The real assessment of the Hawks rookies will begin in a few days.
However, the three first-year players have been around the Hawks facilities for much of the summer taking part in voluntary workouts.
Coach Mike Budenholzer offered his early impressions of the rookies before the start of camp on Monday:
Malcolm Delaney
“He is a rookie who has played in the Euroleague final four. He’s played at the highest level in Europe and been one of the top guards over there. It’s almost not fair to call him a rookie. His demeanor and his understanding of the game, we feel really good about his addition. We have so much respect for European basketball. What he has done over there, to add that to our team, we are very hopeful he is somebody who is going to help us.”
Taurean Prince
“Taurean, I think he has made a great first impression in the months since we drafted him. To have the kind of size and physicality at the small forward position, is something we are hoping to work with, grow and develop. He can do a little bit of everything. Offensively, we have to continue to grow him and work with him but there is a lot there to work with. Defensively, he gets after it. He kind of fits that there is going to be more of an edge, a physicality, to our team between Dwight, Dennis and Taurean, that’s a big infusion of edge, toughness and physicality.”
DeAndre Bembry
“DeAndre is similar in a very understated Paul Millsap kind of way. Very, very smart. His basketball mind is beyond his years. There is an athleticism, a pop, to him that is kind of under the radar. He fits us well. He can pass. He has a really high I.Q. I think he’s going to be good.”
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