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1. Barngani
2. Aldridge
3. Morrison
4. Thomas
But what would the draft reviews had been like if the Hawks had made a different choice? Fortunately, I am in possession of a [CLASSIFIED DELETION] that allows me to travel between alternate realities. My findings were interesting:
Reality #1
Hawks Select Shelden Williams
Media Review:
Quote:
A month ago, Knight insisted the Hawks weren’t yet in a position to draft according to positional need, but what was this pick if not an attempt to address the certain loss of Al Harrington? What was this if not a half-measure for a team that is, under its blunt and self-assured GM, supposed to be painting only in bold strokes? What’s bold about Shelden Williams?
He isn’t a point guard, like Marcus Williams (who inexplicably lasted until the 22rd pick). He isn’t a combo guard, like Brandon Roy and Randy Foye (who went just after Shelden Williams). He isn’t even another of Knight’s beloved swingmen, like Rudy Gay (who went just after Foye). All those worthies were available to Knight, same as Chris Paul and Deron Williams and Raymond Felton were a year ago. Yet again, the Hawks have taken a lofty pick and selected someone who isn’t about to change the face of a franchise that could sorely use changing.
Grade: C
Reality #2
Hawks Select Brandon Roy
Quote:
In a draft in which the Hawks had crying needs for a playmaker or a center, the Hawks chose to fill neither. Instead, they chose a shooting guard whose skill set mirrors their star player, Joe Johnson, except that he is not as good. Roy has good all-around skills and is mature enough to contribute in his rookie season, but Hawks' GM Billy Knight clearly didn't learn his lesson from last season when he drafted Marvin Williams, who ended up backing up another of the Hawks young swingmen, over eventual rookie of year Chris Paul. Instead of taking someone who is just a lesser version of Joe Johnson, the Hawks at least could have selected someone like Randy Foye who would have filled the need at point guard and added defensive toughness and scoring ability to this team. Yet again, the Hawks have taken a lofty pick and selected someone who merely duplicates the players already on their roster.
Grade: C-
Reality # 3
Hawks select Randy Foye
Quote:
In a draft in which the Hawks had crying needs for a playmaker or a center, the Hawks chose a combo guard who fills neither. Do the names Dejuan Wagner, Keyon Dooling and Antonio Daniels mean anything to you, Billy? Foye was a volume scorer who never met a shot he didn't like in college and will not bring the needed playmaking skills to this young Hawks team. Foye is mature enough to contribute in his rookie season, but Hawks' GM Billy Knight didn't fill a need or even go with the biggest upside guys on the board, like athletic center Patrick O'Bryant or potential star Rudy Gay. In passing on a star in the making like Gay, the Hawks only compounded their mistake in last year's draft in passing on pure point guard Chris Paul for Marvin Williams. Incredibly, the Hawks again passed on the best point guard in the draft in Marcus Williams in order to select an undersized shooting guard. Yet again, the Hawks have taken a lofty pick and selected someone who isn’t about to change the face or direction of a franchise that could sorely use a change for the better.
Grade: C
Reality #4
Hawks Select Marcus Williams
Quote:
In an effort to make up for passing on Chris Paul last season, Billy Knight has managed to squander this year's high lottery pick on a guy who has neither Paul talent nor the upside of someone like Marvin Williams by selecting Marcus Williams in the draft. Billed as the best playmaker in the draft, Williams is a guy with character problems off the field - being suspended for running a schemed to buy and sell laptops of other Connecticut students last year - and commitment issues on the court where he showed up out of shape and overweight when it was time for workouts this offseason. If Knight was going to reach to fill a need, the pick had to be potential star center Patrick O'Bryant. Good big men are rare commodities. A future backup point guard like Williams can had for a couple million in free agency. Williams' problems on and of the court led to very credible rumors that he would likely fall all the way down in the 20s this year and Knight selected him at #5 overall. Wow. Billy Knight are you familiar with the phrase "too little, too late"?
Grade: D+
Reality #5
Hawks select Patrick O'Bryant
Quote:
The Hawks needed a point guard or interior defender and selected the 7-foot O'Bryant - the best of a pitiful class of centers this season. O'Bryant was not projected this high by anyone (not even Chad "the Cavaliers should seriously consider drafting Darko over Lebron" Ford) and might not be much better than do-nothing Adonal Foyle right now. Billy Knight reached big time to fill a need with this selection and without a pick next year the Hawks look like they will be stuck watching as many playoffs games as O'Bryant will be watching from the bench behind Zaza Pachulia. This represents a brutal pick that leaves Hawks fans with no hope for the future.
Grade: D-
Reality #6
Hawks select Rudy Gay
Quote:
Apparently, Billy Knight truly doesn't know when to say when. In a repeat of his 2005, 2004 and 2003 drafts, Billy Knight selected yet another small forward to add to this roster. Just to make the pick even more exciting, Knight selected an underacheiver who seemed to be missing any real competitive fire during his days at Connecticut. This is the guy who went from being a prohibitive favorite to be the top pick in the draft to a guy who probaby could have been had by a team like Houston if the Hawks didn't take him. It is difficult to know whether to be more disappointed in the fact that the Hawks drafted yet another unnecessary small forward in the name of taking the "best player available," like he did last year in taking Marvin Williams over Chris Paul, or in reaching for a player who was clearly not the fifth best prospect in this draft. Being a Hawks fan means not having to choose.
Grade: F
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