There's no new NBA labor agreement on the horizon, no summer league next month and little time to spare for the Hawks in filling out their roster.
The Hawks are squeezing in a three-day minicamp for draft pick Keith Benson plus 17 free agents who weren't under NBA contract at the end of last season. There's a real sense of something at stake for the players, too, since the this team has up to eight open roster spots next season.
"They are just showcasing their talents and trying to make a ball club," Hawks coach Larry Drew said after the morning session on Monday. "I told them this is a great opportunity."
The sessions could be the only chance for Atlanta to evaluate players in a group setting before training camp.
The collective bargaining agreement is set to expire Thursday and there's been little reported progress on a new agreement. Without a deal, owners are expected to lock out players, putting a halt to league business.
Normally the Hawks would put together a summer league entry that includes players from this minicamp and also their young players under contract. But the NBA already canceled the summer leagues, which are the usual venues for teams to scout for cheap talent and evaluate their draft picks.
The players in Atlanta's camp have six practices over three days to make an impression.
“I've been watching a lot of [video] and now that we have them in, it gives me a chance to get a good feel for them,” Drew said. “We have some good talent here. There are a lot of guys that didn't get drafted that certainly could have been drafted.”
Three guards in Atlanta's camp were standout college seniors ranked among the top 50 prospects by DraftExpress.com before the draft last week: Ohio State's David Lighty (No. 35), Pittsburgh's Brad Wanamaker (No. 41) and Illinois' Demetri McCamey (No. 50).
All three players earned reputations for solid defense in college. Atlanta's designated wing defender last season, Damien Wilkins, is set to become a free agent and Drew said the Hawks haven't decided if they would try to re-sign him.
"We are still taking about it," he said. "We will see what happens."
The Hawks won't be able to sign any players before Friday because they won't officially have an open roster spot until free agency begins when the next CBA takes effect.
Benson arrives
Benson, the 48th overall draft pick, said he's ready to get to work on his main goal of adding muscle to his 6-foot-11, 220-pound frame.
“They have good weight coaches here so I can put a lot of focus on that and plan out my meals,” Benson said.
Drew said Benson should have little trouble getting up to speed. Benson earned a bachelor's degree in Integrative Studies at Oakland University (Mich.) with a focus on architecture; he said he took classes in calculus, trigonometry and physics.
“[He's] very intelligent,” Drew said. “That certainly helps when you talk about putting in things and will he be able to pick it up and how fast.”
Two locals in camp
There are two players in the camp with local connections: Zach Graham (Peachtree Ridge High) and Dontell Jefferson (Stephenson High).
Jefferson, who was not drafted out of Arkansas in 2006, has played in the NBA Development League and Europe with a six-game stint for Charlotte in 2008-09. Graham just finished four years at Ole Miss.
"Graham can really shoot the basketball," Drew said. "I didn't know much about him, but watching some film on him and working him out he can make shots."
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