2012 NBA Offseason: Atlanta Hawks
Draft Grades, Offseason Needs, Free Agents
Written by Paul Banks of the Washington Times, David Kay and Peter Christian of the The Sports Bank. Send Paul an e-mail here: paulb05 AT hotmail DOT com.
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Atlanta Hawks (Last Year: 40-26)
Live 2012 NBA Draft Grades:
23. John Jenkins, G, Vanderbilt: B+ Grade
I actually really like Jenkins because you know at the very least, he can drain open three-pointers and every team needs a player like that coming off the bench. So to get somebody like that with the 23rd pick makes a ton of sense, especially for a Hawks team that only has six players under contract for next season.
43. Mike Scott, F, Virginia: C Grade
This seems a tad bit high for Mike Scott, who is really a tweener forward. He's undersized to be a true four, but not athletic enough to play the three. The Hawks do need depth all over, and Scott can knock down open shots, which will serve him well as he tries to make the Hawks' roster.
*** 2012 NBA Offseason Needs and Free Agents listed below this comment box. ***
2011-12 Season Summary:
Good, but not great. That simple statement sums up what the Atlanta Hawks have been the past few seasons including this strike-shortened campaign. Signed to a max contract two summers ago, Joe Johnson is expected to be the star player propelling the team. While he put together another solid season, Johnson was far from spectacular and fails to live up to the monstrous deal.
His No. 2, Josh Smith, posted career numbers in point and rebounds, but still thinks he can actually shoot the ball from the perimeter. His versatility continues to be a major asset though. Meanwhile, Marvin Williams once again underperformed as he fails to live up to being the second-overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft.
The Hawks suffered a big blow when Al Horford suffered a pectoral injury that limited him to just 11 regular season games. That left an already thin Atlanta frontcourt with even less depth and talent inside. Horford did return in the postseason, but he was unable to provide enough production to help get the team past the first round.
Jeff Teague played well in his first season of taking the reins as the starting point guard, though he lacks the play-making ability to be a true distributor at this point in his young career. The man he replaced at the point, Kirk Hinrich, easily had his worst season since entering the league, which points to the end of his brief time in Atlanta.
Outside of their core, the Hawks relied on journeymen like Tracy McGrady, Vladimir Radmanovic, Jason Collins, Willie Green and even the likes of Erick Dampier and Jerry Stackhouse to try and fill the role of rotation players. Needless to say, the lack of depth helped lead to the team's quick exit from the playoffs.
2012-13 Projected Depth Chart:
C: Al Horford/Zaza Pachulia
PF: Josh Smith/*Ivan Johnson
SF: Marvin Williams
SG: Joe Johnson
PG: Jeff Teague
NBA Free Agents:
*PF-Ivan Johnson (RFA)
SF-Tracy McGrady (UFA)
PG-Kirk Hinrich (UFA)
SG-Willie Green (UFA)
C-Jason Collins (UFA)
C-Erick Dampier (UFA)
G-Jannero Pargo (UFA)
F-Vladimir Radmonovic (UFA)
SF-Jerry Stackhouse (UFA)
2012-13 Team Salary: Approximately $60.9 million
NBA Offseason Needs:
1. Small Forward: It is crystal clear that Marvin Williams is not the long-term answer as the team's starting small forward. Even head coach Larry Drew realized this after Williams came off the bench the latter part of the regular season. Atlanta would be wise to spend its mid-level exception on a player capable of starting on the wing alongside Joe Johnson.
2. Point Guard: Jeff Teague took a solid step forward in his first full season as the team's starting point guard. There is still room for him to develop his game, but regardless, the Hawks need to bring in another point guard who can at least serve as Teague's backup or possibly even play quality minutes if Teague doesn't progress next season.
3. Quality Depth: Finding quality depth will not be easy since Atlanta is already over the salary cap and will be very limited in what it can do during free agency. Filling the roster with veteran league-minimum players will likely yield a similar result as last season with a weak bench. That's what happens when you overpay Joe Johnson the max-value contract and he is eating up one-third of your team's cap.
2013 Fantasy Football Rankings - May 23
2013 NBA Mock Draft - May 22
2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 21
Charlie's 2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 20
NFL Picks - Feb. 3
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© 1999-2011 Walter Cherepinsky : all rights reserved
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All other e-mail, including advertising and link proposals, send to: wpc112@gmail.com
Atlanta Hawks (Last Year: 40-26)
Live 2012 NBA Draft Grades:
23. John Jenkins, G, Vanderbilt: B+ Grade
I actually really like Jenkins because you know at the very least, he can drain open three-pointers and every team needs a player like that coming off the bench. So to get somebody like that with the 23rd pick makes a ton of sense, especially for a Hawks team that only has six players under contract for next season.
43. Mike Scott, F, Virginia: C Grade
This seems a tad bit high for Mike Scott, who is really a tweener forward. He's undersized to be a true four, but not athletic enough to play the three. The Hawks do need depth all over, and Scott can knock down open shots, which will serve him well as he tries to make the Hawks' roster.
*** 2012 NBA Offseason Needs and Free Agents listed below this comment box. ***
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l
11-19-2012
06:18 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx.152
(total posts: 1)
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Grant
07-13-2012
03:16 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx.246
(total posts: 1)
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hawks have had a great start by trading Johnson and Marvin and signing Louis Williams now lets get cp3
Grant
06-29-2012
03:18 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx8.86
(total posts: 1)
260
8
The hawks made a great pick in John Jenkins and in free agency they need to get Roy Hibbert and resign Tracy McGrady and Ivan Johnson at least. Then trade josh smith to a team like the bobcats or cavaliers for picks in next years draft
riley
06-28-2012
06:00 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx8.37
(total posts: 1)
10
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i live in Michigan but ATL is my favorite team. they are lacking at the SF position in which they should take Jae crowder out of Marquette. born and raised in Georgia, he is very versitle and a hardworker. hes only 6'6 but his work ethic helps that out. Marvin williams i believe, is not washed down but no the right fit for ATL. they need Crowder to help out on their fast paced offense.
Ludacris
06-28-2011
06:05 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx1.96
(total posts: 1)
33
108
I live in ATL all my life. I've never seen our 3 and 4 so horrible. BOTH Marvin Williams & Josh Smith can't drive or shoot. Garbage players who score off teammates missed shots. Horford has a nice 12 ft shot. Joe Johnson is our best all around player from inside/ out. Teague has a drive but no shot. Hinrich can shoot but not drive. Talk around town says JOSH SMITH gets traded. WE need a second option on offense. I will even settle for Lamar Odom or Ron Artest.
Walter
06-21-2011
04:41 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx4.88
(total posts: 1)
33
94
First comment... we're going to have comment boards like this all over the site soon. We're still working out the kinks, so this is not the finished product.
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2011-12 Season Summary:
Good, but not great. That simple statement sums up what the Atlanta Hawks have been the past few seasons including this strike-shortened campaign. Signed to a max contract two summers ago, Joe Johnson is expected to be the star player propelling the team. While he put together another solid season, Johnson was far from spectacular and fails to live up to the monstrous deal.
His No. 2, Josh Smith, posted career numbers in point and rebounds, but still thinks he can actually shoot the ball from the perimeter. His versatility continues to be a major asset though. Meanwhile, Marvin Williams once again underperformed as he fails to live up to being the second-overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft.
The Hawks suffered a big blow when Al Horford suffered a pectoral injury that limited him to just 11 regular season games. That left an already thin Atlanta frontcourt with even less depth and talent inside. Horford did return in the postseason, but he was unable to provide enough production to help get the team past the first round.
Jeff Teague played well in his first season of taking the reins as the starting point guard, though he lacks the play-making ability to be a true distributor at this point in his young career. The man he replaced at the point, Kirk Hinrich, easily had his worst season since entering the league, which points to the end of his brief time in Atlanta.
Outside of their core, the Hawks relied on journeymen like Tracy McGrady, Vladimir Radmanovic, Jason Collins, Willie Green and even the likes of Erick Dampier and Jerry Stackhouse to try and fill the role of rotation players. Needless to say, the lack of depth helped lead to the team's quick exit from the playoffs.
2012-13 Projected Depth Chart:
C: Al Horford/Zaza Pachulia
PF: Josh Smith/*Ivan Johnson
SF: Marvin Williams
SG: Joe Johnson
PG: Jeff Teague
NBA Free Agents:
*PF-Ivan Johnson (RFA)
SF-Tracy McGrady (UFA)
PG-Kirk Hinrich (UFA)
SG-Willie Green (UFA)
C-Jason Collins (UFA)
C-Erick Dampier (UFA)
G-Jannero Pargo (UFA)
F-Vladimir Radmonovic (UFA)
SF-Jerry Stackhouse (UFA)
2012-13 Team Salary: Approximately $60.9 million
NBA Offseason Needs:
1. Small Forward: It is crystal clear that Marvin Williams is not the long-term answer as the team's starting small forward. Even head coach Larry Drew realized this after Williams came off the bench the latter part of the regular season. Atlanta would be wise to spend its mid-level exception on a player capable of starting on the wing alongside Joe Johnson.
2. Point Guard: Jeff Teague took a solid step forward in his first full season as the team's starting point guard. There is still room for him to develop his game, but regardless, the Hawks need to bring in another point guard who can at least serve as Teague's backup or possibly even play quality minutes if Teague doesn't progress next season.
3. Quality Depth: Finding quality depth will not be easy since Atlanta is already over the salary cap and will be very limited in what it can do during free agency. Filling the roster with veteran league-minimum players will likely yield a similar result as last season with a weak bench. That's what happens when you overpay Joe Johnson the max-value contract and he is eating up one-third of your team's cap.
2013 Fantasy Football Rankings - May 23
2013 NBA Mock Draft - May 22
2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 21
Charlie's 2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 20
NFL Picks - Feb. 3
© 1999-2011 Walter Cherepinsky : all rights reserved
Privacy Policy
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