did.

Billy Knight- picks Shelden Williams WITH A #5 on a team that wins 26 games and now has 8 forwards. He has no first round picks next year and is supposedly “rebuilding”

THERE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE IN A GOOD GM AND A BAD ONE.

By Brian

June 28, 2006 10:24 PM | Link to this

If Dee Brown is sitting there at 33, the Hawks need to scoop him up quick!

By Numba1Fan

June 28, 2006 10:25 PM | Link to this

We are DOOMED!!!! Unless….they do not addressthe following area: PG via a deal, using the 33rd pick or via free agancy. Thoughts anyone???

By BEN

June 28, 2006 10:26 PM | Link to this

Congrats Billy. you have just lost 90% of the remaining Hawks fans. Good Job with that #5 pick…. considering there were 2 guys out there that could have went #1 (Foye and Roy) I don’t think anyone could say that about S. Williams. He is a decent player but not worthy of a top 5 pick. Good job Billy

By Brian

June 28, 2006 10:27 PM | Link to this

I’ve heard Randy Foye compared to Chauncey Billups, Ben Gordon and Dwayne Wade. And I’ve heard Shelden Williams compared to Dale Davis.. You do the math…

By al

June 28, 2006 10:27 PM | Link to this

Actually…doesn’t BK have a pick coming up in a few minutes?

By Leon79

June 28, 2006 10:29 PM | Link to this

David, Like I said, Brand is o.k. He FITS his team and makes them better. That is a step up. Williams is cut from the same great at Duke mediocre in the pros cloth. The litany of milquetoast, pedestrian, whitebread players from that school is staggering. Bad pick.

By Tim

June 28, 2006 10:29 PM | Link to this

IT IS NOW OFFICIAL. BILLY (DARK AND STORMY) KNIGHT IS AN IDIOT. NOT ONLY THAT, THE 7 OWNERS WHO SIT BY AND LET BK SCREW UP THIS TEAM ARE IDIOTS TOO!!(CAPS ON ‘CAUSE I’M MAD). To summarize we have spent the 6th pick(Childress) and 5th pick(S Williams) on role players(they will not even start!!) I have been a fan since 1966. I am now officially no longer a fan until BK and the current owners are run out of town!!

By J-BO

June 28, 2006 10:34 PM | Link to this

I like Duke. Shelden Williams is a good player . But how can you pass on a chance to build your team around a solid point like Marcus Williams? Shelden can’t bring the ball up or create scoring opportunities for other players. The Hawks are a JOKE!!!! I have tried to be patient and make excuses for this team, but this in the final straw. Billy Knight go coach a recreation league because you are way out of your league in the NBA.

By ShawnMac

June 28, 2006 10:34 PM | Link to this

We need to get Daniel Gibson in the 2nd round

By Knight is a joke

June 28, 2006 10:35 PM | Link to this

HahahaHahahaHahahaHahahaHahahaHahahaHahahaHahahaHahahaHahahaHahahaHahahaHahahaHahahaHahaha

Someone wake me up. Is this for real?

What is Knight going to screw up next?

By al

June 28, 2006 10:36 PM | Link to this

Does everyone REALLY think Childress was a bad pick? Personally, I love Childress on our team. I think he’s one of our best players. He’s coming off the bench because coach needs him to provide a spark for the team. Childress usually finishes games for us. And most of the games the Hawks actually did win last year were games when he was given the chance to do his thing on the court.

Now does that mean that Sheldon Williams was the best available player at #5? Probably not. But don’t drag Childress into this!!!

By Numba1Fan

June 28, 2006 10:36 PM | Link to this

There is hope boys….. there are few serviceable names left on the board at PG position who may fall in our laps at the 33rd. Miracles do happen but BK is a MORON.

By Tmo

June 28, 2006 10:39 PM | Link to this

How many Great players stay in college for 4 years now-a-days. BUST This team is in shambles.

By Leon79

June 28, 2006 10:41 PM | Link to this

Al, I agree. I LOVE Josh Childress and what he brings every night. I’ve also seen people dogging T-Lue. I’ll take those guys off my BENCH every night. Bottom line is we could have done more with the 5 pick and we settled when bold action was required.

By charles

June 28, 2006 10:42 PM | Link to this

Maybe guys who want to actually get their college education stay in school??? What a novel concept….

By Robert

June 28, 2006 10:43 PM | Link to this

I mean is this NBA Live 06’ the crazed fan version. Obviously the talent in this draft was not worth teams moving up, players were falling where team wanted them to. This team needs a veteran leader more than anything, and this draft doesn’t have the D. Wade’s and Lebron’s. If the Hawks improve their D, they will win. The 2nd and 3rd scoring opportunities Hawks opponents got last year was the death of them. And the hawks are on the clock…

By Ben

June 28, 2006 10:44 PM | Link to this

Even Portland is building a better team….. Hell, they have 5 first round picks and get Roy and Aldridge. We are supposedly rebuilding and we get S. Williams with no picks next year.

Billy Knightmare….. please get the f##k out of town. You have lost more Hawks fans tonight then ever.

By Tmo

June 28, 2006 10:44 PM | Link to this

Diplomas dont win games in the NBA

By ShawnMac

June 28, 2006 10:44 PM | Link to this

BK, just draft a PG with the 33rd pick and make amends somewhat!

By David

June 28, 2006 10:45 PM | Link to this

And like I said, saying Elton Brand is just “okay” is ludicrous. He is a former number one overall pick who got more MVP votes this year than Tim freakin’ Duncan. If Williams winds up even in the neighborhood of Brand, he’s a steal at #5. Acting like Duke players never pan out is simply demonstrating a lack of awareness of the 2005-2006 season.

And al, you are dead on about Childress.

By Derrick

June 28, 2006 10:45 PM | Link to this

Hey al,

It wasn’t that Childress was such a bad pick, its just that there were 2 players Loul Deng and Igoudala who most people thought were better players. If Billy wants to go against the grain, fine, but you’d better be right and he wasn’t. Both Deng and Igoudala are probably future All-Stars while Childress will be a decent swingman in the league, but you USED THE #6 PICK!!! And he’s repeating the same problem. Shelden might be a good Antonio Davis-type player for a number of years, but you don’t draft for good players with the 5th or 6th pick in a draft, you draft for potentially great players. When will you people realize that that pompous jerk posing as a GM, isn’t worth your defense.

By Tmo sucks

June 28, 2006 10:46 PM | Link to this

Sure diplomas don’t win games but your argument that he must not be a good player b/c he stayed in college for 4 years or that that is a detrement to his NBA potential is pretty ignorant. You’ve gotta be some UGA fan who thinks they know basketball.

By CJ

June 28, 2006 10:46 PM | Link to this

SOLOMON JONES!!!!!!!!! 6/9 FOWARD!!!! ROSTER CUT

By charles

June 28, 2006 10:46 PM | Link to this

OK, maybe now I will join the fire BK bandwagon also…..Solomon Jones?

By David

June 28, 2006 10:47 PM | Link to this

Jones was MVP of the Portsmouth Invitational and averaged 13 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks last season. I like this pick a lot.

By hazer

June 28, 2006 10:47 PM | Link to this

No picks next year? Remember, they’re lottery protected. Looks like BK wants to catch the lottery next year too (C;

By Tmo

June 28, 2006 10:48 PM | Link to this

Good Player…Yes…Number 5 Pick… No Way

By Derrick

June 28, 2006 10:48 PM | Link to this

David,

I haven’t heard one serious analyst compare Shelden Williams to Brand. Brand was considered a #1 pick when he came out, while just about every GM in the league considered Shelden a #15 pick in this much weaker draft. I agree that Brand is a great player, and Shelden Williams is no Elton Brand.

By Steve

June 28, 2006 10:49 PM | Link to this

Another 6-10 Forward HA HAHAHHAHHAH

By JimDog

June 28, 2006 10:49 PM | Link to this

As I said at 9:41 pm..anyone want to guess what foward we would pick in the second round….PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE…..FIRE Billy Knight…you could replace him with a peanut vendor and he could do no worse.

By Brian

June 28, 2006 10:50 PM | Link to this

Solomon Who???? Billy give me something man….

By Skydawg

June 28, 2006 10:50 PM | Link to this

LMAO…what a freakin joke. Another damn forward. Now I’m really starting to wonder if Knight IS trying to sabotage the Hawks fearing Belkin is gonna win the lawsuit and take ownership. Come on dude..how many damn forwards can you have on a team? UN-FREAKIN-BELIEVABLE!!!!!!!!

By Tmo

June 28, 2006 10:52 PM | Link to this

Sorry JimDog but we could do worse…One word Isiah.

By Steve

June 28, 2006 10:52 PM | Link to this

Just a horrible pick for the Hawks. We were the only team to have him that high…BK is one terrible GM.

BRING ON BELKIN!!!

By Div I-AA Atlanta Hawks

June 28, 2006 10:53 PM | Link to this

Chris Crawford,Ed Gray, Roy Marble, Doug Edwards, Hanno Mottola, Roshown McCleod, Priest Lauderdale, Jon Koncak, Cal Bowdler, Cuonzo Martin, Donnie Boyce, Adam Keefe, Dion Glover, DeMarr Johnson, Terrence Morris, Dan Dickau, Travis Hansen, Gaylon Nickerson, Dallas Comegys, Rumeal Robinson…have the hawks ever drafted anyone worth a mention? I hate the uniforms too by the way.

By ShawnMac

June 28, 2006 10:53 PM | Link to this

The only thing I can think is that we are gonna sign and trade Harrington for a guard. I guess we can also say goodbye to John Edwards and possibly Batista. I think Williams and Jones will be an upgrade to what we have on the roster now. Regardless, BK and Woodson need to go NOW!

By al

June 28, 2006 10:54 PM | Link to this

Okay… Another 6-9 forward. I’d say I was surprised but, well, I’m not. So I guess Harrington’s definately gone, huh?

Hey Leon, so are you saying Childress is just a bench player? I disagree. He plays 30 minutes a night. And I equate him to a good starter on a good team. Sure, he’s not a superstar but he’s a good starter. If the Hawks had traded HIM to the Suns last year, I guarrantee he would have gotten the same good press that Diaw got.

By N Reed

June 28, 2006 10:54 PM | Link to this

Billy Knight is an idiot! He’s got to be the stupidest GM in all of sports. Why does he have this job? Where has he EVER proven he has the intellect to do this job?

By jason

June 28, 2006 10:55 PM | Link to this

Well, on the bright side, we should have a size advantage at every spot on the floor except center. Granted, it would involve just about everyone playing out of position, but still….

By Brian

June 28, 2006 10:56 PM | Link to this

is this town Loserville or what?

By JimDog

June 28, 2006 10:57 PM | Link to this

Billy Knight says ” We have a plan in place to make this team better ” Translation in english ” I was the first and only human survivor with a brain transplant with a baboon. OHHH whats this in the back of the fridge with green stuff growing on it..I think I will eat it…the colors, the colors, the fowards, the fowards”

By RichieRich

June 28, 2006 10:57 PM | Link to this

both of our pick’s are reaches were they were taken….what happened with the houston trade?…roy was there for the taking….what about daniel gibson with the 33rd pick???…soloman jones might have went undrafted…..billy just showed us all what a f*** he is!!!!!he was to scared to even show his face at phillips tonight…he had dominique give the bad news to everbody in the arena….where were all the owners at???they were to ashamed to show their faces….what a sad ownership group!!!

By scrat

June 28, 2006 10:58 PM | Link to this

I cannot believe they just picked ANOTHER forward in the 2nd round. Of course, this will make it very easy for the arena announcer next year…

And now, your Atlanta Hawks! Starting at forward, 6’9” Williams and at forward, 6’9” Williams and at forward, 6’9” Smith and at forward, 6’9” Childress and at forward, 6’9” Harrington

Yikes. It’s like “Attack of the Clones” (or clowns)

By Derrick

June 28, 2006 10:58 PM | Link to this

Childress is no good starter on a playoff team. Look at the Swingman for the playoff teams, Josh Howard, Tayshaun, Posey, Marion, I can go on and on. Childress would start for maybe 2 playoff teams and that’s probably because their #3 isn’t very good.

By Leon79

June 28, 2006 10:59 PM | Link to this

laettnerhurleydawkinslangdonparksmcleodabdelnabydengdhantayjonesjaywilliamsdunleavybattier…..shall I continue?

By JimDog

June 28, 2006 10:59 PM | Link to this

Billy Knight “we were next to last in the league in rebounding, I am next to last in the league in brains”…dont forget Isiah.

By CJ

June 28, 2006 10:59 PM | Link to this

They are interviewing BK right now…he just said they scored 92ppg last year so that…negates the immediate need for a PG. He just doesn’t get it. He doesn’t impress me.

By David

June 28, 2006 10:59 PM | Link to this

Folks, this isn’t a forward. He’s a center. Specifically, he’s an All Big East center. We are specifically focused upon improving our interior defense, the most glaring need for a team that was something like 28th in scoring defense. We’ve brought in two intimidators for the paint rather than offensive first players like we had in place. This team is a point guard away from the playoffs. If Mike James comes here, we’re in business.

By Clyde

June 28, 2006 11:00 PM | Link to this

FIRE BILLY AND WOODY t-shirt are available. Holla at me at atlconnect@hotmail.com if you want to be down with the movement.

How in the world do you pick Solomon Jones over Paul Davis?

And with these picks I wonder what’s going to happen with Marvin Williams.

FIRE BILLY AND WOODY

By al

June 28, 2006 11:02 PM | Link to this

Just watched the Billy Knight interview. He looked and sounded like someone who’s about to be fired.

By JimDog

June 28, 2006 11:02 PM | Link to this

Tmo, thanks for talking me down from the ledge. I want to live!!!

By Leon79

June 28, 2006 11:03 PM | Link to this

Al, It’s not who starts, it’s who finishes. Like I said I LOVE Childress.

By Jim

June 28, 2006 11:04 PM | Link to this

I just fell so far off the bandwagon, I may NEVER watch a Hawks game again….this is a depressing draft, what is wrong with management!! Fire that arogant GM, Belkin please take over this loser franchise….what free agent will come to this city now? I guess we will have a lot more cap money next year! Al Harrington is laughing, as he is on his way out of this loser franchise.

By PJ funny

June 28, 2006 11:05 PM | Link to this

I wanna eat BK for lunch tomorrow.

By Tmo

June 28, 2006 11:06 PM | Link to this

Its OK JimDog..we all go crazy sometimes. Especially Hawks Management

By al

June 28, 2006 11:06 PM | Link to this

right on, right on…

By CJ

June 28, 2006 11:06 PM | Link to this

I like Childress..he’s a solid starter. Kinda like a consumate player. Ron Harper style circa 90’s Bulls. But like others have said it is still a shortcomming when you add up ALL the missed opportunities to add “impact” players to the roster.

By RichieRich

June 28, 2006 11:06 PM | Link to this

i also don’t see how soloman jones is going to get any minutes on this team….daniel gibson would have been a great pick…thanks billy!!!!

is there anybody on this roster that can play that is over 7’0 tall??? and don’t tell me john edwards either! we have a team consisting of 8 forwards and 4 gaurds….that sure sounds like a championship caliber roster!!

By ddailey1

June 28, 2006 11:08 PM | Link to this

Being retired from the military and being born and raise n Hartford, Ct and moving to the ATL area, i just knew ATL would draft a point guard to make there team better, moving Johnson to the 2 position, with childress, M. Williams, Josh Smith, A. Harrington, but i guess these r the Hawks, i will never buy a ticket to this circus, i guess i better pay my cable bill and watch PAX TV. Name a Duke player that has done something n da NBA. Bring Back Steve Balkin

By al

June 28, 2006 11:09 PM | Link to this

Just curious — what do y’all think about Joe Johnson? Is he the superstar that BK needs him to be?

By RichieRich

June 28, 2006 11:10 PM | Link to this

CJ, please don’t disgrace RON HARPER by comparing jchill with him….not even close

By Eugene

June 28, 2006 11:11 PM | Link to this

I guess it is pretty clear that no Marcus Williams means the ball stays in Joe Johnson’s hands. There goes my vision of the Hawks playing team basketball.

By Greg

June 28, 2006 11:11 PM | Link to this

The picture on the front of the Sports section sums it up- it’s simply too hard to watch.

By Robert

June 28, 2006 11:11 PM | Link to this

Billy Knight your an idiot that is why Memphis let you go and hired Jerry West, a man who knows basketball. Belkin is sitting up in Boston looking at the draft and he can’t wait to take control of the team, and tell you Billy pack your worthless GM skills because you are FIRED. Now Billy do you get it!!!

By JimDog

June 28, 2006 11:12 PM | Link to this

Is there anyone out there that is more drunk at this point than I am right now, oh yeah I forgot about Billy

By T-Rock

June 28, 2006 11:12 PM | Link to this

Yes we need a point guard - but if KNight can sign/trade Harrington for a point guard and picks (please God not Steve Francis or Marbury)then the Hawks made a good pick at #5.
The real stupidity is drafting another 6’9” player at #33. Why in the world did Knight not take a point guard (Dee Brown) and take a chance on him? Knight is an idiot and Woodson can’t coach…send them packing after this season.

By Tmo

June 28, 2006 11:12 PM | Link to this

Joe Johnson a Superstar? Thats a Laugher

By coolchris

June 28, 2006 11:13 PM | Link to this

Mr. Knight is great. We needed to solidify our defence. Gotta replace John Edwards and Batista. Know we can focus and get a vet point with all the cash he freed up. We will have a deep bench with Lue, Childress, Stoudmire, M. Williams…Bring on the blockbuster trade with al Harrington. See u guys on the bandwagon soon.

By Astro Joe

June 28, 2006 11:13 PM | Link to this

Solomon Jones is a legit 6’10” with a 9’1” standing reach and 33 inch no jump vertical. In other words, he can stand still and jump up to around 11.5 feet. Of course, he weighs like 100 pounds. But I think dude is a decent risk in the second round.

Let’s face it guys, PGs are not getting a lot of love in this draft. Maybe all of these GMs with scouts, film and other resources know just a little more about evaluating floor generals than we do. Goodness knows, I would have snatched up a PG at #33.

By Tony

June 28, 2006 11:14 PM | Link to this

I JUST HOPE BELKIN REGAINS FULLL CONTROL, THERE’S NO WAY HE COULD BE THIS BAD!!! why not just donate our 5th pick for crying out loud!

By rip

June 28, 2006 11:14 PM | Link to this

Maybe Belkin will take over the team shortly and clean house. BK a joke!~

By Jay

June 28, 2006 11:14 PM | Link to this

Now we have a shot to get Oden next year.

By stacy

June 28, 2006 11:16 PM | Link to this

This is unbelieveable! Will someone tell our GM that there are other players besides forwards in the draft!! I have never seen someone so obsessed with the forward position!!!

By Robert

June 28, 2006 11:16 PM | Link to this

Weel I guess Atlanta basketball and baseball have two GM’s that don;t get it anymore. Too bad Belkin not buying ATlanta Braves because he wouild fire JS and BC. JS is to busy worrying about book signatures and BC won’t address the issues with JS. JS can’t get his head out of his book long enough to focus on the problems.

By zach

June 28, 2006 11:16 PM | Link to this

Shelden Williams is a great pick. Read This There has been much rhetoric about the status of the Hawks. What do we need? How will we acquire what we need? Who is the player, coach, general manager, or owners (or owner) that will get us what we need? Why are we in this situation? Well all those questions are going to partially answered in the upcoming weeks. On Wednesday, June 28th between 7:30 – 8:15, we will welcome the newest addition to a Hawks uniform. So in a multiple part series, we will analyze the needs of the Hawks from a statistical standpoint, and the best way to pinpoint those needs. So, enjoy an informative 2 weeks that will be spent in accordance with making us a big time contender. And we can only do this RealGM style.

It seems to me that our most glaring weakness is our inability to keep the ball (15.06 turnovers a game, 28th in league in turnovers). We scored 97.2 ppg, which was better than six playoff teams, including Detroit and San Antonio. But that doesn’t matter because the name of the game is to score more than the other team, and it’s hard to do that when you give up 101.9 points a game. So it’s real safe to say that if make 3 fewer turnovers a game, we’re a playoff team.

Our rebounding margin was a surprising -0.1, which was 14th in the league. This was with an undersized front line people. The top 5 teams in rebounding margin include Miami, Utah, Dallas, LA Clippers, and Cleveland. This was the part of the reason that Utah was able to stay in the playoff race. This was the reason why Cleveland and Miami gave Detroit (a -0.3 rebounding margin) fits. So clearly another rebounder wouldn’t hurt, right?

For those who feel that a point guard is what we need, check this out: Dallas is 2nd to last in the league in assists. But it works for them. Phoenix is first in the league in assists. It works for them. Cleveland, Washington, and New Orleans all have stellar point guards and playmakers. They are in the bottom third of the league in assists. 9 of the top 10 teams in the league in assists were in the playoffs, with the other team being Utah (another team that emphasizes execution). What do these stats tell you? Assists are the product of ball movement. Do you have to have a “true� point guard for that? Well, the top 5 teams in assists have Steve Nash, Chauncey Billups, Andre Miller, Jason Kidd, and Mike Bibby on them. But all five of those teams get out-rebounded on a regular basis as they all have negative rebounding margins. Go figure, the top 5 in assists all get out-rebounded. All five of those teams are at home right now. Miami and Dallas are 1st and 3rd in the league in rebounding margins, with +4.24 and +3.86 respectively. You do the math.

It should be noted that the Hawks shot a decent 45% from the field, which by the way was better than nine playoff teams and New Orleans and Utah (who were in the thick of it). Offense wasn’t really a problem last season even though I must admit that we’ll probably lose 18 points per game in Al Harrington next season. So acquiring a player who can score and handle and rebound would be ideal. Trouble is that’s just like asking for a woman who looks like Halle Berry, cooks like Patti LaBelle, and a cleans like Florence from the Jeffersons. People like that are as rare as comets.

Equally noted is the fact that we allowed opponents to shoot 48% on us. Let me state that another way. Teams made about half of their shots on us. This stat is the beneficiary of the truth that our starting center and power forward averaged .68 blocks, combined. If teams can regularly do a lay-up drill on us, then that would be because of a lack of defensive sound principles. And a lack of defensive sound principles leads to hacking, which we did at a frequency of 25 times a game (2nd most in the league). Nobody demonstrated this better than Esteban.

So, we have statistically determined that we need to limit turnovers, rebound more, and play better defense. Acquiring scoring is not nearly as important as adding defense. Disagreements run rampant as to whether we need a point guard or another big man. Expectantly, this information will equip you to be better able to make a sound argument as to what we need. So much of the caliber of player we want (and need) relies on the system that the player in consideration fits. For example, if we run an up-tempo system, then the need for a big man rebounder is more important than a point guard because rebounds and blocked shots are what triggers fast breaks. If we are running a system that emphasizes half court sets, then the necessity for a good point guard is greatly exacerbated. What system are the Hawks running? Only Mike Woodson and BK know that for sure. But my guess, along with most Hawk aficionados, is that the need for a big man is more pressing. Ball movement is essential to winning basketball, but rebounding and interior defense is more. This group of players, players who could easily qualify for a 25 and under Men’s league, should run and utilize their distinct talents.

Confidently, we have identified the deficient areas of the Hawks that we can now go forward with who we need.

By matt

June 28, 2006 11:20 PM | Link to this

LOL! LOL!

Well, the Bulls pick up 2 studs in 16 picks and we get another B-U-S-T!! Okay, so the Knicks are right with us. Last Place is our Reserved Spot!!

WE SUCK! Go Team….I’m choking I’m laughing so hard!! This is why I stopped attending games 5 years ago. We SUCK!

By HawksW810

June 28, 2006 11:21 PM | Link to this

If this team gels next year, please, do not ever blog this site again, too much emotion and not enough imagination, there is a reason these PGs dropped so low and thank goodness you people were not in the driver seat. When was the last time the Hawks had an athletic team? Answer: Back in the day when they were called the Atlanta Air Force, from what I see, they are building a team around tall and agile players, also remember, this very young team (youngest in the league), lost a lot of games by no more than a few points, a tweak here and there…lookout!

By JJ

June 28, 2006 11:24 PM | Link to this

Help me to understand why we passed again on a chance to get a great pg?

By EBDAN

June 28, 2006 11:25 PM | Link to this

This pick has the potential to address the middle, but how many PFs do we need. This pick will be a all rookie first team. And if there is any venting it should be about Al Harrington should have been part of a trade for anything. As far as the need for PG. We already have solids in that area, and yes we did goof up on Chris Paul. But what we really need is keep Pachulia and get rid of the rest of our centers.

By kurt

June 28, 2006 11:26 PM | Link to this

Everyone needs to chill out and remember that there are other PGs out there beyond those in the 2006 draft. For example, Jay Williams (the former Duke star) has recovered from his motorcycle crash and is said to be just as good as Marcus Williams… without expending a draft pick. Let’s see how things pan out. Obviously there was no Lebron/Dwade/etc in this draft and I think Shelden will be a solid player.

By JimDog

June 28, 2006 11:26 PM | Link to this

coolchris…Come on, I started laughing when you said that Mr. Knight (by the way calling him Mr. shows him to much respect..just call him billy) is great I thought you were going to be funny, but as I read on, I dont think you were kidding. I asked the question is there anyone more drunk than I am, and it looks like we have a winner. There will be no block buster trade for Harrington because good ole billy boy will screw up again and let someone sign him out right. If by chance there is a trade, it will probably be Lue and Salim (there just to short) for a 6’9 foward signed by the Bulls out of southwestern illinois poly tech who goes undrafted…Billy Madison could do a better Job than Billy Knight…that ODB has to go!

By MonkeySqueezins

June 28, 2006 11:26 PM | Link to this

The Landlord is a solid pick for the Hawks, but would SOMEONE please explain to Billy Knight how to handle a draft!!! Just saw Billy Knight lie his a* off on ESPN about whether the Hawks had an agreement with Williams. Hey Billy, don’t you think you might have gotten some calls about the #5 if you hadn’t etched in stone that you were taking Williams. MN, Hou & Port seemed eager enough to trade for the players they wanted. We could have had SW at 8-10.

No, the point guards weren’t worth a top 15 pick. But I wonder whether Knight picked up the phone to inquire about trading up a bit from 33 for one of the PGs. Phoenix was willing and probably still feel guilty about making the Hawks overpay in the JJ deal.

Can we all now agree: Knight may indeed know more about basketball than any of us, but there’s about 28 NBA GMs that clearly know more than does he.

By Major

June 28, 2006 11:27 PM | Link to this

BILLY KNIGHT has a FETISH (sexual) for SMALL FORWARDS the HAWKS have 7!! SEVEN small forwards!! We have drafted 5 small forwards in the past THREE SEASONS!!!! This is ABSURD!!!

With that being said, I am still a HAWKS fans and will be until some deserving city takes this team away from Atlanta… I will also louldy say “F U B. Knight” at each home game next season..

By David

June 28, 2006 11:29 PM | Link to this

No point guard went in the top 20 of the draft…so, which one are you saying is great? People are saying we reached on Shelden William. What would that have made the selection of Marcus Williams or Rondo?

By coolchris

June 28, 2006 11:29 PM | Link to this

Zach thanks for schooling these Kids

By CJ

June 28, 2006 11:29 PM | Link to this

The roster is still woefully imbalanced. And 90% of the ATL residents know it. I personnally don’t know anyone who gets these drafts. Everyone I talk to is just like those dissapointed crowds at Phillips right now. No playoffs. Maybe we can get 30 wins..yay.

By scrat

June 28, 2006 11:30 PM | Link to this

Billy Knight is to forwards what Dan Reeves was with Tight Ends: who cares how many you have, just keep picking more! And trade away next year’s picks to get another mediocre player this year!

By dion

June 28, 2006 11:32 PM | Link to this

Hawks,hawks,hawks I cannot believe that we made this pick when even my 15mo. old daughter new we needed a point guard. we have waisted picks for at least 10years Keefe,Mecloud,Koncack,Priest Lauderdale,Glover,Childress,D.Johnson etc. As a fan I now that the point guard is the floor general and with out that we WILL NEVER WIN!!! Please give us something to look at before football season.. Sincerly EX- HAWK FAN

By Greggo

June 28, 2006 11:32 PM | Link to this

I say we fire BK and Woody and then rebuild. Maybe we could pick up some players who could make a good roster. Like Jason Terry, Antoine Walker, Boris Diaw, Tony Delk, Rasheed Wallace,and some decent backups like Theo Ratliff, Dan Dickau, and Shareef Abdur-Raheem.

Aaah - the good ‘ol days………..

By HaveityourwayatBK

June 28, 2006 11:33 PM | Link to this

With this many forwards I would be shocked it there wasn’t a trade in place for a PG or a plan to pick up a PG in FA. Let’s not jump to conclusions that we won’t have a PG by start of the season….oh nevermind go on and jump!

By JimDog

June 28, 2006 11:34 PM | Link to this

I just cant stop laughing….

By AD

June 28, 2006 11:36 PM | Link to this

The Hawks are now on par with the Detroit Lions with their draft ineptness. The selection of Sheldon means the Hawks, like the Lions, have selected players named Williams who do not fill a team need in consecutive drafts.

By JimDog

June 28, 2006 11:38 PM | Link to this

Man, I sure am glad we have the Braves, at least we know they will be in the playoffs…wait a min…Oh yeah Nevermind

By MonkeySqueezins

June 28, 2006 11:40 PM | Link to this

Hey David: Well sure, cheeseburger-Williams or mail-it-in-Rondo would have been HUGE stretches and mistakes. Roy, Foye and Gay weren’t reaches, though and one of the teams picking 6-8 might have had reason to make us an offer had it not been a foregone conclusion that we were picking talented but foul prone Williams.

By Brian

June 28, 2006 11:43 PM | Link to this

The more I think about it, Sheldon Williams might be a solid pick. The Hawks did score about 97 points per game last season, but gave up over 100. If they could have got some stops in several games last season, the might have won 10 more games.

If the Hawks can get a verteran point guard in free agency or trade without giving up too much (i.e. future 1st round picks) they might be close to being a .500 team next year. In the East, that might get you into the playoffs. gasp

By StBernard

June 28, 2006 11:45 PM | Link to this

First of all, this was the worst case scenario of what could have happened tonight. Sheldon and Dewayne Jones……WOW. But, Sheldon was the best big guy left at #5. It was our worst case scenario for Roy and Gay to fall out of the top four. Then, all the decent pg’s were gone at the end of the first round. They all left late and in a bunch, but I wonder if we couldn’t have gotten Sergio Rodriguez, who Portland got for CASH CONSIDERATIONS….doesn’t that mean free??? And Portland just had to trade Telfair, because they had too many guards. Here’s hoping there’s a trade coming or we may watch the Hawks get moved to Vegas!

By Ricky

June 28, 2006 11:48 PM | Link to this

Okay, from the reports, both of these guys are good defenders, something lacking inside with Harrington and Pachulia last year. If we keep Zaza, which I’m certain we will, I think we deal Al for a veteran point. We still need a 7 footer, which I think we can take care of through free agency. Just a big body that can take fouls so we can utilize Shelden, Marvin, and Zaza in the paint. A veteran point with Joe and Josh on the wings as opposed to average points in the draft gives us a greater chance to win. Think defense and think as if Billy really has a brain under that mat he calls an afro.

By michael holle

June 28, 2006 11:48 PM | Link to this

How many fowards can you have on a team. Does Billy Knight not realize that the Hawks need a PG or a center. He better pull a PG out of his a* in free agency or he needs to be fired.

By MrHughes

June 28, 2006 11:53 PM | Link to this

I was at Philips tonight and there was not a chorus of boos. I along with a few others like the pick. People that actually spent time watching this team rather than dismissing them based soley on their record. Is S Williams a sexy pick? No, but I thought the whole point of basketball was to score more points than your opponent. I like a fancy pass as much as the next person, but the offense was not the problem last year. A PG does not help us address interior defense. And, the PGs in this draft were not great. When people said we should trade down I don’t think anyone was thinking that we should trade down to 22 for Marcus.

By Nasir Qadree

June 28, 2006 11:54 PM | Link to this

Can u say “Marcus Williams was still available,” LOL The Hawks staff have no clue what there doing. Best City in the Country but poor(Hawks) , unacomplished (Falcons), can’t get over the hump (Braves) pro atletic teams. It just doen’t make sense. Are we watching the same team (Talking to Billy Knight)?

By Numba1Fan

June 28, 2006 11:54 PM | Link to this

Hey Zach great post, eloquently stated and right on the money for the most part but….. If you do not have a PG that can handle the double team and pressure then you have Mucho Turnovers. We needed an inside presence but why spend both pics on one middle of te 1st round pick and a guy who woulda gone undrafted and is no better than a reach or project. Now I realize you must be a Duke Graduate and the quality of the cocaine you snort is simply marvelous. You have shown to everyone in this blog that you are well versed and educated but simply don’t know jackchit about NBA Basketball. Now the last time I checked the Hawks had Mucho Turnovers due to their youth and their inexperience as well as the inability of any of the existing players on our roster playing the PG position. Let me guess you read the sports page dily and consider yourself an expert when in thruth you are nothing but a casual observer. Do this blog and favor and gain a little more knowledge before you open that pie hole again impersonating an NBA fan.

By Heather

June 28, 2006 11:56 PM | Link to this

Personally, I am thrilled with this pick. The Hawks need defense and Shelden Williams is a two time defensive player of the year. He is the all time leading rebounder in Duke history and the only player to average a double-double under Coach K. Welcome to the ATL, Shelden. It is great to have you.

By 1 + 2

June 28, 2006 11:57 PM | Link to this

I would like to see a sign and trade that sends Harrington to the Sixers for Iverson. Philly will deal Iverson but they need a 20+ scorer in return. And if you place Harrington (SF) beside Webber (PF)I believe that would look more attractive than anything else Philly could get. Also, with Iverson having such a large contract, Philly would need to trade him to a team that could absorb the cap impact. Although Iverson is 31, his contract will expire in 3 years. Finally, Knight knows he needs to make a big splash. This is the type of move that would put butts in the seats.

By The Grinch

June 28, 2006 11:59 PM | Link to this

Give the kid a chance…he’s a safer pick than the last couple of first rounders. This is a young, athletic team. If there’s a deal in the works for a serious point guard, this will build for the future. If not…

By MonkeySqueezins

June 28, 2006 11:59 PM | Link to this

Listen, I like Sheldon Williams. But think of who has been #5 in recent years: Ray Felton, Devin Harris, Dwayne Wade, Mike Miller, Vince Carter, Ray Allen, Kevin Garnet, Steve Smith, Mitch Richmond, Scottie Pippen, Jon Koncak, Charles Barkeley.

Koncak? Yes, the Hawk’s last #5, with college numbers at SMU quite comparable to those of Sheldon.

By

June 29, 2006 12:00 AM | Link to this

Billy needs help. And Sheldon was not the man to provide it. He loves Sheldon’s game. He needed help to realize that not everyone else did, thus he could have had him somewhere between picks 7-10. He needs assistance in discussing the Hawks with the media and fans. He needs to be more forthcoming with followers of his team and Less demonstrative in announcing his pick 2 weeks in advance to all the other GM’s. And finally, he needs help with the English language. His grammatical errors during his National interview with Dan Patrick were an embarrassment.

By

June 29, 2006 12:03 AM | Link to this

Billy needs help. And Sheldon was not the man to provide it. He loves Sheldon’s game. He needed help to realize that not everyone else did, thus he could have had him somewhere between picks 7-10. He needs assistance in discussing the Hawks with the media and fans. He needs to be more forthcoming with followers of his team and Less demonstrative in announcing his pick 2 weeks in advance to all the other GM’s. And finally, he needs help with the English language. His grammatical errors during his National interview with Dan Patrick were an embarrassment.

By Uncle Ruckus

June 29, 2006 12:03 AM | Link to this

Shelden Williams is not at all a bad player, and he fills the biggest need on the Hawks, which is inside defense and rebounding. Solomon Jones is drafted to do pretty much the same thing. Maybe we should have taken Foye, maybe not, but there is no doubt that S. Williams fills a huge need for us. My problem with both the picks is not the players that were picked, but that they were picked too high. We could have easily traded down and taken Williams at around 8 or 9, and taken Solomon Jones later in the 2nd round as well. Even if he couldn’t trade down in the first round, I am disappointed that BK couldn’t trade down in the 2nd round and get Daniel Gibson or Guillermo Diaz in addition to Solomon Jones. Make no mistake, we have added 2 good players who fill needs on this team. I just think we picked them too high.

Kinda ironic, out of all of BK’s picks so far in his time with the Hawks, the most popular one (Josh Smith) got slammed by the so-called “experts”, and arguably the least popular pick (Shelden Williams) was praised by nearly every “expert” on ESPN.

By

June 29, 2006 12:06 AM | Link to this

Billy and Isaiah must be brothers. Next thing we know, the Hawks are going to trade Al, Childress, Lue, and any other picks they have in the next few years to New York for Marbury and whatever other bad contract and lousy excuse for an NBA player is on the Knicks roster - it’s the only logical thing left to do to put the team in the toilet.

By

June 29, 2006 12:07 AM | Link to this

My things is you draft a guy that is being compared to Dale Davis with the #5 pick. So for anyone that does not see something wrong has no basketball sense what so ever. No way would any other GM pick Sheldon that high and why not trade down you could have gotten a player and then still drafted Williams I really think they could have gotten him anywhere from 15-30 and im being nice. BK is the WORST GM IN THE NBA and as a black man about to graduate with a Sport Management degree hoping one day to work in an NBA front office he is making it hard by his dumb moves. Then in the 2nd round when you still had guys like Daniel Gipson and Dee Brown you pick yet another swing man. I’m agree with you guys that are 6’9” must do something to BK sexually. All this talk about how tough he is is BS because this guy got schooled plenty of times in the ACC Sean May, Simmons, Eric Williams and the NCAA tournament (LSU) Big Baby

And how do you justify not picking a PG two years in a row? And then why get on ESPN and lie about not having deal.

By DD

June 29, 2006 12:14 AM | Link to this

Williams is going to be a big time player. Very good pick.

By Nick

June 29, 2006 12:15 AM | Link to this

I hope Bill Knight gets fire before the season starts when the egghead dude takes over control of the team. What a joke! BK got to be the worst GM of all sports. He is so clueless and dumb. I can’t believe they made him the GM. We needed a point guard and what did he do? Took another damn forward?!?!?!?!?!.

By billy g

June 29, 2006 12:21 AM | Link to this

Well, I predicted Sheldon Williams and made Solomon Jones one of my second round choices.

Many critics, but the offseason is not over. A veteran guard will be added and the team will perform better next season.

Relax people. Billy Knight is smarter than you think.

By L.D.

June 29, 2006 12:22 AM | Link to this

Any knowledgeable basketball fan worth their salt will tell you the two positions in basketball you need to have sown up with players true to the position are point guard and center. So far Billy Knight has either drafted or signed forwards to fill both those spots, and none of those forwards is Scottie Pippen in his prime, a guy who could bring the ball up the floor. Heck, none of these guys is even Penny Hardaway for that matter. Its as if Billy Knight envisions 6’7 players at every position for the Hawks, no matter if they can actually play the positions or not. The failure to once again address the point guard when quite honestly Foye would’ve fit nicely with Joe Johnson indicates one of two things: either Billy Knight sees each position as plug and play, which is no way to run a team, or he’s giving Steve Belkin a lump of coal as a going away present.

By MonkeySqueezins

June 29, 2006 12:27 AM | Link to this

Hey Div I-AA Atlanta Hawks : Sure the Hawks have drafted some players worth mentioning.

B. Diaw - NBA Most improved player, but for Phoenix J. Terry - Playoff studd, but for Dallas P. Gasol - Rookie of the Year, All Star, but for Memphis

Ok, Marvin and Salim and Sheldon have a chance to be solid. But otherwise, it’s a pretty dreadful history. The good news is that we didn’t draft Renaldo Balkman at #5!

Was anyone at Phillips for the draft party? How brutal must that have been?

By Julian

June 29, 2006 12:29 AM | Link to this

Why wasn’t Billy aggressive in pursuing the dearth of quality point guards that slipped to late in the first round? Phoenix surrendered their picks, and Atlanta could have used one to pick up Rondo, Williams, Farmar or Rodriguez. James Augustine should have been the second round pick. Is Billy asleep? We can’t wait for the aging Cassell or the injury-prone Bobby Jackson.

By coolchris

June 29, 2006 12:29 AM | Link to this

Babcock RULED, DOWN with Billy. Pete wouldn’t talk down too me. He made me feel like I was on his level. He filled every position with players according to the NBA size chart. GIVE ME A BREAK. Bandwagon tickets on sale in Dec.

By Gangstaknight

June 29, 2006 12:38 AM | Link to this

Hooray, Im going for the other team. GO MIAMI HEAT.

By MonkeySqueezins

June 29, 2006 12:40 AM | Link to this

Billy G said *Relax people. Billy Knight is smarter than you think. *

Maybe, but that’s not saying much. The point is that he’s not as smart as HE thinks. You or I could do what he’s accomplished so far. This was his draft to show me something.

By the way, I said on this blog three weeks ago that a PG and Radliff were available from Portland for our #5. We could have had Jack or Blake and Radliff

By Michael

June 29, 2006 12:49 AM | Link to this

This was a pretty weak draft from top to bottom. Nevertheless, I feel that we acquired a player who will help us IMMEDIATELY. Why take Brandon Roy when you have invested so much in Joe Johnson? Randy Foye is a shooting guard, not a point. Yes, Marcus Williams was available, but obviously there were several other teams who didn’t think that highly of him if he fell all the way to 22. Williams can defend, rebound, and give us a much needed toughness on our interior. It isn’t sexy, but its something that every championship team needs.

By james

June 29, 2006 12:55 AM | Link to this

the first choice was alright but the 2nd pick was awful they could done better

By Jay

June 29, 2006 12:56 AM | Link to this

And lets not just assume that these point guards are going to want to come here! How many free agents have wanted to come here the last couple years, even when offered overpriced contracts? Yeah, Joe Johnson.

You think Cassell is gonna waste the last years of his career on this perpetual-lottery team of 6’9 forwards? You think Bobby Jackson is going to show he can run a team by going to the Hawks? Come on…they arent coming here.

Our best chance and only chance was to draft one, even if it meant reaching. Now, we screw Josh Smith and/or Marvin Williams (our #2 pick and NOT roy Chris Paul) out of minutes, which will of course squeeze Josh Childress (our #6 pick snicker), even though yesterday they were our future.

And all this goes on while our embarrassment of an ownership group sues the crap out of each other, and the country laughs at us drafting forward after forward. Its like the Detroit of the Nba, the forwards are our wide recievers, with the rest of the league shaking their collective heads, wondering if we’ll ever wake up.

Ladies and Gentlemen, your 2006 Atlanta Hawks.

By Wes

June 29, 2006 12:59 AM | Link to this

I think the Hawks have a very exciting team and are very close to putting things together. However, the only thing that will make S. Williams a good pick is if we sign a vet point guard in free agency and figure out some way to draft Greg Oden. That team would be AMAZING!

By Mark

June 29, 2006 01:02 AM | Link to this

I really love what NJ did with Williams, Boone and Adams. Rod Thorn is a GM that knows what he’s doing and is qualified to be doing it. Here in Atlanta we have a bumbling idiot who has a fetish for 6’8”/6’9” players.

By John

June 29, 2006 01:07 AM | Link to this

Shelden was a good pick. Neither Roy or Foye is a true PG. Marcus Williams was not worth the pick, and though a point guard is needed, Lue and Ivey are better than John Edwards and Batista. Therefore frontcourt players were more of a necessity. I dont understand why people are hating on Shelden so much. Look at his numbers, and his build. He is solid as a rock and what he lacks in height, he makes up in arm span. It seems to me that if the Hawks had taken Foye, Roy, or Marcus WIlliams, people would be complaining that we needed big guys. It is ridiculous. I was at the draft tonight, and people outside of Atlanta seem to think it is a good pick.

By Ricky

June 29, 2006 01:38 AM | Link to this

Ok, let’s evaluate free agency. There are some veteran points out there better than any we could have gotten in the draft. Who you ask?

Mike James, Sam Cassell, Nick Van Exel, Lindsey Hunter, Speedy Claxton, Bobby Jackson, and one Mr. Jason Terry.

There’s an ESPN bit about Mark Cuban not wanting to pay big time free agent point guards and then they go back to their first teams, making their wings a success (see two-time MVP Steve Nash). Not that Jason wants to come down from an NBA finals team, but we do have some cap space.

We can still pick up a 7-footer to take up some space and fouls, like Nazr Mohammed or Joel Przybilla. Having one of them off the bench with Solomon and Shelden and starting a frontcourt of J-Smoove, Marvin, and Zaza looks promising. We have Al to trade and get that point guard piece (hopefully one of the vets mentioned) we need to compete.

Right now, we look pretty good. Just watch over the next few weeks. You might be pleased.

By Dejay

June 29, 2006 01:40 AM | Link to this

All I can say is…wow. Let me get this straight. BK has Brandon Roy, who many considered a top-4 talent at worst fall into his lap and Randy Foye, whom some (not me) have compared to Wade and Billups available only to pick an undersized power forward??? As I’ve said before, if anyone wants to question why there are empty seats in the stands for Hawk games, this should be Exhibit A. There’s a reason why this franchise hasn’t drafted an All-Star player since Happy Days and Trapper John, MD was still on the air. I know Sheldon was a good post player in college but so was Adam Keefe and Alan Henderson. Egads.

And as for this ‘well the Hawks don’t need anymore help on offense as they do on defense’ jive, that’s all it is; jive. What happens when Harrington leaves? Unlike JJ’s situation last year, the Hawks don’t have the rights to match an offer; Al can walk on July 15 and leave BK high and dry. Then what? Who fills in to take up the 18/7 Harrington leaves behind? And considering how tight the purse strings are with the Belkin thing hovering over their heads, what viable free agent would want to come here?

All I’ll say is that this pick smells alot like the ‘safe’ Childress pick a couple of years ago, which was simply too high a reach when Iguodala and Deng (i.e. better players, PERIOD) are still available. Now don’t get me wrong; I think Sheldon Williams will be a serviceable player in the league, just like Childress. But when you’re drafting #5 after winning a combined 39 games over the past two seasons, you need a lot more than just SERVICEABLE. You need a brush with greatness with the 5th pick; serviceable is what 2nd round draft choices and 2nd-3rd tier free agents are for.

By Hawkamanic81

June 29, 2006 01:43 AM | Link to this

Atlanta fans are the least knowledgeable “Basketball fans” in all of the states. You people know nothing. All you follow is stupid football and NASCAR.

By Ricky

June 29, 2006 01:46 AM | Link to this

Ok, let’s evaluate free agency. There are some veteran points out there better than any we could have gotten in the draft. Who you ask?

Mike James, Sam Cassell, Nick Van Exel, Lindsey Hunter, Speedy Claxton, Bobby Jackson, and one Mr. Jason Terry.

There’s an ESPN bit about Mark Cuban not wanting to pay big time free agent point guards and then they go back to their first teams, making their wings a success (see two-time MVP Steve Nash). Not that Jason wants to come down from an NBA finals team, but we do have some cap space.

We can still pick up a 7-footer to take up some space and fouls, like Nazr Mohammed or Joel Przybilla. Having one of them off the bench with Solomon and Shelden and starting a frontcourt of J-Smoove, Marvin, and Zaza looks promising. We have Al to trade and get that point guard piece (hopefully one of the vets mentioned) we need to compete.

Right now, we look pretty good. Just watch over the next few weeks. You might be pleased.

By Ricky

June 29, 2006 01:49 AM | Link to this

And then we need to sign Jason Williams from Duke. Wow. I go on record saying we will have two new point guards by the end of the summer. Jason Williams and hopefully Jason Terry.

And a big 7-footer and we have a playoff contender. Believe it.

By Sir Stealth

June 29, 2006 01:49 AM | Link to this

THIS WAS AN EXCELLENT PICK. SHELDEN IS NOT THE SECOND COMING, BUT HE MIGHT BE THE BEST PLAYER IN A HORRENDOUS DRAFT. AFTER ALL THAT HE’S SCREWED UP, BILLY KNIGHT WAS BOUND TO GET SOMETHING RIGHT. ATLANTA FANS SHOULD AT LEAST GIVE THE GUY A CHANCE AND STOP BEING SO QUICK TO BE DISCONTENT. BE UNHAPPY WITH THE PAST, BUT HOPEFUL FOR THE FUTURE. SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE THERE ARE FOLKS OUT THERE WHO WANT WHOEVER THE HAWKS DRAFT TO BE BAD SO THEY CAN B***. THERE WERE NO GOOD POINT GUARDS IN THIS DRAFT, I REPEAT, THERE WERE NO GOOD POINT GUARDS IN THIS DRAFT, AND THIS PICK PAYS ATTENTION TO DEFENSE, WHICH IS VERY SMART.

By Eugene

June 29, 2006 01:58 AM | Link to this

In the draft New Jersey seems to have selected pretty much the same type player(s) that Atlanta needed with with much lower picks. As a result New Jersey now appears prepared to seriously compete with Miami in the East.

I hope Mr. Knight did not use the draft to postion himself for his next job.

By deano

June 29, 2006 02:23 AM | Link to this

I like the pick overall. Solid, should be a presence. Trade for a pg and we can start the journey.

By

June 29, 2006 02:33 AM | Link to this

“Kinda ironic, out of all of BK’s picks so far in his time with the Hawks, the most popular one (Josh Smith) got slammed by the so-called “expertsâ€?, and arguably the least popular pick (Shelden Williams) was praised by nearly every “expertâ€? on ESPN.”

Uncle Ruckus was clearly watching different draft coverage than I was. The “experts” that were all about the Shelden pick were Bilas and Vitale, two guys who are so far up Duke’s… well, you know. The other guys mocked Atlanta for making this pick. Greg Anthony and Stephen A. Smith said it was a reach and that we missed out on drafting a PG AGAIN. And when we drafted Josh Smith, I don’t recall there being much negativity - they said he was a project, they said he couldn’t dribble with his left hand, but he was a hometown boy and a heck of an athlete that could be great one day.

By Dawg Man

June 29, 2006 03:20 AM | Link to this

Another wasted draft pick by the incompetent hawks management.

By J. Davis

June 29, 2006 03:22 AM | Link to this

Good pick…Shelden will start and lead the team in rebounding and assists. Also, I’m predicting that his intensisty on defense will rub off on others. The Hawks made a good move. I would have preferred Marcus Williams because JJ needs help handling the ball and Marvin and Josh need someone to get them the ball in the right places. However, Marcus has had personal problems in the past so you don’t know if he might revert back to his old ways. B. Knight, go and find a true point guard and we’ll be a contender for the 5-6 playoff spot.

By JMar

June 29, 2006 04:37 AM | Link to this

Shelden Williams will lead our team in assists and a veteran point guard is all it will take to contend for a 5-6 playoff spot? We spent two first round picks on established “star” Joe Johnson and lucked out with a steal with Zaza Pachulia and that got us thirteen more wins. Now Shelden and this magical point guard are supposed to get us 16 more? I wish I could say you were just optimistic, but I think naive is more accurate, since not only do I doubt that many PGs will garner us that many wins, but particularly since no worthwhile players want to play for us. For the last many seasons we’ve talked about “all we need to do is sign X”, and Kenyon said no to our money, and Michael Redd said no to our money, and now we’ll get to watch as Ben Wallace says no to our money, and we’re forced to overpay just to bring in an average player.

By p

June 29, 2006 05:02 AM | Link to this

bad pick, of course. he’s too small to help our ‘interior defense’ everyone is talking about.

we can now start five 6’-8” immature and half developed forwards at the same time. who else can say that?

By kp

June 29, 2006 05:34 AM | Link to this

the hawks may be the worst franchise in the history of sports cause this pick is just plan stupid this pick is even worst than drafting t.j. ducket (for the falcons) when we need a wide reciever the hawks need a pg we could have drafted marcus williams hell daruis washington in the second round but this williams cat and who this dude is in the second round billy could have did better lot of stars was out there better than williams billy you making the coach job hard i just hope you get iverson cause we got the money.

By RANDY DUNCAN

June 29, 2006 06:09 AM | Link to this

THE HAWKS PICKED WHO? YOU MEAN BABCOCK IS PICKING WHO? OH I THOUGHT THIS WAS A DREAM AND BABCOCK WAS STIL THE GM.TO MY SUPRISE HE IS STILL THE GM ( HE CHANGED HIS NAME TO BILLY KNIGHT)

By Dave

June 29, 2006 06:16 AM | Link to this

This was a horrible pick. Another 6’8” forward. A guard or center would make sense. I can’t believe we passed on Brendon Roy. I just gave up on the Hawks. Maybe Belkin will move the Hawks back to St. Louis.

By Erock

June 29, 2006 06:53 AM | Link to this

I personally would have preferred Marcus Williams or some other distributor who could contribute to balll movement and put the ball in the hands of our shooters in the right places.

Shelden Williams, we’re told, will toughen our interior defense. Fans are disappointed, mostly because it is hard to sell tickets to come watch somebody play defense. But if Knight is right, and Williams does help improve overall defense, we may win more games.

If Knight is right, we might defend better and also make more easy baskets. If that happens, his quiet adjust will make him a hero. We can only hope.

By Tank

June 29, 2006 07:28 AM | Link to this

Somebody please fire Billy Knight! To be honest, we shouldn’t even have a basketball team here! I wash my hands with the Hawks! I would rather sand the butt of an alligator in a phonebooth before I watch a Hawks game! FIRE BILLY KNIGHT!!

By James Stewart

June 29, 2006 07:29 AM | Link to this

Point Guard Billy Knight does not know that you use a point guard on a basketball team not five power forwards

By

June 29, 2006 07:30 AM | Link to this

How many forwards are you allowed to have on one team? I swear to god, I want to kick Billy Knight in the nut so hard right now, that his stupid mis-shapen afro would fall of.

By Ross

June 29, 2006 07:31 AM | Link to this

How many forwards are you allowed to have on one team? I swear to god, I want to kick Billy Knight in the nut so hard right now, that his stupid mis-shapen afro would fall of.

By nasdaq1

June 29, 2006 07:32 AM | Link to this

The Hawks need to trade Josh Smith and other guy with the big afro. To many forwards on 1 team. If they can get Alan Iverson here to play the point, Joe Johnson shooting guard, Marvin Williams at small forward, and Sheldon Williams at power forward. Thats a nice first team.

By Mitch

June 29, 2006 07:43 AM | Link to this

Billy Knight’s mistake, IMO, was letting the world know 2 weeks in advance that he was going to take Sheldon Williams at #5. When Minnesota and Portland were drooling over the prospects of landing Foye and Roy, the Hawks could have safely traded the #5 and received an extra draft pick or player.

However, the Wolves and Blazers already knew that the Hawks would take Sheldon Williams.

That being said, I believe that Sheldon Williams was the safest pick in the draft…and watching the Hawks play the worst interior defense imaginable last year, Williams and sleeper Solomon Jones will make the team stronger defensively.

Sheldon Williams is a winner. What I love about him too is his ability to knock down clutch free throws late in games. Williams has tremendous stamina…and his footwork is the best of any player in this draft.

Now the Hawks need to complete the trifecta. They need to do a sign and trade with Philly and get C Dalembert for F Harrington.

Then…show Bobby Jackson the money and the point guard issue is solved.

The starters: C-Dalembert; PF-M. Williams; SF-Smith; 2G-Johnson; PG-Jackson.

The 2nd Team: C-Pachulia; PF-S. Williams; SF-Childress; 2G-Stoudamire; PG-Lue

The reserves: C/PF-Jones; G-D. Smith; PG-Ivey

By Scottie Vac

June 29, 2006 07:50 AM | Link to this

I think that after a couple of games the hawk faithful that are bashing the pick of Shelden Williams will be changing there story. This guy is so underrated that it isn’t funny. Yeah he may not be flashy, but he certainly gets the job done. I am no Duke basketball fan either. He will bang the boards and pass the ball out to all of those forwards that will be streaking down the court for easy basket. Good solid pick this year. ATL welcome this young man to our city and lets get behind this up and coming team.

By RSC

June 29, 2006 07:51 AM | Link to this

Well, I finally am beginning to understand. Billy knows that Belkin is gonna take over the team. So, why not load him up with 6’8” wannabe’s?? I heard that once Belkin takes over, he’s going to change the name to the Atlanta Forwards. This is like eating a tablespoonful of snot, that has gummy green pieces in it….

By Jimbo

June 29, 2006 07:54 AM | Link to this

OK…so all you couch GMs don’t like the pick. Well phooey on you. The Hawks don’t need a rookie point guard learning the system while also having the youngest roster in the NBA. Like coach Woodson stated, “hang in there.” That means we will sign a free agent point guard that has NBA experience which will translate into earlier positive results. Improving our interior defense is critical for future success as well. Sheldon W. will do this for us. This coming season will be an improvement from last season. Relax people

By Dick

June 29, 2006 07:59 AM | Link to this

When are they going to change the Hawks mascot to the “Atlanta 6’9” Forwards”???!

By Spanish fan

June 29, 2006 08:04 AM | Link to this

Lets wait the free agency. I’m sure we will get what we need there. I don’t think it is a bad pick, maybe it was possible to change it for a lower pick and something else.

By Eric

June 29, 2006 08:13 AM | Link to this

BWWWWWWWWWWWWAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAH!

The Curse of ‘Nique Continues!!

Based on Billy Knights stupidity and Duke ‘Stars’ tendency to be incredibly average I’d say it was a GREAT pick

for the teams that have to face The chickenHawks

By #1Hawks Fan

June 29, 2006 08:15 AM | Link to this

* Come on Belkins!* Buy out all the other owners so we can have a great Hawks team. Billy Knightmare,once again you have outdone yourself. What are we trying to do here? Are we trying to build an NBA team or what! Marvin Williams, Joe Johnson, and J-Smooth would be a lot better if we had a smart point guard.What the heck do we need with not one, but two forwards. And who in the heck is Solomon Jones??????

By Mike

June 29, 2006 08:27 AM | Link to this

I think Belkin is the only sane owner the Hawks had

By Glenn

June 29, 2006 08:29 AM | Link to this

Shelden could have been had later in the draft. What ever happened to value ? I thought a trade was in place for a swap with Houston. We would have got Shelden & Luther Head . They would have got Brandon Roy. What happened ? Everything was in place for that trade . It would have been smart & filled to needs . I really don’t understand what there doing ? Management really does need to articulate there plans better .

By burnell lapeyrolerie

June 29, 2006 08:30 AM | Link to this

no they did not make a good decision because they need a floor leader. and a center does not fill that void

By michael

June 29, 2006 08:31 AM | Link to this

If you want to validate the SW pick thats fine, but how do you validate Solomon Jones? We tood two guys who arfe 6’9 and we are in desparate need of a point guard. In the second round why not Dee Brown? We should have taken Foye for his toughness and leadership ability. And for all of you out there that we have to have a seasoned PG to win, look at what Chris Paul did last year. All he did was win ROY and was in the playoff hunt until the last week of the season. But as it stands, I guess the only positive we can look forward to is a top 3 pick in next year’s draft.

By BP

June 29, 2006 08:33 AM | Link to this

We have enough projects, so S. Williams is a good pick in that he can play now. I do hope that Billy gave a good shot at trading down as he could have gotten Shelden at least 5 picks later.

A little troubling is that Williams seemed to be a little less dominant this season than in his junior season.

By AR

June 29, 2006 08:37 AM | Link to this

We just took Alan Henderson again, this DUKEY is going to give us 4 points, 4 rebounds and .05 block shots a game. Foye was there to bring us WINS and a winning attitude for 10 plus years. I am now convinced Billy Knight is a fool with an afro.

By BK

June 29, 2006 08:39 AM | Link to this

FIRST-I WANT ALL OF YOU TO STOP CALLING ME A MELON HEAD! second-if i listened to all you couch gm’s and alleged sports writers, i would now be the gm at the ymca

By Spike

June 29, 2006 08:41 AM | Link to this

From Marty Burns of Sports Illustrated (si.com) regarding the Pacers first round pick: “What? Did Larry Bird mean to say MARCUS Williams? Jokes aside, this is a surprise. Most draft boards had the Pacers selecting a point guard here, either Williams or Jordan Farmar. But Shawne Williams is a versatile forward who will provide some needed athleticism for Indiana. Apparently Bird feels they can get a PG somewhere else later. ”
Please re-read that last sentence. Hmmm…sounds like Bird and Billy are on the same page doesn’t it? Given a choice, I will agree with Billy and Bird over 90% of the posters on this board.

By Kiah

June 29, 2006 08:43 AM | Link to this

Next year can we draft a GM?

By Forrest

June 29, 2006 08:43 AM | Link to this

Here’s an idea. Let’s wait one more year then we can hire Isiah Thomas as general manager….and, and, well we can make him the coach too, since it’s clear this organization is completely dysfunctional!!! At this point(guard, hey i couldn’t resist), I’m so desperate that I’m actually more looking forward to the court case (that might oust all these idiots) than I am to the next basketball season.

By Yuppie Scum

June 29, 2006 08:45 AM | Link to this

Who cares!? The NBA is the 2nd worst entertainment vaule in all sports (behind the WNBA), and the Hawks are the worst entertainment value in the NBA. Sheldon Williams is a decent fellow and a good player; but not a #5 pick. By the way, has anybody noticed that he looks just like the big scary goofy guy in “The Goonies” movie?

By honest abe

June 29, 2006 08:49 AM | Link to this

bleh just have to wait for all this draft hype to blow over… and maybe this blog will enjoyable once more… i’m just hoping some of these cats that bring absolutely nothing to table finally get bored of yelling their repetitive chants and eventually leave…

zach well put….but let me tell you this…it’s futile to try and argue some sense into these people…..they don’t even WATCH basketball!! HALF of these people want babcock back!! lol

i’ll be honest…i wasn’t jumping up and down for joy when the sheldon pick was announced… i think sheldon could’ve been had a little bit later…not much…but i do agree some moves could have been made to maximize the fifth pick…but i am not privy to all the info that bk has…so i’m not going to sit here and make ludicrous statements when i don’t know the whole situation…. all of you knuckleheads need to understand this…just because someone is compared to a great player… like foye is being compared to billups or wade that DOES NOT MEAN HE’S GOING TO BE THAT GOOD!!!!

and what happened to all of you m. williams fans????? don’t think i forgot how all of you were saying bk would be the dumbest gm in history if he didn’t pick him at 5……HAHAHAH …i seriously got a great laugh about that…..and since i heard vince cellini on 790 and his retarded cohorts reading some comments on this blog….HEY MAYHEM IN THE AM…WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR BOY M. WILLIAMS????? HOW YOU LIKE THEM APPLES… one quick pointer…when you have the 5th pick and the draft has no great pg’s…you don’t just pick one because you think you have a need at that position….there are other ways to acquire pg’s….so sit back and chill…it’s not the end of the world like some of us are making it out to be!

By Jim Robinson

June 29, 2006 08:51 AM | Link to this

Tyler Hansbrough, a college freshman, completely outplayed Williams 3 times last season. Williams also disappeared against other centers in the ACC. How is this guy going to play against bigger, more talented NBA postmen? Knight lets everyone know weeks before the draft that he is going to take a player everyone projected 5-10 slots lower. What finese! Owners, forget the sure Terence column about firing a black man, and get rid of Knight.

By pete

June 29, 2006 08:53 AM | Link to this

Forget this year’s ridiculous draft…let’s go back to last year. Two very crucial decisions by Knight cost the Hawks a playoff berth LAST YEAR. Draft Chris Paul and listen to Belkin about the Joe Johnson trade…you could have gotton him w/o giving up Diaw and picks. No way Phoenix would have matched the offer sheet when they were already paying Nash, Amari, and Marion millions. How could Belkin be the only one who realized this. You could have been a playoff team with Paul, Johnson, Harrington, Smith, and Zaza starting with Diaw being the best 6th man in the league. Thanks again Billy “never get it right” Knight. We need you Belkin!!! Asap!!!

By beef

June 29, 2006 08:55 AM | Link to this

This is what happens when you hire color and not a qualified GM or coach. FYI you draft a super star like Foye, you TRADE for interior defense!!! SUPERSTARS are rare, defense experts are a dime a dozen! This is a payback from Billy, i say can the dude along with the laughing stock dumba$$ coach! Brown is available! I can’t believe we passed on Doc Rivers as coach!

By honest abe

June 29, 2006 08:59 AM | Link to this

bleh i’m done with this blog…not only has a bunch of morons decided to jump in and add their two cents ….now we have billy bob from his trailor adding his racist comments…

By V-Unit

June 29, 2006 09:04 AM | Link to this

Is anyone shocked? Billy Knight is making Stan Kasten look like a Yale grad. Knight won’t go on radio to talk about the team, when you can get him to say something it’s mumbled and lack lustered, his ego doesn’t allow him to talk honestly about mistakes he’s made with the Hawks and he’s kinda a jerk to alot of people in this town that really care about the Hawks. I’ve been a fan for a long time. I grew up with Nique, Tree, Spud, etc … I wish Billy knew that we love the Hawks …like Billy loves himself.

PS: “8-head” (that two 4-heads put together) Sheldon Williams will be a bigger flop than Billy Knight.

By Ex-Hawks Fan

June 29, 2006 09:04 AM | Link to this

The Hawks just don’t want to win, Period! Pass on Super Star? Trade JT (FINALS)? Trade Diaw (PLAYOFFS)? Overpay Joe Johnson(#2 man at best)? Now Sheldon Williams(DUKE Curse)? Name the last great Duke player that was successful in the league. And please don’t count Grant Hill, he has average 20 games a season his entire career.

By

June 29, 2006 09:05 AM | Link to this

This draft appears to be weak at the point position. Remember you got Stoudamire who came on last year and Joe Johnson can sub there every now and then. Another thing, its not like it is over. You can still package Al Harrington in a sign and trade for a point and you have enough cap room to sign a point, so, I understood why they would like Shelden, however, HOW they got him was ridiculous. They could have drafted ROY, trade with Houston and still landed not only Shelden, but whatever else they needed to get from Houston.

By DLM

June 29, 2006 09:06 AM | Link to this

ENOUGH OF THIS NEGATIVE B.S.

While the experts say Shelden Williams is an impact player that come in immediately - not a project like the two 7 footers picked ahead of him. Williams has long arms and plays taller than his height. All he was was the 2005 and 2006 National Defensive Player of the Year. He is strong - wide body with athletic ability. He is not a shooting forward. He has always been a force in the middle. What difference does it make where he went to school other than the quality of the opponents. The fact that Texas only has maybe one player (TJ Ford) playing in the NBA did not dissuade Aldridge from being picked number 2. Aldridge is a 7 footer who plays smaller than he is - no defense, no blocked shots, no intimidation. Just give Shelden Williams a chance to do what he can.
Point guards - we need a veteran to control the youngest team in NBA history. Let’s see what gets done on that front. Sam Cassell?

By Bertie

June 29, 2006 09:07 AM | Link to this

Belkin hurry up and take over.

By kph

June 29, 2006 09:07 AM | Link to this

The Hawks will suck again this year as in all years since Dominique Wilkins left the team. At least then they had a great player to watch even if the rest of the team wasnt very good. Pro basketball today is nothing more than a game you can watch anytime in Atlanta city parks. Just a bunch of individual ball hogs that want to show off thier dunking style and not play a team game the way basketball was meant to be played. For example look at the last Olympics and see how a well played team game can whip a bunch of punk show offs. The USA was dominated because our bunch wants to be fancy and not play properly.If I want to wath the game played that way I will go to the park where it is free instead of $75.00 per ticket and $5.00 per hot dog!!!

By manny

June 29, 2006 09:09 AM | Link to this

The Hawks have taken yet another step towards becoming completely worthless. How many forwards does a team need? And of course they took ANOTHER one with their second pick. Why is Billy Knight still employed? Is the object to see how many fans you can drive away from watching this pathetic excuse for a basketball team?

By Raymond

June 29, 2006 09:14 AM | Link to this

We need to relax. The pick works because everyone knows Al and maybe 1 more player is getting shipped out of town. Sheldon fills a need. The Hawks now need to make sure they pull the trigger and get Iverson and all will be forgiven.

By SRB

June 29, 2006 09:17 AM | Link to this

Sheldon Williams is a GOOD player, but not a top 5 pick. We should have traded down if that is what we wanted. It was stupid to draft him at 5, it was even more stupid to guarantee him before the draft that we would draft him at 5. When the Hawks were bought by the new ownership group they talked about being like Arthur Blank, and listening to the fans. So far, they haven’t heard a word the fans have said. I hope Belkin gets the team, so that he can fire Billy Knight and we can get someone who knows that you don’t win with a team full of forwards. This is a guard driven league now more than ever. WE NEED GUARDS. We also need a center. We do not need another forward. Billy Knight is a joke. I really don’t know why is so confident, he has never done anything in the NBA. How many championships or for that matter division winners has Knight built? zero, nada, none. We would be better off with Bobby Knight being GM or the car from Knight Rider. I am sick of the Hawks. I wish they would move to another town and then maybe we could get an expansion team and start all over.

By lacsho

June 29, 2006 09:21 AM | Link to this

You can see my expression with my friend Matthew in the AJC, I had the red and gray shirt on. No disrespect to Shelden, but we could of traded down easily to get him. Look at how many deals portland made. I agree with the female blogger who said: “I thought we’re not suppose to tell everyone who we’re drafting two weekds prior to the draft. This was not a professional move. I’m still a die-hard fan, but the Hawks management is a joke. Everyone on the planet earth new we were taking williams;I wonder if anyone in management ever herd of the word Discreet I like the players, but management is straight garbage…..

By B-Mac

June 29, 2006 09:21 AM | Link to this

WE SUCK AGAIN!!! Billy Knight is the dumbest GM in the league right now, right alongside Isaiah Thomas. The only thing they know how to do is mess up. I refuse to buy tickets to go see Sheldon Williams, this guy is a “HAM SANDWICH…with the CHEESE”!!! Wasn’t Chris Paul rookie of the year this year???

By IntelligentOne

June 29, 2006 09:23 AM | Link to this

I finally understand what the Hawks are doing and I think that it is great for the community as a whole. They are giving under-privileged kids opportunities that they may never of had anywhere else. The ticket prices should be next to nothing so maybe it will help keep some of the youth off the street. I support what you are doing Hawks. Keep up the good work.

By ADC

June 29, 2006 09:25 AM | Link to this

Great pick! If you like having another 6’8 to 6’9 player on your roster. We already have 5 guys this size that can’t rebound. What makes Billy Knight think that another guy a little bigger but with no height is going to help us. Power forwards right now are between 6’8” and 7’1”. The best power forwards are normally 6’11”. Charles Barkley was an exception not the rule. Why pick someone that in 2 or 3 years will be with another team because he didn’t fit here. We have noone that can make up for height difference and Williams will be exposed for what he is. He is a limited player at the NBA that had a great college career but did nothing after his first couple of years. He was not dominate in college, so hello Adam Keefe or Josh Childress.

By jay

June 29, 2006 09:26 AM | Link to this

Everybody is saying that we should have traded down, but if we would have traded down, S. Williams would not have lasted past Houston.

By Ricky

June 29, 2006 09:28 AM | Link to this

By Ex-Hawks Fan

June 29, 2006 09:04 AM | Link to this

The Hawks just don’t want to win, Period! Pass on Super Star? Trade JT (FINALS)? Trade Diaw (PLAYOFFS)? Overpay Joe Johnson(#2 man at best)? Now Sheldon Williams(DUKE Curse)? Name the last great Duke player that was successful in the league. And please don’t count Grant Hill, he has average 20 games a season his entire career.

Let’s try Elton Brand, one of the best power forwards in the league. Shelden will help as will whatever point guard we get for Harrington. If we sign Jason Williams, we will be in good shape. Another Dukie who just needs a chance to prove himself.

By Knuck

June 29, 2006 09:32 AM | Link to this

Sheldon will just add to the long list of Duke players that were good in college but didn’t amount to anything in the NBA. I understand Mr. Knights focus on defense and trying to address needs but to take Sheldon at #5 is a joke! And on the R.Foye debate, please kill all the D-wade comparisons because there is none!! Knight passed on Chris Paul in 05’, got rid of J-Terry, never played B.Diaw, had Rasheed at one point, also A.Walker and drafted M.Williams who is a project. The list of bad decisions go on and on!! Fire the whole front office and start fresh, please!

By Ricky

June 29, 2006 09:34 AM | Link to this

Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, Dale Davis, Antonio Davis, Elton Brand, Charles Oakley, Dennis Rodman, Ben Wallace and Horace Grant.

What do they have in common? They are all 6’10” and under, strong as oxes, and put their teams in positions to win with Rebounding and Defense. Some were stellar offensively and are future Hall of Famers.

By Hawk Fan

June 29, 2006 09:39 AM | Link to this

Hey wasn’t everybody saying the same negative things when Billy Knight drafted Josh Smith in 2003. It looks like Josh Smith is going to be a superstar if he keeps improving his offensive skill. We always hear about D.Wade, L.James, C. Anthony, C.Bosh from the class of 2003 but all those guys have great offensive skills, but none will be as well rounded as J.Smith. And to all you offensive minded geeks, DEFENSE wins championships in any Sport, and the Hawks gave up over 105 ppg last season, so they really need defensive help and they got that from their draft picks.

By eakinator

June 29, 2006 09:40 AM | Link to this

I GIVE UP… WHAT IS THE PROBLEM??? WE NEED A GUARD!!!! GUARD GUARD GUARDGUARD GUARD GUARDGUARD GUARD GUARDGUARD GUARD GUARDGUARD GUARD GUARDGUARD GUARD GUARDGUARD GUARD GUARDGUARD GUARD GUARDGUARD GUARD GUARDGUARD GUARD GUARDGUARD GUARD GUARDGUARD GUARD GUARDGUARD GUARD GUARDGUARD GUARD GUARDGUARD GUARD GUARDGUARD GUARD GUARDGUARD GUARD GUARDGUARD GUARD GUARGUARD GUARD GUARDGUARD GUARD GUARDGUARD GUARD GUARDGUARD GUARD GUARDGUARD GUARD GUARDGUARD GUARD GUARDGUARD GUARD GUARDGUARD GUARD GUARDGUARD GUARD GUARDGUARD GUARD GUARDGUARD GUARD GUARDGUARD GUARD GUARDGUARD GUARD GUARDGUARD GUARD GUARDGUARD GUARD GUARD

WE NEED SOMEONE TO LEAD/RUN THE TEAM. ANOTHER FORWARD IS NOT GONNA DO IT!!! THIS IS REDICULOUS! MY LEFT NUT COULD RUN THIS ORGANIZATION BETTER! IF YOU WANT TO RELOCATE, GET OUT OF HERE!!! LET US BRING IN SOMEBODY WHO KNOWS WHAT THERE DOING SO WE CAN WIN SOME GAMES!!!

By Wink from Lithonia

June 29, 2006 09:41 AM | Link to this

Welcome to New York South, my man BK has done it again. He drafts the Landlord from Duke to rule the paint. The guy is 6’9” tall, same as Josh Smith & Marvin Williams. BK says we needed help with interior defense, this guy will be playing with men next year and will not dominate in the paint like in college. He would not even dominate in the NBDL league. He actual height might be 6’7” - 6”8”. Yes, we need an inside presence & rebounder. I just don’t see an upgrade here. Poor Zaza alone again in the paint. This will be a bust. The good news is if Belkin get ownership next month BK will be gone rather quickly, unlike Isiah who at least gets a year. Sprit good luck with ticker sales.

By Glenn

June 29, 2006 09:53 AM | Link to this

Pretty funny blurb in the random thoughts section of The Dime . ” Boy now that Atlanta has Shelden Williams, I can’t wait to see how their experiment to fill there entire roster with 6 foot 9 forwards is going to work out. The Atlanta Hawks are truly revolutionizing the game of basketball. They’re turning into that movie where Micheal Keaton gets cloned, and the clones come out slightly different. Next season I can picture a nervous assistant Hawks coach on the bench: No ,leave him in, coach . Thats the 6-9 forward that rebounds!” Pretty funny stuff. They also said that Randy Foye was a better fit as was our 2nd round 6-9 forward we drafted. Their point was Sheldon Williams always played in half court sets & never really ran the floor like the Hawks do. They said we should have traded down & got the 6 foot 9 rebounding forward Hilton Armstrong :)

By HawksW810

June 29, 2006 09:55 AM | Link to this

I look forward to seeing Josh S, at sf, Sheldon W. pf, Zaza c, Joe J. sg and a top veteran running the action, by next season Marvin W. will excite us, Josh C. stats will continue to climb and Stoudamire will pull his head out of his butt!

By Patrick

June 29, 2006 09:57 AM | Link to this

Hey,instead of getting a talented PG for cheap in the draft, let’s try to sign J. Terry. I am sure he would leave Dallas to come back to the ATL.

By FD

June 29, 2006 10:02 AM | Link to this

Again, I say we had horrible picks and horrible deals made during the Pete Babcock years but everyone was ok with that I guess. Babcock had time to screw it up…give Knight a chance to fix it up!!!!

By Berkule

June 29, 2006 10:06 AM | Link to this

In a weak draft to begin with, I think the Hawks took a solid player in Williams. Do we need another forward? No, but he will shore up the defense and open up the possibility of trading one of the others for a veteran point guard. While I wasn’t happy with the Marvin pick last year, I am surprisingly ok with this one.

By Nate

June 29, 2006 10:10 AM | Link to this

I think what it is with Atlanta is they are always building for the future and never have anything for the here and now. They get young guys but never give them time to develop i.e. Boris Diaw. The solid pro for the Phoenix Suns now. Shelden Williams was horrible in college. He only scored off of misses by Redick. He rarely took his own shot and while he got a few rebounds. He will get beat up by pros….mark my words

By Kevrock

June 29, 2006 10:11 AM | Link to this

Let the Hawks move to another city…it is time…The NBA now might be looking to that as well what I have heard…no joke…With the knuckleheads (Owners) problems with each other, the NBA might have someone come and buy out all parties and move them to another city…YOU HEARD IT HEAR FIRST!!!! Not from our weak paper the AJC.

By Phil

June 29, 2006 10:12 AM | Link to this

I hope Shelden reads this blog and plays with a chip on his shoulder to prove everyone wrong. I agree with everyone that it was a bit of a reach at 5 and would have much preferred Roy or Foye. Put either of those with JJ and you have an amazing backcourt but draft Shelden here and everything still looks uncertain as he says he wants to play PF. Shelden at PF and Zaza at C is less than overwhelming. I still have hope that we can get another guard in here and that Shelden can prove himself as a solid player. However, if we dont get to 40 wins and the playoffs this year please fire Billy and Woody.

By Kdub

June 29, 2006 10:12 AM | Link to this

I think Sheldon Williams is a solid player, but not as the #5 pick. The Hawks should have traded down. Having said that, none of the guards that were top 10 picks could run point guard. We don’t need any more SG’s…..Joe Johnson, Josh Childress, and Salim are already at the 2. We can get a good point guard, such as Mike James, in free agency. Yes, we are stockpiled at forward, but Williams is a true power forward, that can play defense, block shots, rebound, and simply bang with people. It’s not a flashy pick, but I think it’ll turn out ok in the end. We couldn’t make up for not picking Chris Paul last year(a point guard) by picking a two guard…we still would not have inside help nor a point guard.

By Robert S.

June 29, 2006 10:18 AM | Link to this

Ok, the Hawks just tried to replace Al Harrington. Obviously, the Hawks have no intention of resigning Harrington with this draft pick. The Hawks still need a point guard and a center. Ty Lue is a gutsy point guard, but he needs help. If the Hawks had no intention of resigning Harrington, why didn’t they trade him last year for another first round draft pick. Maybe then, the Hawks could have selected a replacement for Harrington and a point guard.

By ATLien4Life!

June 29, 2006 10:24 AM | Link to this

Ok, so everyone hates the pick…. Just remember, this guy put up these numbers against the best competition in college night in and night out. Stop crying about drafting a point guard. That’s last year’s gripe. We missed out on Chris Paul. NO ONE in this draft is even close to that. Getting one throught free agency is what we need anyway; an experienced NBA vet who’ll distribute to a bunch of energetic kids. Mark my words: Shelden will be very good player for us for the next ten years. It’s not his nor ours that this draft didn’t have a lot of superstars.

By Hosemaze

June 29, 2006 10:27 AM | Link to this

I like the pick alot it really improves roster with interchangeble players plus we can move Al and Salim,for AI or FORD to get the experienced point we need I really like this team I see good things happening with Shelden being a younger version of Ben Wallace with more upside cheaper than Nene and equal to Sammy D.AI/Ford ,JJ ,Marvin,Smith,Sheldon bench Chill,Lue,Zaza,Ivey,Anderson, D Smith,2nd pick to NBDL plus cap for another vet at any position. Good work Billy none of the points selected would be any better than what we have.And I’d take Marvin over Paul any day.Basketball is a big mans game and we have talented bigs 6’9” Suns of the east coast GO HAWKS.

By llennod

June 29, 2006 10:28 AM | Link to this

The one thing that bothers me the most is with marcus williams falling and all the trading going on there were no reports of the hawks trying to get something done to get marcus williams Please FIRE BILLY KNIGHT

By Kiran

June 29, 2006 10:28 AM | Link to this

There are a few reasons why I won’t ever go to a Hawks game:

• Billy’s ego…if it was any bigger his melon couldn’t fit into Phillips Arena

• Wasting a #5 pick on a player that they could have traded down for

• Giving Phoenix 3 potential all-stars w/ Diaw and 2 first rounders

• Not putting a better product on the floor than what I see at the local YMCA

It’s as simple as that, the rich get richer….and the Hawks get dumber by the day.

By Lael

June 29, 2006 10:28 AM | Link to this

He will be just like the rest of the Duke players who make it in the NBA….A HUGE BUST!

By HG3

June 29, 2006 10:30 AM | Link to this

Indisputably, undeniably, unmistakenly, irrefutably, incontroverably, without-a-doubt, one-hundred-per-cent-pure, yet-another-Duke-player-who-won’t-make-it bust.

By Krissyteen

June 29, 2006 10:33 AM | Link to this

Being an avid Duke fan for years, Sheldon is a fantastic player and steps up to the plate all the time to do what is needed of him. I’d given up on the Hawks years ago but I will defintely be attending games next season due to Sheldon’s arrival. I couldn’t be happier. Hey, at this point, the Hawks need any help they can get and I think Sheldon is a great start. For all you naysayers, just you wait and see. Welcome to the ATL Sheldon. I’m glad to have you on board!!!

By Tish Monk

June 29, 2006 10:38 AM | Link to this

Probably the best pick Billy Midnight has made in 4 years. That’s pretty scary…….

By

June 29, 2006 10:43 AM | Link to this

FIRE BILLY KNIGHT!!!!!!!!!! WORDS CANT EXPLAIN THE WAY THE FANS FEEL RIGHT NOW. YOU PASS ON ANOTHER POINT GUARD IN RANDY FOYE WHO WOULD HAVE BEEN GREAT WITH JOE JOHNSON. YOU WOULD THINK THEY WOULD TRY TO ADDRESS IT IN THE SECOND ROULD AFTER THAT STUPID PICK,BUT NO THIS DUMB A$$ GOES OUT AND DRAFT ANOTHER FORWARD. LET THE FANS PICK,WE WOULD HAVE HAD CHRIS PAUL LAST YEAR IF THAT WAS THE CASE.WHAT WILL THEY SAY, THEY WILL ADDRESS IT IN FREE AGENCY. HELLO!!!! NO ONE WANTS TO PLAY HERE.

By Mark

June 29, 2006 10:44 AM | Link to this

Billy who? He’s dead to me. That will be the response in the new Belkin area soon to be.

Go Steve! I’ll chip in a nickel to help you take over the Hawks. I’ve got common sense. Can I make the picks next year?

By Brooke

June 29, 2006 10:44 AM | Link to this

Williams is good pick but, not what the Hawks most desparately, they need a playmaker at guard. And I hope Steve Belkin gets this team and fires Billy Knight and say goodbye to Woodson.

By Shannon B.

June 29, 2006 10:51 AM | Link to this

Quit sticking up for Shelden Williams. Nobody is blaming him. He didn’t select himself. He could be the greatest guy on earth. Who cares. He will not play at a high level in the NBA. Will he be a total bust? No. He will give you some solid minutes off the bench. But that’s it. The #5 overall pick should be a stud. Past #5 picks include KG, Jason Richardson, Vince Carter, Ray Allen, etc. Shelden Williams is the next Dale Davis at BEST. You gamble for greatness at #5. You don’t settle for mediocrity.

By GM R

June 29, 2006 10:54 AM | Link to this

I wonder what the smarmy 2 on 680 The Fan at 3PM make of this draft? I remember BB telling the fans they didn’t know what they were talking about when they objected to giving up two first round picks for JJ. What do you think now Mr Know It All? One of those picks could have got a good prospect at PG yesterday and next year’s will get the Suns someone decent because the Hawks will still stink next season.

By Alexus

June 29, 2006 10:57 AM | Link to this

I think it is something that the Hawks needed. They do not need a point guard with Salim, and Lue. They needed a big man after the death of their center last year. They have shooters now they need to get better defensive wise with the shooting of Joe Johnson and Smith. If you booed then, I assume you did not see Williams at Duke the 4 years he was there. We need someone who can come in a make a difference rather than someone who will take a few years. I am tired of seeing our team lose@@@

By GM R

June 29, 2006 11:00 AM | Link to this

I agree with the guy who asked why BK wasn’t desperately trying to pull a deal so he could pick Marcus Williams as he dropped down - I kept hoping for a miracle but then remembered who the GM was. At the end of it all I came to the conclusion that BK’s limited brain cells could not handle having 3 players named Williams.

By JOE

June 29, 2006 11:02 AM | Link to this

Anyone who does not think this is a good pick does not know basketball. Do your homework before you pretend to know what you are talking about!

By Hosemaze

June 29, 2006 11:04 AM | Link to this

Your not Hawks fans all this b*** about Drafting a rookie point guard yes Paul had a good season but he also went down with injuries during the season and will probably make the all star team as a reserve but Marvin will be a (all-star starter) soon like T-Mac patience people (Marcus) Williams maybe 4 assist a game next year but Sheldon will be a career 15-10-2.5 blocks a game type player Remember Karl Malone was 6-9 ,Dennis Rodman, Charles Oakley,James Worthy,Terry Cummings,Larry Nance,Dan Roundfield old school bangers at 6’9 and winners all everyone wants now is Espn highlights.

By hosemaze

June 29, 2006 11:08 AM | Link to this

If we are winning Picks will be low 1st round not worth anything, if you fans pick yea they would probably be LOTTERY get veteran point BILLY AI or FORD not some rookie

By 1 + 2

June 29, 2006 11:11 AM | Link to this

With the youngest team in the league, the Hawks need a veteran PG. Think about the Suns, Steve Nash was a veteran PG that went to a young team and look at them now. Of course I am not saying that the Hawks will find a Steve Nash out there but I do believe having a veteran PG that can shoot the rock and is fast as hell, would set the Hawks up for a playoff run. Also, the Suns didn’t have a shot blocking center, they just ran teams to death. That is why I support the sign and trade of Harrington to the Sixers for Iverson. This Hawks team with Iverson, JJ, JS, MW, and ZaZa could be the Phoenix of the East. With a solid bench to support - - JC, newly drafted SW, Stoudamire, and Lue.

By William J.

June 29, 2006 11:13 AM | Link to this

Great pick in S. Williams.Point guard takes a few years of development whereas S. Williams is NBA ready!!..Look at L.A. Clippers improvement since they got the inside defense from Elton Brandt…How many times did you see layups in the paint last year??..no inside defense…S.Williams will provide it…we will get point guard later on…We have a great one in Lue as well as J.Johnson can play it…all others can score….

By Big Bree

June 29, 2006 11:13 AM | Link to this

Was this Billy’s idea of the Hawks moving FORWARD?? Maybe now he can start moving some forwards…….elsewhere, so we can get some much needed PG & C help. With a team of young players, what was wrong with taking Patrick O’Bryant, athletic 7ft C who could get out and run with our youngsters. Ohhh I forgot, we don’t have the right coach who allows the Hawks to play to their strengths! It’s too late to give the players back so at least get us a coach like Paul Westphal who will let players loose on the court. Put Salim at the #1 (I know he’s a shooter but he can run the point like he did at times in AZ), Joe J #2, Josh Smith #3, Josh Childress or Harrington #4 and whoever ……I guess Shelden #5 and run’em. PLAY TO THEIR STRENGTHS but in order to do so Woody has to go!!!

By lacsho

June 29, 2006 11:14 AM | Link to this

No one has addressed the issue about Marvin, the only reason he didn’t get roy is b/c he lost playing time to Al no rebound Harrington This kind of puzzles me, so why did we really draft Shelden, could’nt we send all those damn 6’9” players to a pre-draft camp. The type of camp rookies use to prepare for the Draft. Umm maybe that should be a Assistant coaches job in the summer, who know’s. Many stars have use this type of training, for example, Kobe, KG,Tim Duncan,Chauncey Billups, and the list goes on and on. Hate to visit the past, but I have to Either Marvin last years pick was a bust, which I don’t think it was, he will be a star once he averages 30-35 mins a game. Or either this years two picks were a bust. You choose, I think it would have been easier to trade for interior defense presence. Instead, we will settle for someone who is not a true point guard. We don’t need A.I., Steve francis, or in other words a scoring pt guard. We need a coach on the floor, a general, someone to distribute the ball to all the 6’9” people. It seems to me there’s less risk in drafting a pt guard, oppose to drafting a forward. Then we go to the second round and draft another damn forward, Dee Brown was still on the board. Now that this draft is really sinking in: “I am mad as Hell.” We still didn’t get a damn CENTER. Hell at least they could’ve have gotten one of 3 7’ centers. If we’re going to take a risk, lets do it with a legit Center. And I’m Gone alright alright alright!!!

By Jay Black

June 29, 2006 11:15 AM | Link to this

Marcus Williams would have been a way better pick than Shelden Williams, not to mention all the other potential all-stars we passed up on. Shelden Williams will be nowhere near Charles Barkley or any of the other players that are 6’9” and HOF bound. Must be Duke fans that are agreeing with this moronic pick. Fire Knight now before he drafts a 3rd grader next year!

By DATDANGGADUDE

June 29, 2006 11:18 AM | Link to this

I have to agree with all the comments about the acquisition of a DEFENSIVE-minded talent, as Mr. Williams is. I have watched this man matured from high school to Duke, and I think he will add a presence that the foul-proned forwards of the current roster have not had. Now, J and Marv can play their half-arsk defense, and have a shot-blocker to back them up. He will develop strength and size as he transitions through The League(and he’s smart-a graduate of DUKE). Quit your crying babies, and start being REAL HAWKS FANS - we will get a point guard through free agency ! (been a Hawks fan since 1979-80 )

By Jameyan

June 29, 2006 11:22 AM | Link to this

I am hurting right now. I am about to throw up over Sheldon Williams. It’s one thing that I hate and it is a DUKIE or DOOKIE. Maybe if he went somewwhere else I could give Billy Knight the benefit of the doubt but giving Duke track record. They are Bust University. Lattener, Hurley,Avery,McLoed,Dunleavy,J.Williams,D.Ferry and the list continues. But my fellow bloggers Billy Knight may know something we don’t know concerning the Pg area. He has the summer til Saturday when free agency start to sort it out. Also has anyone noticed that Billy Knight and Woody are building the Hawks like the Pistons back when they won the title. just look at this for a second and tell me what you think. Sheldon-Big Ben,Marvin-Rasheed,J.Smith-Tayshaun,JJ-Rip,A point guard to fill the void like Chauncey, ZaZa-Mehmet Okur,J.Chilldress-C.Williamson. Now tell me this does not seem ironic.

By DATDANGGADUDE

June 29, 2006 11:25 AM | Link to this

Oh, by the way, for all of you out there that keep hollering for a ‘veteran point guard’, Sam Cassell is available this year !

I like BIG BREE’s comments - a coach has to have the insight and vision to allow his players to play to their strengths. With the way that the game is progressing, the TRADITIONAL/CONVENTIONAL style of basketball does still have it place, but, you have to have an innovative mind in which to allow your ‘horses to run’ and your jockeys to ‘maintain the pace’.

By ATLien4Life!

June 29, 2006 11:27 AM | Link to this

I’m witcha, DATDANGGADUDE.

We NEED a 1, but we need him to be a vet. Honestly, this year was really full of a lot of 2G that everyone’s gonna try to convert to 1’s. This was NOT the year to draft a PG. Let it go and enjoy. He’s gonna be a difference maker for us.

By Torrie

June 29, 2006 11:28 AM | Link to this

Some of you so-called fans need to sit down and shut up! We drafted Sheldon Williams so please get over it. This guy is ready to help the Hawks this year and if you actually watched games last year you’d know we had no problems scoring points, but we just couldn’t stop anybody. I mean guards were just taking it straight to the hole without anyone stopping them. What other Big Man would you have drafted at #5? What would another “potential” All Star guard do for the Hawks when you don’t have a frontline defense? Every guy who was drafted yesterday has a chance of being an ALL STAR, an AVERAGE player, or a BUST so please stop judging Williams and the rest of the 2006 draft class until at least they’ve played a few games..preferably after their rookie season.

By theight

June 29, 2006 11:29 AM | Link to this

A lot of people on here will never be a GMs. The picked the player of need right now. We don’t need an all-star point guard. We need a good point guard that can play defense or a veteran point guard. I think Za Za and Williams will do a great job down low and J.Smith will be there to help out at the three position. We now have 4 starters that loves to play defense and can score. How man guys can actually hold this guy in league today. There are no more all-star big men in the league now that can score and play defense besides KG and Duncan and even williams will be to strong for those guys. Williams will be our young Kevin Williams.

By Jay Black

June 29, 2006 11:30 AM | Link to this

Billy Knight is building the cast of the Wizard of Oz with shelden as the Tin Man in the paint. Nowhere near Ben Wallace. Anybody who says so needs to be drug out into the street and shot.

By Gumby

June 29, 2006 11:31 AM | Link to this

I used to love the NBA. When I lived in Seattle we used to go all the time to see Tom Chambers, X-Man, Nate McMillan, etc… Even when they weren’t good the games were extremely entertaining. But the f#*%ing Hawks have pretty much killed it for me. Their product is not entertaining, it’s pathetic. You don’t get the feeling that “hey, these guys are getting better”. It’s one train wreck after another. Nice pick Billy.

By El

June 29, 2006 11:36 AM | Link to this

I like the pick. After Billy let everyone know that Sheldon was his guy there was no way to trade down. A playoff team has to have a player that is willing to do the grunt work and that is what Sheldon will bring to the table. Also, he did score 18 points a game in the ACC so he can give you some points. I don’t think scoring will be an issue for the Hawks with some of the players we have. There was no point guard in this draft worthy of a lottery pick. For all of you crying about Foye, Roy and Gay, we have a player in the same mold that already plays like an all star. His name is Joe Johnson. Billy, make a strong play for Sam Casell and the playoffs are in reach in the East.

By unclecracker

June 29, 2006 11:38 AM | Link to this

Everyone from DUKE is overrated and have never amounted to Sh1t in the NBA with the exceptions being Grant Hill , Elton Brand, Corey Maggette, and Johnny Dawkins! Here is to Atlanta for adding another Dukette Loser! Hey what happened to Roshown Mccleod?

By D

June 29, 2006 11:42 AM | Link to this

THE HAWKS SHOULD HAVE DRAFTED DEE WILLIAMS IN THE SECOND ROUND

By David

June 29, 2006 11:46 AM | Link to this

The Dime at Fox Sports gets how important Solomon was to our team:

The skinny: The Hawks wanted to get bigger up front to compliment all their athletic players, and they particularly accomplished that with Jones. They still need a point guard and must believe they can address that in free agency or via trade. We’ll see. But for now, this looks like the Hawks may be up to something positive for a change. Grade: B

By 1 + 2

June 29, 2006 11:47 AM | Link to this

The only way Billy Knight can save face is by getting AI (not TI). This guy will put people in the seats. And I guarantee you the Hawks will win at least 40 games. If this isn’t done, then lower the damn ticket prices.

As for Coach Woody, he should demand that Shelden and Childress do the dirty work. In other words, play aggressive defense, hit the boards, bite people in the a$$, and average 1 technical every 2 weeks.

By Rico

June 29, 2006 11:48 AM | Link to this

Please buy this team Steve Belken and end this Billy Knight era before we become the 80’s LA Clippers. How many 6’6” guys are we trying to keep drafting that we will have to wait 2-3 years to see there alleged potential.

By Jim Feely

June 29, 2006 11:51 AM | Link to this

This has to be a racial issue. I have never heard of a team hangin on to a coach and GM, both of who appear totally inept. The GM wil not fire a black coach becase he may have to pick a white one, and the whole organization is in such disarray that the GM is ruing this sinking ship and there is no one in command to fire him. Pasadena.

By Jim Feely

June 29, 2006 11:54 AM | Link to this

It appears that the only worthwhile franchise left in this city if the Thrashers. That’s odd, cince they have the same owners as the Hawks, but with a brighter GM and Coach Hmmmm!

By Jameyan

June 29, 2006 11:56 AM | Link to this

Hold on I am not saying Sheldon is big ben. But an undersized center who rebounds and block shot.

By Jameyan

June 29, 2006 11:58 AM | Link to this

Hold on I am not saying Sheldon is big ben. But an undersized center who rebounds and block shot. Anyway I was reading insidehoops.com and they had an article from the Philadelphi Inquirer saying the Hawks could have Iverson for Josh Smith and Al Harrington. If BK trade Josh Smith I promise you I will NEVER EVER WATCH A HAWKS GAME AGAIN!

By King of Savannah

June 29, 2006 12:03 PM | Link to this

Sheldon Williams could turn out to be a good pick. While I would have liked to see a point guard taken, if the Hawks can get a veteran point guard through free agency, this pick looks pretty good. We are way under the salary cap and Harrington will not be with Atlanta as Marvin William and Sheldon Williams will each average double/doubles. Our stats show that we can score with any team, but can’t stop anyone. From a defensive prospective our last two picks will pay off this year. We need a veteran point guard in the off season!

By War Eagle

June 29, 2006 12:08 PM | Link to this

We can now say that the Hire the Minority Experiment is a DISASTER! This Black man was a disaster in Memphis and now in Atlanta. Isaiah Thomas is a disaster in NY. Face it BLACK MEN CANNOT GM! Billy does not understand the needs of the team, wants to get a flasher to attract immediate fan base-yet the only thing that will attract fans is a winning team. It appears that Billy led the owners to believe that Joe Johnson was the answer. Mr. Belkin knew all along that Billy was incompetent. Well, Mr. Belkin was right. Sell the Hawks! Move them-Atlanta does not need nor want a basketball franchise run by a minority buffoon who is leading his owners around by the nose to the red ink trail. Same results yr after yr. Are we gonna have a Center and 4 Forwards in the line up this yr? The back court will be as confusing as Father’s Day in downtown Atlanta. Boycott BASKETBALL! HOCKEY RULES!

By Nate

June 29, 2006 12:10 PM | Link to this

I can’t believe that there are this many Hawks fans! Wow.

By HB Ando

June 29, 2006 12:12 PM | Link to this

I guess the regulars from our Hawks’ blog are mostly waiting for all these one day wonders to move onto tomorrow’s big story. Jameyan, you may be the only regular who’s playing with these guys. For those of you who are new, us hoops’ junkies talk about this stuff everyday. We welcome any and all of you to stick it out and build a larger following.

Once we work out way up to about 50 regulars, from our current two dozen or so, we will have more folks than the Hawks will have season ticket holders next season.

Jam, we’ll get to the serious analysis of this fiasco in a day or so.

By j

June 29, 2006 12:16 PM | Link to this

stop complainging about the pick Sheldon Williams will be a solid player in this league and a defensive stopper last i checked it takes defense to win a champoinship or even get to the playoffs which would be huge for the Hawks. The pick looks even better if we sign a veteran pg or do a sign and trade w/Al for someone like Sam Cassel. If that happens we will be in the playoffs next season and Billy will be looking pretty smart.

By bugger

June 29, 2006 12:17 PM | Link to this

Didn’t the Hawks draft this same guy last year? Yes, I believe they did.

By Steve N

June 29, 2006 12:17 PM | Link to this

While maybe not a flashy guard type player everyone is looking for Shelden Williams is a beast inside. He was the only true big man in this draft. He plays inside, is comfortable inside and will be the inside presence that the Hawks have needed for sometime. He also brings great character and maturity, something the Hawks desparately need. He will be a steady performer for years to come and Hawks fans will be pleasantly surprised.

By Bob

June 29, 2006 12:18 PM | Link to this

Billy Knight is such an arrogant jerk. I believe he intentionally makes stupid picks just so he can act like a tough guy to anyone who would have the audacity to challenge his lack of wisdom.

By Jameyan

June 29, 2006 12:20 PM | Link to this

HB You know I am a regular. I will always be a regular. From last year draft until now I have been on here and will continue. The fact of the matter of this is I have been waiting for a almost nine months to see what direction the Hawks is going. Right now I am clueless and anxious what the Hawks are doing.So you right after the one hit wonders leave and get down to real business. And wonder what the hell is going on in Atlanta?

By War Eagle

June 29, 2006 12:21 PM | Link to this

It appears that the hire the Minority for GM experiment has FAILED! Billy FAILED in Memphis, he failed in Atlanta and Isaiah has FAILED in NY. Can we get off the hire the minority phase! BLACK MEN CAN’T GM! Let’s hire someone with brains that realizes what the weaknesses are-say PG? Billy is trying to get another Dominique so that people will watch the Hawks score more-the trouble is the defense is a sive! Mr. Belkin was right when he thought Billy to be the biggest idiot for trading for Johnson. Yet the other clowns-yes you anti Belkinites and your band of merry church goers, thought Billy, a FAILURE in Memphis (which made the playoffs after Billy was replaced by a WHITE GM)was onto something-yes BANKRUPTING the white man. Atlanta does not want nor need a pro Basketball team-the product is boring, unattractive and only gets exciting in the last minute unless one team is getting blown out anyway. BOYCOTT BASKETBALL! HOCKEY RULES!

By Taurus

June 29, 2006 12:22 PM | Link to this

I like the idea of the Hawks sign and trade Al Harrington and the #5 pick for Seattle’s #10 pick, Earl Watson and Chris Wilcox. You could have still gotten Shelden Williams at #10 and would have added a pretty good veteran point guard in Earl Watson. Back to reality, Shelden Williams is a safe pick and a hard worker. He’s a very good defender and shot blocker and has good offenseive skills in the post. I think Randy Foye was the better pick, will be a bigger star, and we will regret this like trading Pau Gasol, Boris Diaw, and passing on Chris Paul, but he will be a solid player.

By King of Savannah

June 29, 2006 12:23 PM | Link to this

Sheldon Williams could turn out to be a good pick. While I would have liked to see a point guard taken, if the Hawks can get a veteran point guard through free agency, this pick looks pretty good. We are way under the salary cap and Harrington will not be with Atlanta as Marvin William and Sheldon Williams will each average double/doubles. Our stats show that we can score with any team, but can’t stop anyone. From a defensive prospective our last two picks will pay off this year. We need a veteran point guard in the off season!

By Ned

June 29, 2006 12:23 PM | Link to this

All you need to know as Duke alumni stink in the NBA. Here we can add another Duke player to the list that will never get near a title game!

Why you would not get a stud from UCONN is beyond me or even that cat from ARKANSAS!!!

By GLENN KIRKLAND

June 29, 2006 12:27 PM | Link to this

How Much Longer Must the City of Atlanta. Suffer Through GM. Billy Knights. Persistant Stupitidy. Of Ignoring The Hawks Glaring Weakness. Of Desperately Needing a Very Good Point Guard. A True Center, and a Good Back up Point Guard. Knight, just truly Don,t seem to understand. That Without a true Floor general. And Big Solid Low Post Presance. The Hawks Will Always Keep Finishing in the Bottom of there Division.

By brian

June 29, 2006 12:28 PM | Link to this

Pathetic. Absolutely pathetic. Who, in their right mind would take this guy over Brandon Roy. And oh, by the way, we really need a point guard, not another Forward.

By pj

June 29, 2006 12:32 PM | Link to this

I agree with this analysis of Hawks pick per-nbadraft.net—A team like the Atlanta Hawks has failed in area No. 1 for the past few drafts, but have started to forge an identity. They believe that if a team has enough athletes, they can simply overwhelm the competition with their superior physical gifts. Of course, in order for these high-flying swingmen to reach their full potential, a steady point guard is necessary to distribute the ball and put these players in the best positions to score.

I’m not here to harp on Chris Paul, because that angle’s been beaten to death. But the Hawks had a chance to continue forging an athletic identity with their No. 5 selection, but opted instead to draft lead-footed Shelden Williams out of Duke. On paper, Williams fills Atlanta’s pressing need for interior defense and rebounding - two of Atlanta’s biggest deficiencies. However, Williams will struggle trying to adapt to an up-tempo transition attack that the Hawks will need to employ to be successful. Williams won’t be able to keep up with gazelles like Josh Smith, Joe Johnson and Marvin Williams. The Duke bruiser is much more comfortable in a half-court offense, much like the offensive sets Jeff Van Gundy and Rick Carlisle tend to run.

If Atlanta wanted to fill their need for interior defense, it would’ve been a far wiser move to trade down for lankier players like Hilton Armstrong or Cedric Simmons. Both players love to run the floor, block shots, and hit the glass. Each guy would’ve fit in nicely with the Hawks’ current personnel. To be honest, I think South Flordia’s Solomon Jones fits better than Williams.

Of course, Atlanta could’ve simply drafted Randy Foye at No. 5 and made a serious step in the right direction. I’m on record saying that Foye will be the top player in this year’s draft, and I stand by that. Foye would’ve given Atlanta everything they’re missing in the back-court and started from day one.

By doc

June 29, 2006 12:34 PM | Link to this

zach good stuff, thanks.

honest stick in here. emotion lasts only so long.

even though portland got rid of a guard arent they still overloaded and would that make j. jack a target though the pundits have dissed his game.

still dont think ainge, zeke, mchale, etc. have done themselves proud yet though they were active as though their jobs are finally on the line to prove themselves worthy after their many blunders for two premier markets. sometimes these things are done in desperation to buy a little more time. you know we made some changes this year and we know they are going to show an impact soon but maybe not this year. west finally got off the seat and did something but to get rid of a workhorse and fill it with promise may not play out. got a good guard that will play fratello ball though so give him some credit. ainge, telfair for who? man has his game deteriorated.

what is portland up to?

By doc

June 29, 2006 12:42 PM | Link to this

well i got the tag of one person that has the intelligence of a 1950 rock so i dont spend any time thinking he has anything relevant to the argument except hatred.

By Jay

June 29, 2006 12:43 PM | Link to this

Cant wait till Foye wins RoY. Then the Hawks can brag on passing on the last TWO RoY’s.

Saw a bit from Chris Ford not understanding the Hawks. You and me both brother.

Why didnt we trade to pick up Marcus Williams or Rondo late in the first round? Why did we take ANOOOOOTHER forward in the second round instead of taking a chance on a point guard?

Billy Knightmare is bad Gm de ja vu all over again. Belkin…please buy out our chump ownership and fire Knightmare before our entire roster is 6’9.

By Jeff

June 29, 2006 12:44 PM | Link to this

Pretty simple, a bust for two years and then star once he gets traded.

By Big T

June 29, 2006 12:55 PM | Link to this

Why all of the crying about Williams. How many of you half hearted Hawk fans remember people just driving down the lane at will last year.

Why would you want a rookie point guard when you can go after a veteran PG in a sign and trade with Harrington that will help this team NOW!

The Draft is only half of the puzzle. Wait and see what happens in July when the free agency signings begin. If this team can get a good PG to go along with the team that they have now they will suprise a lot of people next year!

If you can’t stop anyone it doesn’t matter how many points that you score.

By War Eagle

June 29, 2006 12:56 PM | Link to this

I should know buffons! I’m a inbred hillbilly jackazz!!!!

By Eiht

June 29, 2006 01:00 PM | Link to this

Why Billy Why? You could have drafted Foye, Roy, or Rudy Gay then make a trade for Sheldon since you like him so much. You could have gotten the player you wanted and something else in return even a second round pick in 2010 is better than just what got finish doing. It’s that simple. A vet PG might not want to come here. You could have tried to get Nene in the off season with the money the Hawks have. He’s young and is an upgrade to Sheldon. Since it seem as though Harrington is out the door, please trade him to a sorry team so we can have a chance at Greg Oden next year. With a pure passing PG, the Hawks could have been the dunking version of the Suns. Sure, we might not win as many games, but there would be highlights from J Smoove, Joe, Marvin, and even at times J Chill.

By ATL Eastsider

June 29, 2006 01:01 PM | Link to this

Win or lose… I’m with the Hawks. If Billy gets canned for this, then so be it. But, honestly, the Hawks have a lot of probs.. starting with the front office. The squabble b/w the owners (which has been going on since last offseason) is going to greater heights. But I’m an ATLien 4 life, so I’m with my city. I just wish they would get things right before they loose their entire fan base.

By Patrick D. Gaul

June 29, 2006 01:06 PM | Link to this

I’ve been a Hawks fan since my arrival in Atlanta just under 3 years ago and I’ve been a season ticket holder for nearly as long. I pay dearly for great seats and I’m very pleased with Billy’s selections in last evening’s draft. We averaged 97 points a game last season, but gave up 102 points on average. We need help inside and while I agree that we need a point guard, it is not as desperate as folks have suggesting. I was at the draft party last evening and I was one of many fans that cheered the selection, but most of us were sitting in the arena watching on the center court screen. We have have more than just a good roster……we have the foundation for a great team and this year we will break out of the box and make things happen…..watch out for Marvin Williams and Josh Smith and watch as Sheldon makes everyone critical of his selection eat their words.

By honest abe

June 29, 2006 01:21 PM | Link to this

i have noticed that most of the knowledgeable fans (which don’t amount to that much) are satisfied with last nights draft. i’m not saying i thought it was the greatest draft we’ve ever had, but we’ve addressed our biggest need….FRONTLINE DEPTH!!!! i dont’ know why everyone thinks solomon is going to be in nbdl this year…he’s competing with esteban and jon edwards for a roster spot….pullllllease…he’s got a legitimate shot to make the squad…we got sheldon…and yes you can scream bloody murder about woulda, coulda, shoulda, but the bottom line is he’s going to pull down rebounds, hit the occasional open jumper, and score some trash buckets, he’ll defend his butt off and i’m hoping his work ethic and attitude rub off on our young players…hey like some of the smart people are saying the wheeling and dealing is not over…it’s just about to begin!

By Ben

June 29, 2006 01:23 PM | Link to this

The difference in Ainge, Mchale, etc and Billy Knight is…. they have been to the playoffs. Do you want to know who Mchale drafted fifth- Kevin Garnett. How many times has Billy Knight been to the playoffs?

No one is “hating” It is just the truth and facts!!!! BILLY KNIGHTMARE IS NOT THE ANSWER. He has lost half on the remaining fans already.

By EastAthensDawg

June 29, 2006 01:27 PM | Link to this

Any team that sux as bad as the Hawks shouldn’t have their players go by nicknames, “J-Chill, J-Smooth, etc.” Call them by their names, or let them win something to be deserving of any nicknames. This is the sorriest excuse of a franchise in pro sports.

By IBDawgfan82

June 29, 2006 01:28 PM | Link to this

Terrible pick. Just what the Hawks need, another ‘tweener. Not quick enough to play power forward(thus he was a center at Duke), and too undersized to play center in the NBA. He’s going to be another in a long line of bad Hawks draft choices.

By Ausdmike

June 29, 2006 01:33 PM | Link to this

This will turn out to be their finest selection in the last 20 years. The landlord can PLAY.

By Stunned in Bogart

June 29, 2006 01:36 PM | Link to this

Hawks draft choices and Duke basketball alumns going to the NBA are about as good of a mix as fire and gasoline. This has bad written all over it. But unless the landlord brings his own referees into the league with him, he will go the way of Christian Laettner and the rest of them. Brand was an exception and how long did it take him to get out of Duke, two years?

By huwho2

June 29, 2006 01:38 PM | Link to this

Those who don’t like Sheldon as the first pick, don’t understand basketball.

By Odogg

June 29, 2006 01:40 PM | Link to this

Sheldon Williams will be a 20-10-3 guy within the next 3 years. 20 points, 10 rebounds, 3 blocks per game. He is a true power forward. He is Charles Oakley with better basketball skills. I would like to see the Hawks put together a deal to land Bibby from Sacremento.

By Ben

June 29, 2006 01:40 PM | Link to this

War Eagle, I don’t know if he was hired because he was a minority. It probably helped. But, I don’t really know why he was promoted. His resume is full of losing seasons as a GM. He hasn’t changed many minds about his ability. He is a scout in GM position

By j

June 29, 2006 01:44 PM | Link to this

war eagle your not too bright are you?

By GL

June 29, 2006 01:44 PM | Link to this

At First i Was Only Going To Write This Column. To Comment on Gm. Billy Knights Persistant Stupidity. Of Thinking that He Can Build a Winning Team. With Only a Bunch Of Forwards. No Floor General to Correctly and Timely Distribute the Ball. No Big ( 6’11” or Taller ) Low Post Treat. just No Potential Winning System at All. But Then i came across this Column. From this Racist Retarded Moron. ( War Eagle ) Who wanted to Use RACist BullCrap. To Slam Not Only Knight But All of the Minority GM in Sports. First Off There Have Been Many More. White! GM,s and( White Owner,s )in the League. that has Done, alot More Idiotic Deals. That has Came back to bite There Teams in The Butt. then Even Knight Has Done. Includding His Mr.Belkin,s. That,s why they got rid of the bum. Plus (Fact) Isaiah Did,nt Fell the Knicks, yet. (White)Larry Brown, Felled Them. Just Like He Felled the US. Olympic Team. With his Old Fashioned, Bad Coaching. Mr. RAcist ( Retarded Eagle ) Should Stuff Himself, and All that Stupid Scweded-Up Racist Crap. Right Where it Belongs( in The Garbage ). Because it Just Really Don,t Belong in Sports.And a Stupid Person, that Don,t know how to Manage a Team. Is Stupid Whether they are Black, WHITE, Red, Yellow or Brown!….

By happy2bnappy

June 29, 2006 01:45 PM | Link to this

I want to go on record that the HAWKS will do fine this year. Reason 1: the Hawks lost a teammate last year, before the beginning of the season. They then went on a 10 game losing streak. The death of a teammate takes a toll on you. Reason 2: the Hawks scored well, but could not stop anyone. Not having to deal with a death this year should account for 8 more wins over last year and having Sheldon down low, should account for atleast 10 more wins for a total of 18 more wins over last year. PLUS we still have some off season moves to make. I see the Hawks winning 44 games this year. Don’t jump on the bandwagon in February. Section 221

By

June 29, 2006 01:46 PM | Link to this

Hawks fans who dont like the Shelden Williams pick are idiots. We were next to last in the league in rebounding. We only had 1 legit big man. (Zaza) Marcus Williams is good, but not good enough at 5 which is why he went at pick 22. He isnt a lottery pick. Roy and Foye are both great COMBO guards. If you pay attention to the Hawks we already have a great COMBO guard in Joe Johnson. We need a true point guard. Some people are that Foye and Roy are like Wade. Does Wade play PG? NO! So shut up about that s**. Jay Williams played PG on the Heat. We dont need a point/shooting guard. And if you cant trade down, (which we tried to do) then you have to pick for need. Although we needed a point guard, what good would one have done if we dont have the defense to stop opponents from scoring at will on the inside? Dont forget about Free Angency either. We can address the point need there with Mike James or Sam Cassell. Stop hatin when you dont know anything about basketball, let alone building a team.

By Dennis

June 29, 2006 01:46 PM | Link to this

I was upset about picking Sheldon before and was afterward. Now in hindsight, might not be a bad move. First, none of the PG’s in the draft went top 10. Second, the Celtics needed at PG as bad or maybe worse than the Hawks, and they traded away to get Telfair because they saw he is further along than the other PG’s in the draft. None of the PG’s picked are going to start for their teams, they’re mostly developmental players even with Marcus Williams being the most polished. So Billy really did get away from what he’s done before, getting some experience (4 years college). Sheldon won’t light the world on fire, but, he could be close to an Elton Brand and we’d take that in a heartbeat. Plus, we needed someone with a little nastiness down low. I can’t remember how many times last year guys would drive the lane on us, get fouled, make the basket and get the free throw. After all, didn’t we lead the league in 3 point plays? I kept asking myself, when is someone going to make someone pay for going to the hole? When that scrawny Jamal Crawford of the Knicks is getting those 3 points plays, something’s wrong. No knock on Jamal, but he’s no Artest who you’d expect to make those buckets. We’ve got to get tougher and we did that with Sheldon & our # 2. Don’t forget, Solomon Jones played in the Big East, and those boys play physical - Georgetown, Villanova, Pitt, Syracuse, UConn…come on, we’ve got some meat underneath now. While the PG pick might have been more sexy, Sheldon is the most polished of the bigs coming out at 5 and he doesn’t need to gain weight to push others around. I think this is a more solid pick than we think. A rookie PG would be throwing the ball away, especially if he’s got to be the main guy. There were no Chris Paul’s, Deron William’s or Raymond Felton’s this time around. Let’s see how this plays out before we scream and yell and jump off the bandwagon. Are we fairweather fans or are we FANS??

By B REAL

June 29, 2006 01:55 PM | Link to this

FYI Wareagle is such a coward, his address is not a real one on yahoo…The hawks will be fine after july 1, after they do a sign and trade to acquire a veteran PG for Harrington…ROLL TIDE! p.s. let’s just hope the Hawks win more games and the season series against NY.

By Dennis

June 29, 2006 01:59 PM | Link to this

Had to comment again after reading trash from WarEagle. First off, I’m a white dude. I played a little college ball and consider myself a little knowledgeable. First off WarEagle, your comments are stupid because you forgot to mention Joe Dumars who took the Pistons to a championship!! Or how about Kenny Williams of the White Sox (another sport, but applicable here). And, BK pulled one on the Hawks before when he got Pau Gasol for Shareef. Shareef’s good, but Gasol’s now a star and Shareef’s on his way out. Also, I forgot to ask, what teams have you been a GM for? We can armchair quarterback all day. BK is not GM because he’s black, he’s GM because he knows what he’s doing. Woody is not a coach because he’s black, it’s because he knows what he’s doing!! How about KC Jones who won championships with the Celtics? That argument about race is lame and old and doesn’t make any sense. Also, I personally don’t like Isaiah since I’m a Celts fan also and I hated the Pistons, but didn’t he do fairly well as a coach with the Pacers? Isaiah wasn’t the problem in NY, Larry Brown was, just like he was the problem in Detroit, just the like he was the problem in Philly, just like he was the problem…I’m not bashing the white guys, but let’s keep it real and call it for what it is. And WarEagle, you might want to listen to the Stews on 790, they call everyone out, not on the basis of color but on the basis of what they DO. Now if we call you out on the same, what does that make you??

By honest abe

June 29, 2006 02:00 PM | Link to this

i guess the more reasonable, knowledgeable bball fans come out in the afternoon:) finally reading some things that are making me realize that we just might have some people around these parts that know a little basketball..very nice feeling!

By GRIZZLY BEAR

June 29, 2006 02:01 PM | Link to this

People look at the writing on the wall.The hawks have a leg up on the plan for the team. sheldon was a great pick because now u have a enforcer.The hawks are going to make a trade for veteran point guard to run the offense they are the youngest team in the league.Dont be surprise if you dont know the new players on this hawk team after all the trades and free agency.This is going to be a good team .Real hawks fan keep the faith

By Patman

June 29, 2006 02:02 PM | Link to this

This is just another in a long line of Hawks bust picks! Supporters of this pick talk about how he’s going to be an addition in the post but what kind of addition will he be when Al Harrington is gone? I can see him being a late first rounder or early second rounder but number five? No way! Billy Knight’s obsession with small forwards is a big joke and his stinking personality, condescending attitude and cluelessness will not get him far as a GM at all! As much as Pete Babcock stunk as a GM (and no I do NOT want him or Stan Kasten back), at he didn’t try to cover it up with a phony “I know better than you do!” attitude! As much as I dislike Steve Belkin, I almost home he wins this court thing! It’s better to have just one guy screwing things up than several!

By happy2bnappy

June 29, 2006 02:02 PM | Link to this

yo dennis, you are on point wit’cho comments.

By

June 29, 2006 02:04 PM | Link to this

by Sam

Well maybe it a good atlanta defense was terrible that is a good pick; but eventually the hawks would need a point guard because we can’t have a six feet eight guy to lead them down the court

By

June 29, 2006 02:06 PM | Link to this

honest abe thinks that 90% of the people posting are stupid (thats weird, kind of a Billy Knightmare attitude) The only people that know anything about bball are the ones who agree with honest abe. So, to the 250 other people…. you are all stupid. To the 10 or 15 that agree with abe….you are all smart. BK could care less what you think abe… you are a p**-on to him.

By Todd

June 29, 2006 02:09 PM | Link to this

I’m not sure how to spell this, but Sheldon is a freakin KLEENGON…his forehead is going to get dunked on. Did somebody say good defense?….Do you mean TAKING FALLS? Everybody that watches Duke knows how they play. I HATE DUKE! If you wanted defense and presence down low, get on of those seven footers! Sheldon is 6’9” and won’t look nearly as strong against NBA players. I miss Spud, Dominique, and Kevin Willis.

By paul

June 29, 2006 02:11 PM | Link to this

Brandon Roy is not a point guard. When you are critical, be accurate.

By crackbaby

June 29, 2006 02:15 PM | Link to this

The Hawks franchise, like the NBA, is a dying calf in the winter wind. Too much body ink, too much attitude, not enough credibility or poersonalities that engender universal fan appeal.

Move on to another league if just gotta have hoops. Otherwise, follow a better sport. Y’all choose.

By Dennis

June 29, 2006 02:18 PM | Link to this

Another point to make in response to “By”, whoever you are. First of all, how many GM’s are posting on this Blog besides you? If you’re currently unemployed as a GM, you might want to call the Hawks…oops, they’ve got a qualified GM and your a…blogger? I can’t find the letters “GM” in blogger. I’m not trying to hammer you dude (or dudess), but let’s give this some time. The Hawks pre-BK & Woody were horrible, we all know that. You can’t build a championship team in 2 years!!! It takes time, IF it’s going to last. These guys have a plan. You might not agree with it, we all might now agree with every part of it, but you know what? We’re not calling the shots, they are. We can question it, but, let’s give these guys a fair shake. We might not have thought Josh Smith was a good pick at the time, but look at how’s he’s becoming a great player. And let me ask another question…would you rather have a developmental point guard running a young team, or an experienced veteran running a young team? I previously had said don’t get Cassell, however, he might be just what we need. Or Bobby Jackson, or Speedy Claxton. We need some veteran leadership, especially if we don’t have Al anymore.

Let’s make our arguments for or against using some commons sense and reasoning and not because we don’t like someone. Gee, let me ask you this, imagine thousands publicly trashing you, how happy would you be to talk to them? Or trashing how you do your job in PUBLIC CONTINUALLY? I’m getting off base, but say you are an engineer and a dude off the street says you’re building that bridge wrong for 6 months everyday? If you listen to him, and do it like he says, the bridge collapses. MORE than ‘nuff said.

By honest abe

June 29, 2006 02:21 PM | Link to this

sam let me clarify one small thing for you…you don’t have to a certain size to bring the ball up the court…! when jchill came into the game he’d bring the ball up the court and put the hawks into an offensive set…most pg’s are shorter…but it’s not something you necessarily have to have….pippen brought the ball up the court…he was a point forward, magic johnson was 6’9 and he was a pg…lebron james is hybrid of everything….and does everything….before you morons jump on me i’m not comparing any of the current hawks players to the ones mentioned above…my point is that if you can play, you can play!! don’t get me wrong ..i would love to have a traditional pg…having said that we needed interior d more than anything else, we needed someone to rebound…we got that person!!!

“honest abe thinks that 90% of the people posting are stupid”

yes i do… it’s clear by your statements you know nothing about the team! i’ve never seen so many bloggers before and i’ve been on this damn thing throughout the season….where were all you guys then? we all know who the regulars are…and even though i disagree with some of them…and we get into it at times…. i still respect their bball knowledge/passion for the hawks or basketball in general…. all of you blasting bk on his color, and his winning pct, and his draft picks… are simply ignorant and know nothing about basketball.. i wish i had a word to define you…but everything i can think of just doesn’t do it justice….

this new influx of moronic bloggers reminds me of when i take a incredibly, smelly dump…and just like that odor, I JUST WISH IT/(YOU GUYS) WOULD GO AWAY!

By Ricky

June 29, 2006 02:21 PM | Link to this

Seriously, can someone tell me why Shelden is not a good pick??!! Bargnani, Thomas, Morrison and Aldridge are not all that. No one has seen Bargnani play and he is a project, Thomas has only been good for like two weeks (he’s not a star), Morrison is a scorer but lacks defensive skills, and Aldridge is viewed as soft. So honestly, when we look back on next season, we will see that Shelden has faired better than any of the picks before him. Roy and Foye will be studs, but they don’t fit a need here. We have Salim and Joe to run the 2. With Al gone, Shelden beefs up a frontline of younsters and I think he is better than any of the big men selected before him.

By marcus

June 29, 2006 02:25 PM | Link to this

what player from duke has ever intimidated anyone? i am here in acc land and i’ve seen this guy for four years; he is decent, but he’s a “poor man’s” carlos boozer. i think not picking roy was a joke; billy could have drafted roy and sent him to portland and got an additional player to boot. i think that billy and isaiah thomas (knicks) have morphed into elgin baylor and wes unseld. for two years in a row we have missed out on supplying the team with a much needed point guard. just think, we could be competitive with boris, chris, roy and josh smith. as much as i liked billy as a player, he sucks as a gm.

By

June 29, 2006 02:27 PM | Link to this

Dennis- they are just going by facts. BK has never won more than 26 games as a GM. Yes, towards the end of BABCOCK’s era, they weren’t that good. Never, ever, did they have back to back seasons like this. He hasn’t done anything to prove all of these fans wrong. If thousands don’t approve and just a handful agree…. then, something is probably wrong.

By

June 29, 2006 02:30 PM | Link to this

PG- Chris Paul SG- Joe Johnson SF- Al Harrington (we would keep him if not for M. Williams)

PF- Josh Smith C- ZaZa

pretty damn solid starting unit

By 1 + 2

June 29, 2006 02:30 PM | Link to this

If it is true that Philly wants Harrington and Josh for Iverson, then their Billy must be smoking something… Let’s sign and trade Harrington to Denver for Nene and then sign Mike James or Speedy Claxton.

As for Sheldon, he is going to be a solid NBA player. I stated earlier, as have others, that he will do the dirty work. The successful teams have players that are willing to get their hands nasty (grabbing boards, playing defense, and hustling). At first I was extremely disappointed because it wasn’t the most exciting pick; however, in hindsite, I realized that this guy is solid and has the ability to contribute to any team in the NBA.

By Dennis

June 29, 2006 02:36 PM | Link to this

“By”, true, BK may have never won more than 26…but, no one enjoyed playing the Hawks towards the end of last year because of how they improved and the passion they exhibited, even if we gave up the most 3 point plays. We’re improving. And again, would you want a developmental PG to run the Hawks, or a veteran with leadership? We need a vet, plain and simple, ESPECIALLY if Al goes. Brandon Roy is not a PG, he’s a smaller, unproven Joe Johnson, and really, Joe’s handle is much better than what I’ve seen of Roy’s and Joe can pass the ball. Roy’s more of a Ray Allen/Ben Gordon hybrid with a little less hops and quickness…and he’s unproven.

By Todd

June 29, 2006 02:41 PM | Link to this

KLEENGON! Ricky, What game were you watching where Tyrus Thomas wasn’t making big plays down the stretch? and beating Duke, where he had just as many rebounds as Sheldon. We haven’t been good since big Dekie was waving his finger at people. When you need a center and a point, you don’t draft another foward, you should realize that Abe. That’s like the Falcons drafting tight ends. It just p** everybody off. Thats why you are seeing so many people on “your” blog.

By Billy

June 29, 2006 02:48 PM | Link to this

Sheldon Williams is a very very solid pick. Here is a guy that was a 1st team consensus All American, and one of only 3 guys in NCAA HISTORY to record 1,500 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 350 blocks with not only one of the top programs but top basketball conferences in the nation. He was CLEARLY the second best offensive threat behind JJ Redick who just so happens to be the NCAA’S All TIME LEADING SCORER. The Hawks were next to last in team defense and points given up in the paint. Sheldon will give this team a identity and attitude down low. The team still has loads of cap room and can get a solid veteran point guard in like a Sam Cassell, Speedy Claxton, Mike James or Bobby Jackson. Bottom Line..If you don’t like the pick or the team, there a hundreds of other entertainment options in town for you to spend your money with. Atlanta does not need Randy Foye as he is a combo guard, and oh yeah we already have that player in Joe Johnson.

By FD

June 29, 2006 02:50 PM | Link to this

Towards the end of Babcock’s era? Wasn’t Babcock the one that signed Jon Koncak to a long term deal? One of the deals that really killed the Hawks ability to secure and keep top players?

By Stinky Sullivan

June 29, 2006 02:56 PM | Link to this

One word: racism. It can only be because of racism.

SS

By

June 29, 2006 02:59 PM | Link to this

FD- Was Babcock in the playoffs 9 out of 13 years? I would say over a 13 year period, you are going to make a mistake.

Billy Knightmare has been a GM for 7 years and never won more than 26 games. How do you explain that?

By Todd

June 29, 2006 03:01 PM | Link to this

We have to watch a Kleengon from Duke!

By Ben

June 29, 2006 03:01 PM | Link to this

Billy- when did JJ become the NCAA all time leading scorer? Some of you BK supporters are so intelligent.

By

June 29, 2006 03:03 PM | Link to this

SS- shut the f*** up about racism. 125 losses in 2 years and no picks next year….. that is what it is all about you racist prick

By Todd

June 29, 2006 03:11 PM | Link to this

Pistol Pete is the leading scorer. JJ isn’t even close to it. He may be Duke’s leading scorer. By the way, Duke is not the great franchise that every young person thinks they are. UNC, UCLA, UK, are much more stoic.

By Harrison

June 29, 2006 03:13 PM | Link to this

Proof will be in the pudding….he was an excellent big man in and around the paint…look for some good work from Williams

By Jim Robinson

June 29, 2006 03:15 PM | Link to this

At least the Hawks won’t have to adjust the shower heads for Williams since everyone else on the team is 6’8”. Oh wait, Solomon Jones is 6’10”! And he is a solid 230 lbs. That’s 2-3-0! or 2.8 lbs. per inch. Shaq is probably shaking in his Nikes.

By honest abe

June 29, 2006 03:17 PM | Link to this

babcock i won’t go into draft picks because throughout his tenure, he signed one good player…jt…i’d say around 80% of his draft picks aren’t playing the league anymore….so what does that tell you..lol!!

he signed alan henderson to a big deal, so big we couldn’t move him…then he signed chris crawford to a large deal after he had one good series against new york in the playoffs…of course most of you losers probably dont’ know who chris crawford is…because he was injured for the majority of the next few years until he left the league…but hey i guess babcock is into that whole overpaying for players that are mediocre at best….everyone and their mom has mentioned how bk got the best of him in the shareef deal….but since i havent’ seen it on the blogs today…here it is…bk got the rights to pau gasol..(2nd pick), lorenzen wright and brevin knight for …………shareef adul rahim…hahah..funny stuff…then he traded for glenn robinson….then he traded for theo ratliff…HAR HAR!! he traded for isaiah rider and jimmy jackson! like i said i won’t even mention draft picks…so boooooooo yah! bk has cleared payroll of unwanted salaries such as hendu…traded away jt a COMPLIMENTARY player who was the number one option a horrid team…that babcock built…got rid of Rasheed to clear space…because there was no way in hell he was going to resign with atlanta anyway…and of course let antoine go…which was a beautiful thing….guys he’s been on the job for 3 years…3 years…3 years….3 years…3 years…after he started with a nasty mess…he decided the best way to start over would be to blow things up and start over….that’s why we had the youngest team in the league last year!! ok?? follow me so far…now he’s assembled some exciting talent…needs to add some veteran leadership and boom you have a really competitive team with a core of young players …it will be an exciting basketball team…so shut your yapping about babcock and enjoy this next season…i promise we should at least be in the middle 30’s in wins next year…and definitely vying for a playoff spot within two….besides the ownership mess ..the future looks bright!

By darrell

June 29, 2006 03:20 PM | Link to this

I don’t think drafting Sheldon Williams was the worst pick in the draft, he may have not been a fan favorite but he brings toughness and interior defense. Two things that were obviosly missing last year. My problem is with the 2nd round pick, to pass on Dee Brown, a pure point guard is mind boggling. He may be small but his quickness, ability to defend, and passing abilities, should have made him a steal for a team who needs anyone, young or old at the position. While Knight was wasting time at the College Final Four watching Marvin Williams, he should of looked across the court and got a glimpse of the point guard leading the Illini.

By C.W

June 29, 2006 03:23 PM | Link to this

Dr Mr. Belkin, After watching this debacle called an Atlanta Hawks draft, I found it necessary to vent my frustrations with this organization and reach out to you. I want to be the first to say I am sorry for judging you with the Joe Johnson deal and I now understand. You were crucified in the media and I was wrong to jump on the bandwagon. I don’t fault Mike Woodson for his short comings; I don’t fault Billy Knight for his arrogance and tunnel vision; I blame the Atlanta Spirit. I will not believe any more rumors about you from that organization because you have shown me the intelligence and savvy that is needed to run this organization on a day to day basis. Atlanta Spirit will whine that you tried to sabotage the JJ deal, but you only tried call to their (Phoenix) bluff or force their hand. They also will whine that you are trying to steal the franchise, but they signed the same contract you signed. Only you were savvy enough to slip the buyout clause in the deal while they made excuses on the short time frame. If you are truthful in saying that you would pursue AI (Allen Iverson) then you might realize that this city is starving for a face of the franchise and star (i.e. Michael Vick of the Atlanta Falcons). I am not a die-hard but I am the type of fan that the Atlanta Hawks covet. I am the fan that follows the team, watches on TV, maybe attend a few games but is waiting for some electricity. Give me excitement, and that is not watching alley oops or salivating on potential. I don’t look at this team as being different regimes with Babcock in the 90’s and now Knight. I look at the fact that this team has been losing a long time, have sub par drafts every year and that is unacceptable. There needs to be some sense of urgency in the front office. What am I suppose to do if BK is fired, wait 4 yrs for another plan. Hell No!!!!. I’ll leave that to the die-hards. If you can create a buzz, any kind of buzz with good picks, FA, or a .500 team then you will have my hard earned dollar. If you think I’m the only one that feel this way please check the attendance at regular hawks games, then check attendance when a star comes to town. I like the entertainment at the arena and have a good time but for once I want to tell people about the Hawks instead of all the celebrity sightings and concerts. Billy Knight has the power to shape this franchise in any way he chooses. With this power comes great responsibility. Close your eyes and imagine if the hawks were the Portland Trailblazers and we were the ones making moves on draft night. The phones would be ringing for tickets. Now look at us, we drafted a role player with the #5 pick. There’s nothing wrong with the Sheldon pick but we had better options. Better yet, we didn’t pick up another player or picks, just stayed pat as usual. It’s obvious we need a center and point guard and still do. Some of all of this could have been filled last year and solidified this year. For example Chris Paul or any point could have been drafted. Marcus Banks, Carlos Arroyo and others could have been had if we would have traded Al at the deadline. Darko and Chris Wilcox were also traded and probably could have been had with AL. We made no attempts to acquire anyone with AL last year. Last year we were told that we took the BPA( best player avail) and that you don’t necessarily draft on need. This year, we draft on need and pass over the BPA. If I wanted Flip-Flops I would have had Eggos this morning. We need a plan or direction and stick to it. Period. Until I see something other than Forwards and role player drafted I will not be spending my hard earned dollars. Belkin, we need you. Bring in some stability and rational to this organization. Bring in some competent basketball people and let them work. Make us a winner again. We are at a low point right now with this organization and with you on board we can go now where but up. Please fight for the team and make me feel like a fan again. Make me forget about the Dominique trade that sent this city into a spiral. Help us!!

By

June 29, 2006 03:27 PM | Link to this

honest- Babcock didn’t have the luxury of these picks

Billy Knight’s picks

1998- #2 1999- #2 2000- #2 2001- #3 and #6 2002- #4 2004- #6 2005-#2 2006- #5

Babcock was picking in the late teens or twenties for the majority of his tenure because HE WAS IN THE PLAYOFFS. Cut on him all you want but at least he made the playoffs. Quit being BLIND

By Glutton For Punishment

June 29, 2006 03:30 PM | Link to this

Ok guys… think about this… last year Toronto picked Charlie Villanueva and everybody was SHOCKED… and what did he do?? He averaged 13 pts and 8 rebounds at Uconn. Last year he was on the first team All-NBA… Sheldon Williams averaged a dbl-dbl last year at Duke… Hey, we have to give him a chance expecially when he has a 7’ wing span. He is gonna play the 5 at times. And he is gonna be better just by getting some defensive rebounds and prevent all those lay-ups we gave up in the past. If he can prevent 5 of those, then that is 10 point and that means alot. We scored enough points ( yes, I do want a PG) but I think we can get Speedy Claxton.

About the 2nd pick.. Solomon was a BEAST defensively, and that was the most important thing we needed. Bye Bye John Edwards……

By bryan

June 29, 2006 03:42 PM | Link to this

I’m both a hawks and rockets fan and i would say that the hawks had a ok draft. A whole lot better than rockets rudy gay and stromile swift for shane battier? wth!

By honest abe

June 29, 2006 03:42 PM | Link to this

……………

first of all cw…according to the majority of nba experts/pundits m. william’s potential was so much higher than that of either cp or deron williams that most believed it to be a no brainer…hence we picked the best player available…remember now milwaukee was on the fence as to whether or not they should draft him number one! this year…the difference between potential (foye, roy) was not that much higher or they would’ve went before the 5th pick…hence we picked for need…i think it’s pretty self explanatory myself…

for the numbskull that keeps referring to babcock’s playoff runs…he didn’t inherit a team in which was in absolute ruins loaded with overpriced contracts, with players declining…think about it like this babcock left such a nasty mess, that the only way to recover was to blow evrything up…now we’re in a period called rebuilding..it’s only been 3 years buddy.. the previous years were all babcock’s mess….so now all i’m suggesting is within two years if we’re only at 20/30 wins then i say fire everyone..and sell the damn team!

By Stan

June 29, 2006 03:43 PM | Link to this

I’m not sure that there is anything that can turn this joke of an organizaion around.

By Ben

June 29, 2006 03:48 PM | Link to this

I don’t think Hawks fans can wait 2 or 3 more years abe. It took Paxson 2 years to clean up the mess he had. Now, they have been in the playoffs the last 2 years and are set to make a run at the title especially when Tyrus Thomas develops.

By

June 29, 2006 03:54 PM | Link to this

Can anyone answer this question….. What has Billy Knight done (Grizzlies and Hawks) to make you think he is a winner?

By Keith B

June 29, 2006 03:57 PM | Link to this

The NBA hasn’t learned yet about Duke players. They are great in a structured environment, but are only good for 2 years in the pros. Not to mention they are injury prone. Sheldon is good player in a structured league, which the NBA is not. The manamgment for the Hawks have officially lost their dayum minds. Get off of Duke’s penis. Their players suck in the pros and that is a fact, look at all those in the past that came before them. Foye would have been a great pic, UCON had stars that would have been an instant impact to the Hawks. I’m not even a Hawks fan, but this pic is insane.

By lacsho

June 29, 2006 04:07 PM | Link to this

My only comment is why draft Shelden, when I thought we were molding Marvin to take Harringtons place. If you are going to draft big why not draft a true center. We do need that defense in the paint. I’m still a fan, but I admire Orlando and the team they are builing. I think a legit combo guard would mesh good with JJ. JJ did average 6.5 apg. Once he figured this team out he was flirting with a triple double every other night. Now imagine having a great combo guard by his side. JJ could mentor this guy into something real special. Hell he is the prototype that can play 3 positions. The Hawks would be off to the races, but is Woodson going to let these atheletes maximise their full potential.Watch how williams flourishes under jason kidds wings.

By Mike Gansey

June 29, 2006 04:08 PM | Link to this

The Hawks needed to select Mike Gansey, he’s the man. I will not watch the NBA ever again because they passed a true blue collar player in Gansey. I hope the Hawks suck again because of this!

By

June 29, 2006 04:09 PM | Link to this

Good pic.

We had no defensive big man last year, thats why we lost a lot of games. Now we have one.

We can get a point guard, and maybe another big man (Nene) in free agency.

By honest abe

June 29, 2006 04:10 PM | Link to this

paxon inherited this team. SF: Scottie Pippen | Eddie Robinson | Kendall Gill PF: Donyell Marshall | Tyson Chandler | Marcus Fizer | Lonny Baxter C: Eddy Curry | Corey Blount SG: Jalen Rose | Trenton Hassell | Roger Mason, Jr. PG: Jamal Crawford | Kirk Hinrich

this is what bk inherited… SF: Chris Crawford | Lee Nailon | Randy Holcomb PF: Shareef Abdur-Rahim | Alan Henderson C: Theo Ratliff | Nazr Mohammed SG: Stephen Jackson | Boris Diaw | Dion Glover | Travis Hansen PG: Jason Terry | Jacque Vaughn | Dan Dickau

now think about it if you were the new gm…which do you think would be harder to turn around…not every gm starts at the same place!

By clyde

June 29, 2006 04:12 PM | Link to this

Why did Billy lie when he was asked if he gave Sheldon Williams a promise? Why did Billy Knight lie and tell JT that he wanted him around during this rebuilding process? Why did we hire Billy Knight in the first place. These owners should have their team stripped of them.

FIRE BILLY AND WOODY t-shirts available. Contact atlconnect@hotmail.com. I have one expecially for Ando, Honest Abe, Basketball Princess and Sekou. Stop fighting it and join the movement.

FIRE BILLY AND WOODY

By Chris

June 29, 2006 04:14 PM | Link to this

We must remember that the HAWKS are below the salary cap and they have money to work with the free agents. As HAWKS fans we don’t have patients, look at all the players that were in the NBA playoff this year that played with the HAWKS. We must give this team a chance to develop. They are very young and play really well as a team. The HAWKS major problem comes in the 4th quarter on defense. A PG is not the answer..

By Rico

June 29, 2006 04:16 PM | Link to this

Atlanta should have picked up 3 more head coaches and 2 more assistant coaches before they picked Sheldon. We have enough forwards. We should have wasted the pick on coaches if they wanted to waste a pick. Sheldon is good but we need a point guard or a true center.

By lacsho

June 29, 2006 04:23 PM | Link to this

Ok Honest Abe I give you that one. That’s a f*cked up looking team, and the salary cap is currently fixed, but the question remains can we lure better than decent free agents to Atlanta. We have all the money in the world, can we please spend some. Can we get at least one legit star to add to this young team? Can we do this without loosing any future draft picks.

By Wais

June 29, 2006 04:24 PM | Link to this

Billy Knight is doing whatever he can so the Hawks are forced out of Atlanta and moved to another City. The Hawks are like a football team that Keeps drafting Kickers every year in the First round.

By lacsho

June 29, 2006 04:26 PM | Link to this

Hell you Clyde maybe you should print some shirts that says ” Spend some money wisely and save the Picks”

By Roxy

June 29, 2006 04:26 PM | Link to this

Did it really matter who the Hawks picked? Seriously one guy is NOT going to turn a bunch of rejects around in a season anyways.. Yes I said rejects, they reject winning!!!! We get all hyped up about the Hawks and they can’t even win 30 games….Which is good for me b/c I can get some really good seats since they suck… Go Kings!

By Glutton For Punishment

June 29, 2006 04:27 PM | Link to this

I do support BK but he really does some things that conflict.. He said when he drafted Msrvin last year that you have to draft the BEST player available and not for what you need….(just think about Michael Jordan going #3)So why did he pick Sheldon Williams at #5… I am SURE he did not think that he was the BEST at #5?? did he?? I know that Sheldon fits a NEED but he aint (and I do mean AINT) the best at #5..

Also BK said last year that he does not like to trade down for a player he likes. So get it out of your head.. He will never do abunch of draft-day trades like Portland did…(and Boston, and Houston.etc)

By Chris

June 29, 2006 04:34 PM | Link to this

Honestly, I like the idea that we were going for a big man in this draft, that is our biggest need. ZaZa is not a big man, he is a tall white guy, there is a difference. Sheldon Williams is not a big man in the NBA, he is 6’9”. Al Harrington is 6’9” and we wouldn’t trust him to be a 4 or 5. The point is, you have to be taller than that in the NBA to average double doubles (ie. Tim Duncan, Shaq, Yao, Big Ben, even Jermaine might be considered to roll with that group). The fact is, Sheldon Williams has been playing in the ACC with zero people bigger than him (and don’t tell me that Luke Schensher counts as a big man either, 7’0”, 130 lbs is hardly a center). Unfortunately Sheldon has the body of a power forward at this level, and he’s not quick enough to contend with most of the power forwards in this league. I am sick of the Hawks starting every player that would be a great 6th man on any team. That goes for Al and JJ too. How about we start getting players who have started on other teams.

As for our PG situation. I have faith in T. Lue and Salim. Let everyone witness the coming out parties of Josh and Josh this year, Chil and Smith will dominate

By NOTE TO HAWKS

June 29, 2006 04:58 PM | Link to this

Duke players historically have been HORRIBLE NBA players!

Latener…BUST G. Hill…BUST J. WIlliams….Carrer Over Dunleavy Jr. …..Is he still in the league? Hurley….(One of my fav players)Injured out Boozer….(decent for a Bench Warmer)

I’ll give them Brand and that’s about it!!!

By FD

June 29, 2006 05:05 PM | Link to this

Kudos to you Honest Abe for being able to see the real deal!!!! People are always looking at the now and not the entire picture which includes the past. The Hawks problems didn’t start with Billy Knight…they were already there!!!

By Mike

June 29, 2006 05:12 PM | Link to this

Shelden is a great player and will be very successful in the NBA. Anyone who knows anything about basketball should be able to see that. However, that is not the point. The Hawks needed a great point guard first. Obviously, everyone knew this except knight. My problem with Billy Knight started a couple of years ago when his office scheduled a press outing and preview - only to cancel it at the last moment. This was the first indication that he didn’t have a good handle on any part of his job. The phrase that keeps coming to mind during the Knight period is there is always next year.

Mike

By Cisco Kid from the ATL

June 29, 2006 05:15 PM | Link to this

Trade Al Harrington and Shelden Williams for either Jermaine O’Neal or Kevin Garnett. Kenyon Martin is also on the market. These types of acquisitions are plausible for the Hawks. Let me know what you think ATL.

By HB Ando

June 29, 2006 05:16 PM | Link to this

CW, well said and reasonable in perspective. For every decision that has been made by Billy Knight over the last several years, there were several other fairly obvious options or variations that would have been better for the organization. So many folks want to paint the differences as best or worst, but many folks don’t seem to be able to differentiate the value of just better. Better choices.

Abe, I’ll let you ramble at the masses. We’ll get into details tomorrow or over the weekend. I’m not up for the conversation right now. But to reinforce my point above, nobody of any credible opinion is talking to you about prefering Babcock over Billy. Just because Billy may be a better GM than Babcock (which is fairly questionable) doesn’t make him a good GM. Every single move he’s made could have been better. Not only in hindsight, but at the time he was making it. Take for instance, Soloman Jones. On the surface, a solid upside pick that addresses our lack of depth and defense on the front line. Seems like a reasonable choice. But last year, as we were preparing to pick 59th, I’m sitting at ESPN Zone with my wife saying to the screen, take Dwayne Jones from St. Joe’s. He would have been exactly what his doppelganger, Soloman will hopefully be next year. He was projected to go as early as the late first round, but fell. Minny signed him to a guaranteed two-year contract, as a free agent, almost unheard of. So instead Billy takes an 18 year old Turkish point guard, who has no value to date for the franchise, and passes on last years’ Jones. Now fast forward to the 33rd pick last night. In my world, where I took Jones last year at 59, I already have my upside big man, who spent the last year improving. I’m a year ahead of the game on that slot. I get to take Diaz, or Dee Brown, or Halperin, and get a potential contributor at the point, instead of now having all my point guard eggs in a shaky (what agent is really going to try and sell his client that Atlanta’s situation is a stable place to tie his career for the next 4 years?) free agent basket. Or I’m betting that Al won’t walk away for free, leaving us with one less valuable bargaining chip to make a move (which would be another glorious BK blunder). It’s the little things like this that are what defines BK’s failures as a general manager. Drafting Royal Ivey instead of Chris Duhon. Childress instead of Igoudala, Marvin instead of Paul (Abe, not everyone agreed before the fact that it should be Williams instead of Paul. I’ve had Sekou Smith publicly confirm on this blog that my vote was firmly for Paul when he met me before last years’ draft). I’ve said before that it’s not about comparing Marvin to Paul. That will never be a fair comparison, as they are apples and oranges as players. It doesn’t matter if Marvin turns into an all-star. This team needed a franchise point guard and we passed him. We already had Al and Josh and Childress.

Now we’ll still have Josh and Marvin, one of whom will likely never be complete as long as both are here. Neither projects to optimize his abilities as a power forward, but if we are to keep both, one will have to play somewhat out of position for his tenure here. Now we have Shelden, who will provide a boost where it’s badly needed, in the post, with blocks and boards. But he’s a power forward. Last night Rathbun asked Woody, while I was at Philips with the other 50 Hawks’ fans, where he saw Shelden fitting in the rotation. He said, “Shelden is a power forward, and I can imagine him playing together with Josh, Marvin, Joe and Childress”. I wanted to ask, “So if Shelden is a power forward, is it Smith or Marvin that will be the center in that lineup?”. I fully understand that those three, with Zaza will make up a four man rotation at the 3-5. But there continues to be a lack of a clear vision for this franchise.

Finally, the one point several of us made leading up to the draft was that Shelden made some sense for us, but taking him at five, when 7 other players (the other 7 who went top-eight) all were uniformly projected to go higher than Shelden. By letting the cat out of the bag regarding our intentions, the other teams just handcuffed us with the bluff they might take him if we didn’t, nullifying any leverage we should have had to move down and add a player or a pick. That’s just the kind of under-optimized move, lacking cleverness and creativity, that is the classic representation of a Billy Knight move.

Last year, during the draft, with every pick that Jack dropped, I yelled at the screen for Billy to trade in with that Lakers pick and grab him. The day after the draft Billy said he didn’t think it made any sense to trade a pick that could be as high in last night’s draft at 11 (was top-ten protected for the Lakers). Yet, if he had made that move, the Suns wouldn’t have been able to extort it from him on the Johnson trade. With so many articulate opinions available, outlining the likelihood that the Suns would not have matched (and I don’t feel like rehashing them, but they’re well-documented in previous blogs), it’s safe to say that even if you believe we had to give up something to cement the Johnson deal, that Diaw and one first, not two, would have sufficed. So it’s fair to say that we could have passed on Paul, taken Marvin, and mitigated the passing on Paul by trading in to get Jack. Billy didn’t think he was worth that pick. But Portland confirmed Jack’s value, by shipping the guy he is poised to replace as the franchise PG, in a trade for #7 overall. Clever Portland.

See if you really analyze the sequence of Billy’s moves and non-moves, it becomes increasingly obvious that he’s always a day late and a dollar short. Missed picks. Too much for Johnson. Missed deals. This team could easily be so much farther along in it’s rebuilding than they are that it’s sickening. This isn’t hindsight. I made all these points to Bruce Levenson at the end of last summer. Failing to trade Al before the deadline, and now, a complete lack of creativity and leveraging of the value of our picks last night, are just more in a 3 year stream of poor general managership. They made decisions the last two years to build for the long term. With youth and upside. Then they change course last night by passing on upside, minimizing the fifth pick about as badly as any team could have, and making a choice that projects to mediocrity. Shelden will be solid, but this team has no chance to head to the promised land. Our upside just became the 8th seed. And when we fail to make the playoffs next season, but are just good enough, thanks to the addition of a “game ready” Shelden Williams, then we’ll hand over a lottery pick to Phoenix in what will be one of the top-five drafts in NBA history.

That’s a reality that should have been planned for when the Johnson deal was negotiated. I made points about that very possibility last August, so if the implications were clear to a layman like me, where was the expert guidance of the genius GM, Billy Knight?

Go look up the projected top ten in next years draft and tell me that Johnson, great as he is, but free he should have been, is worth Diaw, what Rondo will become, and a Thaddeus Young, or Noah, or Durant. It won’t be Johnson’s fault that his team mortgaged their future unnecessarily to obtain him. But people will make the unfair comparisons all the same.

Knight always gives up more than he should. Never gets the better end of a deal. Always gets out-hustled by his counterparts. Yeah, guys like Ainge and McHale arent’ any better. Who cares? But that’s no defense for Knight. Those guys don’t run the team I root for. Knight just keeps making it harder to be a Hawk fan (and his unfounded arrogance only exponentially expands the disdain that is so warranted). And it WILL show at the turnstyles this season.

But maybe this is all a genius plan to keep that top-3 pick next season. I think we’re clearly on target for another bottom-dwelling season of NBA hoops. I thought only Portland would still be worse before last nights draft. But they just picked up next years’ rookie of the year, the most highly rated post player, in Aldridge, and upgraded their post by replacing the broken down Ratliff with LaFrentz, who’s been dying for a change of scenery to show what he’s capable of (trust me when I say that LaFrent’s numbers will dwarf those of Ratliff’s next year).

So if you’re rooting for the Hawks, and you want a bright future, pull for them to lose every game next season. Because keeping that top-3 protected pick, with the reality of getting Oden, Noah or Durant, is worth one more year of over a decade of bad hoops. It’s truly the best chance we have of ever being a true contender.

By Al Robbins

June 29, 2006 05:17 PM | Link to this

Great pick! He was the best player available who dominated in arguably one of the 2 best conferences in the country. He was well coached by coach K. He’ll improve our interior offense and defense by stepping on the floor. He’ll average 12 pts, 9 boards and 2 blocks as a rookie.

By Chris

June 29, 2006 05:25 PM | Link to this

FD and Abe and all the other we are going in the right direction guys,

Billy Knight has had 3 drafts with high draft choices to get players to make a better team. With those 4 draft picks he has taken 4 guys that are 6’8 to 6’9. Am I missing something? Last night he had the opportunity to at least trade down and get an additional player that wasn’t in this prefered range. At some point when you have a sorry a* franchise that no one cares about you need to do something to invigorate your fan base. I thought last night Billy Knight couldn’t be stupid enough to take Sheldon Williams straight up because he took the best player in the draft last year he told us that apparently isn’t good enough to play any defense and defend the 4. If you think drafting 4 players in 3 drafts that play the same position is a smart move you are bunch of idiots. You must also be big Matt Millen fans with the wide receiver first round stock pile he went for.

With Al I would do a sign and trade with Minnesota and get Marcus Banks. At this point I have no faith in BK getting anything worth anything with Al Harrington. I like the second round pick getting a physical big that can get up and down the court and block some shots. The rule I always go with when looking at guys going from college to the pros is if they didn’t look fast in college they are going to be way to slow in the NBA. Maybe I will be wrong with Sheldon but I didn’t see it in college.

By Blue U

June 29, 2006 05:34 PM | Link to this

Typical crying from Atlanta fans. The Hawks sucked long before Sheldon Williams came into the picture. And tomorrow they’ll suck and probably next season as well. But with the selection of Marvin Williams and now Sheldon Williams, Atlanta is starting to build a foundation. Good, smart players won’t stay in Atlanta so you had better enjoy the Williams why you can.

By Chris

June 29, 2006 05:34 PM | Link to this

HB Ando,

On behalf of those that like to ride the logic train, thank you for your well written response to last nights draft decision and all of the other moves that some seem to feel the need to justify. What do you think about Marcus Banks in a sign and trade for Al with Minnesota?

By Greg

June 29, 2006 05:35 PM | Link to this

Bottom line, Billy Knight can’t pick his nose much less basketball players.

By FD

June 29, 2006 05:38 PM | Link to this

Chris,

My point is this. You all want Billy Knight or any other GM for that matter to fix over night what took years to tear down. For the most part, it just doesn’t work that way.

By

June 29, 2006 05:44 PM | Link to this

excellent post HB Ando!! Makes a lot of sense and was very objective.

By happy2bnappy

June 29, 2006 05:44 PM | Link to this

All Aboard!!! Let it be known now who are with or without the HAWKS!! I am with the HAWKS!! Last year, they lost 14 games by 3pts or less, WITHOUT a defensive presence. With Sheldon’s defensive presence and rebounding, you can convert atleast half of those games to 8 wins for the HAWKS. They started the season dealing with the untimely death of a teammate, which resulted in 9 straight losses. Without this looming over their heads this season, you can convert that to atleast 5 more wins. You know that we will get a veteran at the point, since we are 30 million below the cap, convert this to atleast 5 more wins and you have 18 more wins over last year. The HAWKS will win 44 games next year!! I LIKE MY MATH!!! Season ticket holder section 221

By derrick wynn

June 29, 2006 06:06 PM | Link to this

Sheldon could have definitely been taken later.But he does bring an interior toughness that we lack on the front line.Rebounding , defense the ability and desire to use a hard foul at the appropriate time are part of the puzzle.So lets appreciate the intangibles that he brings and that he could be a serviceable player.It is not his fault for the inherent ineptitude of basketball evaluations in the past and the present. If there was not apoint guard that they felt could help immediately than what about combining this pick with harrington and look to get iverson to make his home in atlanta.I think this would bring a crescendo in excitement to the arena and would bring in packed houses everynight. If clearly the pick was for the intangible benefit than think of the fan and make excitement and thrilling basketball entertainment tangible to us.And let us hope that zaza stays because he is the only center we have take care ….

By Tim Raymond

June 29, 2006 06:08 PM | Link to this

Knight has an interest in the physical measurements of players (long arms, wingspan, height), and those attributes only. The would work if he was a tailor trying to fit attain the most unique suit measurement award. Sadly, he needs players that can:

Last years pick can’t do any of these on his own. At this level your basketball education should be done.

The steal of the draft was Hassan Adams from Arizona that the Nets got in the 2nd round: he can run, jump, all that and he can

And he went to college under a great coach Lute Olsen so you know he KNOWS what the term high screen means. Much like Gilbert Arenas a few years ago that was drafted in the 2nd round from that school and is now a top guard, Adams will be too. Knight may remember he has Salim on his roster but since he can only shoot, pass, defend, and is quick, but is not over 6’6” that makes him off the roster

ASAP!!!!!!!!

The Hawks will never fly, grounded for life, just like Delta’s pension plan.

By honest abe

June 29, 2006 06:11 PM | Link to this

ando, first let me point out that whenever i point out that most people were clamoring for marv instead of cp…i usually put a disclaimer about you saying you thought we shoudl take paul all along…i believe you because you say you wrote it to Sekou in an e-mail…but my point above was that “nba experts” now you might be one in this blog, but you have no national recognition…those media types i’m going to go out on the limb and say over 90% had marv and bogut one/two….but it’s really a moot point and not worth discussing anyway…but it’s a fact everyone had marv projected ahead of cp…

my argument is nobody knows including myself bk’s vision for this team….so it’s borderline ridiculous to try and assume what’s going on in his head…furthermore, you can’t judge draft picks and trades until a few years down the road…chauncey billups, diaw, players need time to develop…i love it when people like dale say “don’t give me that he needs to grow up crap” ok my friend, do you expect them to come into the league all like lebron and dewayne, carmelo? those guys were exceptions…for all those i guys i’ll bring up kobe, kg, jermaine oneal, etc….ando…i respect you knowledge as you and aj and others amongst the regulars really know your stuff…but like i’ve said before you just aren’t privy to the information that bk has…the scouting reports, the health information, background checks etc…we can all choose to play gm and it’s fun…but when he’s drafting players that are producing and getting better each year…i believe it’s something to feel positive about…i apologize for following blindly, but i think this team is headed in the right direction…

finally…marv played the two in high school….his strengths are his outside shot and a quick first step…he might struggle to guard the elite two’s…but that’s a different issue…. bk has assembled a very veratile group of players and although i know how you feel about jj playing the one…there will be times next year with pg: jj, sg: marv, sf: jsmith, pf: sheldon, c: zaza….that’s a very athletic group that can pressure the ball, and get up and down the court…he has so many interchangeable pieces now…there can be variations of that lineup….people place way too much emphasis on people being a certain height for each position…my thinking is if he can play, he can play…almost every player he has drafted is capable of playing multiple positions…people like to compare the hawks future to the pistons…i see more of dallas in this team…lots of athletes, lots of depth…add a veteran pg, and a veteran big…and you are heading in the right direction…

By FalconsFan

June 29, 2006 06:21 PM | Link to this

Billy Knight reminds me of ex mayor Campbell who also sold us out.

When I read the rumor the Hawks would selct Sheldon Willims I hoped it wasnt true.

Looks like no Hawks games for me again this year.

By Eddie Van Halen

June 29, 2006 06:27 PM | Link to this

Maybe Shelden Williams Will make a good closer for the Braves. Perhaps the Braves can then have Brian Jordan play point guard for the Hawks.

By die hard hawks fan

June 29, 2006 06:28 PM | Link to this

ARE YOU KIDDING ME

IN THE GREAT WORDS OF WHITNEY HOUSTON …

“HECK TO THE NO”

Dont count on seeing a NBA championship banner being hang from Phillips Arena next season…

Belkins need to get the team period … BILLY KNIGHT WITH HIS JHERLI CURL PLAYED OUT AFRO GOT TO GO.. WHY DOES HE GOT SUCH A HARD ON FOR FORWARDS? WE ALREADY GOT 4 GOOD FORWARDS ON THE TEAM.. WE NEED A DERN POINT GUARD SINCE LUE IS MORE OF A BENCH PLAYER.

JOE JOHNSON IS A SHOOTING GUARD PERIOD.

MY GRANDMA COULD HAVE DONE BETTER SHOOT SHE DOES PICK WELL FOR THE FINAL FOUR SELECTION.

WELL UNTIL THE HAWKS GET A REAL OWNER WITH BALLS THE HAWKS CAN KISS ANOTHER SEASON GOODBYE LIKE THEY JUST DID.

I THINK I JUST GONNA GET A FEW TICKETS AND ROOT FOR A FEW PREMIUM TEAM.

D-Wilkins booooooooooooo WHY DIDNT U SPOKE UP? THAT IS WHY YA DONT HAVE A RING MAN!

SOFT SOFT

YO HONOR IN MARYLAND DONT GRANT THAT STAY AND LET BELKINS GET THE DERN TEAM BACK HE WOULDNT TOLERATE A TRADE LIKE THAT

SHOOT BILLY KNIGHT AND ISIAH THOMAS DONT HAVE A CLUE ABOUT WHOM TO GET…

WHAT A WASTE!!!!

By CJ

June 29, 2006 06:30 PM | Link to this

Some of you guys JUST DON’T GET IT! There are angry fans for a reason…BK is a subpar GM. That is a fact. He doesn’t maximize his opportunities, he doesn’t make good trades, and he doesn’t know how to recruit from the available talent pool of the NBA. No there isn’t an all-star in every draft…but you have to do more, not just ‘good enough’. Nobody here is saying Williams can’t play. But taking the smallest steps possible will never get the Hawks anywhere but the lottery every single year. One step foward…two steps back. It’s the truth. And I’m tired of hearing people say..”you don’t know basketball”. That’s bull…there are so many dimensions to building a team right and BK only understands half of it. Half of these Hawks players will be gone in a season or two and we’ll be stuck hearing…”Just give it time, just one more player..” for the next few years of rebuilding. If you can’t see that than YOU don’t know basketball. Hawks eek out maybe 25-35 wins max, and will drop down in 2008.

By HB Ando

June 29, 2006 06:36 PM | Link to this

Chris, with regards to Banks, I think we’ll face the same challenges as with all the other free agents out there, and that is convincing them and their agents that this is a stable situation to commit their futures to. And I think with both a less than stellar reputation for Billy in the player/agent community, compounded by a very genuine question of who’s going to be the ownership group going forward, that we’re going to have a heck of a time selling the Hawks to prospective free agents. Banks is wanted in LA, by the Lakers. How do you think Atlanta stacks up against LA, from a multitude of perspectives, when it comes to recruiting a guy like Banks? Not very pretty is it?

And we honestly don’t know where Al’s head is regarding a willingness to participate in a sign-and-trade. The benefit to him has been well-documented here (an additional guaranteed year over what any other team can give him, and potentially more money). But the more money issue is mitigated by the fact that Al’s not a max contract player. So he can get as much from another team as he can get from us, from a market value reality. He just can’t get the extra year. The other thing to think about is that, for him to agree to participate, it has to be to a franchise that he wants to play for, as much as who wants him. Finally, if you’re Al Harrington, and the only real benefit to a sign and trade is the extra year, when you’re only 25, and this next contract will not be your last unless you suffer an career -ending injury, does it really make sense for you to help the team your leaving strip the team your going to, of talent, just as you’re arriving.

So say it’s Chicago (after last nights’ draft seems like the Bulls have quite a few forwards to work with, but that’s been the rumor all season). If you’re Al, do you help hold your new team hostage, and cost them a Ben Gordon, or just got play with the full complement of players they already have? I mean, what have the Hawks done for Harrington besides draft players at his position the last several years, when he made a strong commitment to be a core of our rebuilding. Al’s lack of post defense and rebounding make him a reasonable deletion from the future squad, in moving forward with Marvin and Josh, but Billy gave up our leverage for trade value when he let the trade deadline pass last season. Al owns us, not the other way around. And this is not a franchise with enough assets to suffer the loss of an Al Harrington without compensation. I’ve said all along that if Al walks for free, it’s one more in a litany of missteps by Billy Knight. A team this void of depth can hardly afford to give up a Harrington, two first round draft picks and an emerging Diaw, for the net gain of Joe Johnson, in less than a years’ span. And the additional cap space that Al’s leaving would clear is only valuable if any quality players want to come to this situation (and I think we’ve fairly addressed those concerns above). That would weaken the best of franchises. Here, it’s a long-term sentence in the NBA’s basement. Oden, Noah or Durant in ‘07. That’s the best hope we’ve got right now, unless some wholly unexpected moves are made this summer. We should know by the end of July whether more help is on the way. Let’s see if Billy can pull off a stunner (that doesn’t include us shaking our heads ruefully, once again).

By Dennis

June 29, 2006 06:36 PM | Link to this

I like the pick of Sheldon. Reminds me of when we drafted Tree Rollins in the 70s. We finally have a stopper in the middle. And if you think 6-7/6-8 is too short, then you never saw a great stopper, Wes Unseld do the job at 6-6.

What I don’t understand is passing on Dee Brown with the number 2 pick. Who is this forward from South Florida? Another banger? Another slasher?

By Greg

June 29, 2006 06:38 PM | Link to this

Hey FD, I don’t expect any GM to fix it over night. However, your boy Knight is 67-179 after three years, that ain’t exactly over night. The only thing that is over night,is that for the most part everybody is OVER KNIGHT and tired of his incompetent decisions.

By By Cory H

June 29, 2006 06:56 PM | Link to this

Relax all my true faithful ga brethern this was a perfect pick for the hawks, who averaged 94 points a game last season but gave up 102. Thats right we scored better than 8 of the teams in the playoffs and lets compare who was Miami’s point white chocolate, oh i know flip murray for cleveland, or antonio daniels for washington those are great guards right lol but i did see us gain a player who knows how to play hard and strong like a similar player his size Mr. Ben Wallace watch and see us get a decent guard and other scorer and i say it make the playoffs.

By RPH

June 29, 2006 07:18 PM | Link to this

Well I think what irritates me, beyond the fact that in the latest question and answer session BK still insists that noone (not even himself) thinks the hawks need a pg, is that a lot on here believes that all the veteran pgs are lining up outside the hawks facility. People, please who in their right mind wants to play for the hawks, especially with the ongoing disaster that is the ownership and front office? The only chance the hawks get a pg is through trade or the draft, and we seem to believe that the draft is for picking forwards only. I totally agree that we need an inside force, at CENTER, not another forward. How can anyone justify picking a power foward last year at #2 and then a power forward this year at #5?? What a f’n joke! So does that mean Marvin Williams is on his way out?? I mean that makes not picking Chris Paul even more insane. I’m sorry but a top #5 pick on a young team that is scraping the pond scumb off the nba floor should be in the starting lineup, yet our last two top 5 picks play the same position!!!! Maybe our wonderful coaches should teach Marvin and AH to play defense instead of wasting another pick on a forward. I just don’t get how this team is supposed to be better, especially with AH on the way out. This team will do well to duplicate its win total from last season! I guess the hawks think if they bury their head in the sand, everything will fix itself.

By Nico

June 29, 2006 07:21 PM | Link to this

ALRIGHT EVERYBODY CALM DOWN ITS NOT OVER….ACTUALLY ITS GETTING BETTER…WE ALL KNOW AL IS GONE….LOOK AT THE POSSABILITIES OUT THERE….TAKE A LOOK AT THE KNICKS ROSTER THEY HAVE 2 VERY GOOD POINT GUARDS IN fRANCIS AND mAUBERY…THEY WANT AL, SIGNS LIKE A SIGN AND TRADE….LOOK AT OUR ROSTER…..SHELDEN IS DEFINATLE DEVELOPED AND HE IS GOING TO START AT THE 4…JOSH SMITH AT THE 3 AND JOE JOHNSON AT THE 2…WE STILL HAVE SALIM WHO CAN PLAY THE POINT AND SHOOT THE BALL WELL, WHAT WE NEED IS A COACH IT DOESN’T TAKE A ROCKET SCIENTIST TO SEE THAT WE HAVE SOME GOOD PLAYERS CHILDRESS IS A LEGITAMATE RESERVE AND ONCE MARVIN FINISHES DEVELOPING HE COULD BE A SOLID PLAYER.

IT’S REALLY TIME FOR BILLY TO PUT HIS THINKING CAP ON…SAM CASSELL IS OUT THERE AND CAN HELP US WITH HIS LEADERSHIP AND STILL PUT UP POINTS, BOBBY JACKSON CAN DO THE SAME TOO…NOW HE MESSED UP WITH THE SECOND PIC BUT WILLIAMS WAS A GREAT PIC.. LOOK AT DETROIT THEY MIGHT HAVE TROUBLE RESIGNING BEN AND IF HE DOES RESIGN THEN HE DIDN’T DO IT FOR THE MONEY, ITS GREAT POSSABILITIES OUT THERE THAT CAN HAPPEN…THIS WILL DEFINATELY BE A TURN AROUND YEAR….

By 1 + 2

June 29, 2006 07:34 PM | Link to this

I understand everyone’s angst over selecting another forward, and I don’t disagree. However, we now have a young, athletic and (potentially) tenancious front court. The key to the Hawks offseason (as stated by most of you) will be the point guard that Knight can convince to lead such a young team. And guess what, I honestly believe we could make a playoff run. But this playoff run will be contingent on the above and the sign and trade of Al to Denver for Nene.

One final thought: I am not sure if the best potential move for the Hawks this offseason would be to bring in Rick Adelman to coach this team. I still have some serious reservations about Woody. Therefore, why not go out and get a veteran coach to mold this young team. Why rely on a first time coach to guide newly rich (and now stubborn millionaires). Get someone that has fought this battle and would command respect. IF this is not done, then Woody better coach his a$$ off this year!!!!!!

By Chris

June 29, 2006 07:47 PM | Link to this

I said it last year, I’ll say it again. Billy Knight has no clue. The Hawks will consistently draft his favorite thing, “wingspan”. ROTFL!!! There is more to the game than this. We need someone to distribute the ball but with BK at the helm it just ain’t going to happen.

I hope the courts uphold Belkins win. I understand why the other owners say “people in the front office would need to worry about their jobs if Belkin takes over”, because with an ownership and front office making picks like this, this team will inhale until a change is made.

Count me out till someone else owns the team, hopefully it will Mr Belkin real soon.

By Darrin C. Niblack

June 29, 2006 07:56 PM | Link to this

Riddle:

Q: How many forwards does it take to screw in a ligh bulb at Philips Arena?

A: FIFTEEN OF ‘EM I GUESS!!

By

June 29, 2006 08:32 PM | Link to this

watching billy knightmare try and put a team together, is like watching a cook try and make a ham and cheese omelet, but the only ingredient he has are a bunch of eggs!

By Richie Rich

June 29, 2006 08:33 PM | Link to this

watching billy knightmare try and put a team together, is like watching a cook try and make a ham and cheese omelet, but the only ingredient he has are a bunch of eggs!

By RPH

June 29, 2006 08:45 PM | Link to this

I am overwhelmed by those of you who think the Hawks are attractive to free agents, are you serious? Have you even been around ATL the last few years and seen this team? The hawks are the laughing stock of the nba, even in their own hometown. Every expert I have watched or read on the internet thinks the hawks will have an extremely difficult time signing big time free agents. Sam Cassel is NOT interested in coming to a team at the bottom of the barrel for a few extra million, especially with the uncertainty regarding the ownership. I think the hawks will have to significantly overpay even mid range players to get them to consider the hawks. That is why I don’t understand why we are ignoring needs in the draft. If we had taken Chris Paul last year to fill the pg then drafting swilliams wouldnt be that big of a deal. Its the fact that we drafted the unlimited ceiling player in Marvin and now it looks as if he will sit on the bench behind SW, along with 4 other forwards. I just don’t understand the logic in these decisions. This whole scenario is very similar to the Lions drafting wide receivers every year with their first round pick and ignore the other glaring needs of the team. They still suck! If SW was 6’11 or 7’ then I would be overjoyed that we have a center, which we NEED! I just don’t get spending our 1st round pick every year on the same guy. The Mavericks use to play offensive basketball until AJ came in and forced them to play more defense and it has really paid off. Why can’t we teach our young guys to play defense, instead of throwing in the towel like we have.

By Chris Paul

June 29, 2006 09:13 PM | Link to this

Wow! It looks like I’ve got more fans in Atlanta. Thanks for the support ATL, and Billy, thanks for not drafting me. I’m really off to a great start in Charlotte.

See you guys in the playoffs next year?? LOL

CP

By HB Ando

June 29, 2006 09:28 PM | Link to this

You mean, New Orleans, Chris? Is that really you?

By BillyismyHero

June 29, 2006 09:28 PM | Link to this

Fans and fellow bloggers:

We’ve all gotten it wrong the past few years! Billy Knight is really a genius that we all cannot begin to comprehend. Billy has a perfect record. He is flawless when is comes to creating a need for a rebuilding process that must start over again the next year. So everyone give Billy three cheers! Thanks Billy, we are so sorry for doubting you. We should have listened to you when you said relax.

Harry the Hawk

By Chris Paul

June 29, 2006 09:34 PM | Link to this

You bet it’s me. Just making sure you guys were paying attention. Gotta go now. I’m going to an awards ceremony now for being the best rookie POINT GUARD in decades.

Go Deacs!

CP

By Chris

June 29, 2006 09:36 PM | Link to this

I will contain my total dislike for Billy until after the free agent period. From all reports there were trades on the table that would have gotten us at least a first round draft pick for Al last year if we would have made a move. If Al Harrington leaves this organization and the Hawks get nothing, anybody that still feels Billy Knight deserves respect has lost their mind.

Yes it takes time to build an organization from nothing but continued missteps will not get you any closer to that goal. 3 years ago the Charlotte Bobcats started building their roster. If every other guy on their team doesn’t get injured again this year they will be a much better team than your Atlanta Hawks. Starting five Felton,Rush,Wallace,Okufur,Brezec with May, Morrison,Knight,Ely coming off the bench. Wow a roster in 3 years that was built with bangers and scorers in the post, shot blockers,slashers,lights out shooters and point guards that can create off the dribble.

Besides the Knicks I am having trouble thinking of a team in the East that we can say we are better than or in a better position than. If the Knicks get rid of Isaiah we will really be in trouble. The Sixers could make some bad moves and we have a chance of passing them with all the money they have tied up with some punks on their roster. I guess we have some young talent but compared to the Celtics, Cavs, Magic, Raptors and Chicago with the young players that they have our young core of forwards really isn’t impressing me. Realistically we are not in a position to be a top 8 team in the East for 3 to 5 years unless someone makes some serious missteps.

By Undergrad

June 30, 2006 08:45 AM | Link to this

Although I’m not as excited about Williams as I would have been about Foye, Roy, or Gay, I understand. The Hawks are a young team; they don’t necessarily need to draft youth, attitude, or selfishness, and they definitely need defense. I just thought as the other Williams (PG) was falling, the Hawks could have made a deal to move up and pick him. That would have been nice. I quess they just don’t have enough to bargain with anymore.

By Ron

June 30, 2006 11:56 AM | Link to this

No the hawks did not make the right pick come on Billy Knight don’t seem to know if he had any a* of what you know what your needs or and then you do something elf the ownership seen to be stuck on stupit Mr. Belkin would’nt let him make that dom pick I like to Steve Belkin take over and we the fan are hopeing also that he is in control so that Billy Knight is out of here

By Ron

June 30, 2006 12:28 PM | Link to this

I am pulling for Steve Belkin to take over ownership please Mr.Belkin the Hawks need you before Billy Knight make that team out of a clown show we don’t apperuate the way Billy Boy is runing the team so I pulling for you and I know their are other also pulling for you that pick was the worst pick in the draft and he and Mike Woodson say team are going small ball you have people runing a team and don’t know what they are doing