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The AJC online. http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/h...5/23marvin.html

Versatility - in one word, that is the basketball philosophy of Hawks general manager Billy Knight. He is not overly concerned with having the archetype for each position. For example, is North Carolina's Marvin Williams, who worked out for the Hawks at Philips Arena on Wednesday, big enough to play power forward in the NBA at 6-foot-8 1/4, 228 pounds - what with the likes of San Antonio's 6-11, 260-pound Tim Duncan representing the league's preeminent power forward? Knight answers by observing that a possible three-forward lineup of Williams, Al Harrington and Josh Smith could be a pretty potent one. With many projecting Williams as one of the top two players available, the 19-year-old has a strong chance of landing here via the No. 2 overall pick they hold in Tuesday's draft. " A lot of people have it etched in stone that everybody has to be a certain position - you have to fit into a mold, but that really isn't the way that I look at it ," Knight said. "If you had him, Josh Smith, Al Harrington, all those guys to me are forwards. They can play some at either position and I think that's a positive for your team and for those players, so it gives them another opportunity to get on the floor. "If you say he's a power forward, he's got to play the power forward spot only. You say he's a forward, maybe you're going to go with three forwards, so he can get on the floor at any time. . . . There's such a thing as him being a basketball player." One sign of the increased interest in Williams was the presence of more Atlanta Spirit personnel. Owners Ed Peskowitz and Bruce Levenson flew in from Washington. Other owners present were Rutherford Seydel, Michael Gearon Jr. and Dominique Williams. CEO Bernie Mullin attended a workout for the first time this week and even Thrashers general manager Don Waddell dropped in. Williams, who showed what coach Mike Woodson deemed NBA range on his jumpshot, fits the mold of the draft pick that will come in the future with the NBA's new collective bargaining agreement and its 19-year-old age limit. In some ways, Williams is like a high school player, as he will be drafted on potential - Knight said he certainly is not a finished player and can improve in several areas. In his one year at North Carolina, Williams averaged 11.3 points and 6.6 rebounds without starting any of the Tar Heels' 36 games. Williams explains that by saying it was a championship team on which everyone had to sacrifice. He admitted he was not going to start in front of senior captain Jawad Williams or junior Sean May. He also has worked out for Milwaukee, which holds the first pick, and said he was unsure whether he would do so for any other teams. For his part, he seems eager to be a Hawk. "I want to be here, hopefully they want me to be here, so that's what I came here to do," he said. In the other workouts this week involving point guards Chris Paul and Deron Williams, Woodson took a laid back approach, sitting next to Knight. With the drills differing slightly on Wednesday because of Marvin Williams' position, Woodson got more involved. While Knight might put together a team with three 6-9 forwards, Woodson is the one who will have to worry about matchups come game time . "I think Marvin, he's a talented kid, he'd have to find a position at the three or four," Woodson said. "Marvin, he's got to find his niche. We've got to help him find that niche. I think skill-wise, he has potential." I think everyone on this forum is trying to carve out certain positions for this team. According to this article BK is NOT concerned about that. He is going to get the best available talent at No. 2 and that probably will be Marvin Williams. It seems like he is also going to keep Al Harrington. I needed to see it from his words and there it is!!! I think my predictions about what will be done is looking more and more accurate.

I would love this draft if we came away with Randolph Morris at 31 and Marvin at 2. That would be pretty good!! I wish we could get one more 1st round pick and get a guard.

That is exactly what I was thinking. Maybe they differed on who to draft at No. 1.

What does this mean for the No. 1 pick and why did they fire him a week before the draft?

If he was a "beast", then the Hawks need to draft this "beast" with the No. 2 pick and keep him. We have to figure out through FA how to fill these holes on this team.

This is exactly why I am so ecstatic over having the 31st pick. This pick will be a very good 1st round player. The numbers just ran on the number of 1st round prospects. We should get a possible starter at 31. This is probably the deepest draft I have seen in a while for the 2nd round.

I like that comparison. If he turns out to be a Jamal Mashburn type player then I say bring him on. I am not sure how all of this is going to turn out. I mean I like Marvin as our pick no doubt. I am just worried about what we have already in Josh and can Josh play the 4 effectively.

I agree Diesel. Marvin and Smooth will have to alternate at the 3. Like I said earlier, the more I think about it, we are going to have to eventually make a move.

I agree. I think Al and Marvin have totally different games. Al is primarily a work horse inside the paint with his back to the basket. Al has a short mid-range jumper and that is about it for his outside game. Marvin has much more range on his jumper. He may be able to consistently shoot the 3. I think Marvin conflicts with Josh Smith's position more than Al. The problem is that Al is a tweener in terms of his body size, height and type. The more I think about it, there is a delimna if we draft Marvin Williams, however I think the biggest problem is with Josh Smith at the 3. Can Josh Smith play the 4 naturally???

Exactly....Well said. This would be a terrible terrible trade for the Hawks!!! First off Magloire is not that good and he is aging and you are not only giving up your best player and most veteran player in Al you are also giving up the No. 2 pick for a No. 4 pick. You are giving up a statistically better player and stepping down 2 draft picks and get nothing else!! Does that make any sense. And to top it off your roster is full of rookies and second year players and one aging player in Magloire.

That will be good news if both sides approve the deal next week. I was starting to worry that we were going to have an NHL type scenario. I hope they sign the deal!!

It ain't happening. If we draft Marvin Williams we are not trading him away.

Exactly, I was just about to say that. We need talent at EVERY position. We are not in the position to just fill a position here or there. We need talent at all positions, so if you can get a potential superstar at any position on this team you take him!! This team only has 3 players and only one of them is semi-proven and that is Al. We are not in any position to get picky with positions right now. GET THE SUPERSTAR PERIOD AT THIS POINT!! Now in two years you can start doing that once you have your proven player in place but right now we are a 13 win team with really no proven talent and a bunch of potential.

Forget draft "buzz." Forget first-round promises and contract buyout clauses and raw tools. The biggest question a team should ask when evaluating international prospects is "Can they play?" After breaking down tape and seeing a number of these players in person, here's my international Top 20. 1. Fran Vazquez, 7-foot, PF/C, 22, Spain A very good offensive player who can score inside or hit a jumper, he's more of a power forward than center, especially defensively. His strength and athleticism are average, at best. He seemed to tire down the stretch of his league season but has looked very good in the playoffs. He'll be a good late lottery pick who can contribute offensively. 2. Nemanja Aleksandrov, 6-11, PF/SF, 18, Serbia Youngster is just a baby when it comes to playing in the NBA, but he has Dirk Nowitzki-like talent. He's still recovering from ACL surgery, but is scheduled to return in December. It's unclear whether he will play the three or the four at the NBA level – physical maturity will be the key to his development. He is a good long-range pick anywhere from seventh to 15th overall. 3. Tiago Splitter, 7-0, PF/C, 20, Brazil Very experienced for his age, Splitter is playing at Europe's highest level. His defense is still way ahead of his offense. He's a quick jumper and has good timing on the defensive end. Splitter has a good feel and understanding for the game. He's an Antonio Davis-type, willing to do the dirty work for you, even though his post-up game is very limited. 4. Marko Tomas, 6-8, SG/SF, 20, Croatia A big guard who has grown 3 inches since last season, he has a good feel for the game and is a very mature player for his age. Does a handful of different things with above-average effectiveness and can shoot and drive. He played in the Chicago predraft camp last year with a bad ankle. Tomas is a mid-first-rounder who could have a long NBA career if he doesn't sign with Spain's Real Madrid. 5. Johan Petro, 7-0, C, 19, France Petro has a tremendous upside because of his NBA body and athleticism. He played well at Reebok Eurocamp last year and had first-round commitments. He's still developing offensive skills but has good footwork. Petro gained valuable experience this season with Pau Orthez but didn't play much in playoffs. He could be a top-10 pick in the draft. 6. Martynas Andriuskevicius, 7-3, C, 19, Lithuania He has the mobility of a power forward but is not yet physical enough to dominate in the paint. Physical play bothers him but he won't back down. He played sparingly this year for Zalgiris, the Lithuanian club owned by Arvidis Sabonis. His long-term potential is hard to ignore but he's not ready to help an NBA team right now. Andriuskevicius could be another Zydrunas Ilguaskas or he could be a big bust. He's likely to pull out of the draft if he's not in the top 10. 7. Roko Ukic, 6-5, PG, 21, Croatia He has a lot of international experience for a point guard his age. Long and lanky in the Brent Barry mold, he has good end-to-end quickness and gets into the lane. He has vastly improved what used to be a weak outside shot. A true basketball junkie who speaks English well enough to make an easy transition, he should go in the 20-30 range overall. 8. Axel Hervelle, 6-9, PF, 22, Belgium A possible sleeper who played quality minutes for Real Madrid this year, Hervelle is a mobile power forward who can shoot the ball well from outside with a quick release. He's an average athlete, at best, who will need help guarding NBA fours. He runs well, plays hard and has a good feel for the game. 9. Marcus de Souza, 6-9, SF/SG, 21, Brazil He might be the most underrated international player in the draft. De Souza is a long and very athletic wing who surprised in Italy's LegaDue. He can rebound, handle in the open court and make decisions on the break. He's also a deceptive shooter with range out to the NBA 3-point line. A lack of strength is his only major drawback. 10. Ersan Ilyasova, 6-9, PF/SF, 18, Turkey Another mystery man who has played well in the past for Turkey's national teams. He plays sparingly right now for Ulker. Small forward will be his best position in the NBA. Some say his date of birth is in 1984, not 1987. Ankle injuries could curtail his career. If healthy, he is a top-10 pick. 11. Mickael Gelabale, 6-7, SF, 22, France Very poised for his age, he is a valuable member of Real Madrid. He is an above-average NBA athlete and has average NBA skill. He'll work out privately for teams in Treviso. Gelabale is a jack of all trades and is an above-average shooter who could help a team win. He would be perfect for a "system" team like San Antonio. 12. Thabo Sefolosha, 6-6, SG/SF, 21, Switzerland A long, athletic wing player who is a good but not great shooter. He is a small small forward who doesn't have great ball skills. Like Gelebale, he does do a lot of little things well that help a team. Sefolosha is probably a second-round pick, but some team might like him in the late first. 13. Marcin Gortat, 7-0, C, 21, Poland He is an excellent athlete for a player his size. He has quality strength and jumping ability, winning the dunk contest at last year's Reebok Eurocamp by taking off past the foul line. Gortat is raw offensively but active on both boards because he plays hard. He is shooting over 70 percent this season for Rhein Energy Koln in the German Bundesliga but under 50 percent from the free-throw line. 14. Erazem Lorbek, 6-10, PF, 21, Slovenia The former Michigan State Spartan had a solid season for Climamio Bologna in Italy. Lorbek is a skilled player with a good feel for the game for someone his size. He is a prototypical European power forward who is very good in a "pick-and-pop" game because of his shot. He has average athletic ability, strength and agility. Could be an Austin Croshere-type. 15. Eduardo Hernandez-Sonseca, 7-1, C, 22, Spain He can rebound and block shots and plays within his limitations. He has a good frame and good hands. Still a project, some teams like him in the early second round. 16. Kosta Perovic, 7-2, C, 20, Serbia A young, developing big man who gained plenty of experience this year. Has a huge frame but is a below-average athlete. Passes well but comparisons to Vlade Divac are unfair. His post offense is improving with a jump hook to the middle. Has value in the late first round because of youth and size. 17. Angelo Gigli, 6-10, PF, 22, Italy Has good agility and shooting touch for a big man, but is an average athlete with below-average NBA strength and does not have an NBA position to defend. He also doesn't rebound well. Gigli's offense is ahead of his defense at this point, but not enough so to put him on an NBA court. 18. Drago Pasalic, 6-10, PF, 21, Croatia Played well at both the Reebok Eurocamp and Chicago predraft camp last year. He has a good frame but loves to play on the perimeter, featuring a very good shooting touch from outside but no post game. He left his KK Split team midseason to move to the United State and concentrate on the draft. He is a Vladimir Radmanovic-type who will roam the perimeter. 19. Rudy Fernandez, 6-6, SG, 20, Spain Fernandez is good in the open floor and crafty in the half court. He's athletic but weak and is an average shooter. He had a lot of NBA hype earlier this year but it is dying down. At this point, he's not a first-round pick – No. 19 on my list may be too high. 20. Marko Lekic, 6-11, PF, 20, Serbia Attended the Reebok Eurocamp last year and was a nice surprise. He has a great body and agility for a player his size. He has good touch and good hands. It would be a shock to most if he goes in the first round, but not to me. The Hawks may want to look at one of these guys at 31!!

aroundtl-ML-82879-ML- Moved to around the league forum

I wanted to get you guys opinions about who is being greedy and who is being fair in the negotiation for a new CBA. What do you think the sticking points are? I personally think the NBA is being very fair with their proposal. They are allowing more money and raises for the players..the only catch is they want to take a year off of maximum contracts to 5 years not 6 years. They are willing to meet the Union at a 19 year age limit cap instead of 21. The cap would be a little higher. It is pretty much the same CBA as they are in right now. I really hope there is not a lockout until Ogden gets our of High School. We may have Bogut and Ogden before the NBA season starts. Your thoughts and views.

Thank you for posting your plan. That link was right before the draft and I knew Josh wasn't going to be picked at 6 based on all the reports. Those were REALISTIC consensus possible picks for No. 6 at that time and I just put them in the order of who I would go with if these were the participants. Were any of these my favorite for the 6 spot?....NO, not even Deng. Go back a little further in history and you will see I clearly wanted the Hawks to draft Josh Smith at 6. I have several post that clearly indicate that. Now for my plan of what the Hawks will do during/before the draft: 1. The Hawks will draft Marvin Williams or Bogut with No. 2 2. The Hawks will NOT trade Al Harrington during/before the draft.(This is a point of disagreeance) 3. The Hawks will NOT trade Marvin or Bogut when they draft them for 5/13. (another point of disagreeance) 3. The Hawks may try to trade Diaw and package the 31st pick/future 2nd round pick to move up in the 1st round, if they don't succeed they will be happy to stay at 31 and fill a need. 4. I have no idea who BK is going to try and sign in the FA period. Maybe Kwame Brown, but BK holds his cards pretty tight when it comes to FA. None of use knows until he says something. Archive this thread and Lets see who is right when the dust settles.

No...wrong again. If look at the history of who I wanted the Hawks to draft, you will clearly see I wanted Josh Smith even at 6. I wanted him at all cost last year..you know that. We didn't get him at 6 but we ended up getting him at 17. I hadn't pulled for us to draft Deng nor Chillz BEFORE the draft. I was clearly wanting Josh Smith out of last years draft even if it meant drafting him at 6. I didn't pick the right number, but I damn well picked the player. No one can go on record and say I wanted either one of those two players. Deng nor Chillz were even in any of my wants before the draft. After the draft and mid-way through the season when Chillz was sucking, I did think we should have drafted Deng, but again that was during the season and again AFTER the organization made their decisions. Don't dodge the question. What do you think the Hawks will do before and/or during the draft? I will give you my answer after yours and we will see who is right when the dust settles. And if you want to put a wager on it step up to the plate, if you are confident in your fantasies...oops I meant predictions.

Dude I am talking about the prediction of organizational moves....i.e.legitimate trades, legitimate free agent signing, prediction of who we will draft (realistically), prediction of who we will keep, etc.....NOT PLAYER EVALUATIONS AND OPINIONS OF CERTAIN MOVES. My opinion AFTER these moves are already done doesn't matter. It is just that an opinion which could be right or wrong. My opinion of whether BK made a bad move or right move is not what we are debating about. Again you are on the wrong boat. There are a lot of move BK makes or made that I may disagree/agree with and there are a lot of opinions I may have about a player.....THAT IS NOT WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT...get that in your head. Why in the hell are we even talking about Dan Dickau? He isn't even in this organization. What are you talking about??? I am talking about predictions of what will happen (i.e. moves) with this team. I am talking about your ridiculus fantasy trades versus some realistic possibilities and realistic possible moves (i.e. who we will draft at No. 2, who we will sign as a free agent, who we will trade). That is what I am talking about. Predictions based on factual information..a concept you will never grasp!! Player opinions is altogether different from prediction of organization building. Of course, some of my opinions about players will be right and some will be wrong just like everyone else, I have never denied that. I am specifically talking about your fantasy BS versus real possible moves in BUILDING this team. I am usually right when it comes to predicting these moves and you are ALWAYS wrong!!! Again Put up or Shut up!! Let me put you on the right boat because you are not comprehending too well. What do think the Hawks will do in this draft? Then I will tell you what I think they will do? THEN WE WILL SEE WHO IS MORE ACCURATE. The person who is accurate wins the bet........That is the debate!! Again What do you think the Hawks will do in this draft? This will be on record!!

First of all you don't read too well do you....I said I have been right "with my predictions with the BUILDING of this team". Let me break that down for you since you tend to define your own meanings to statements. It means BKs moves and non-moves. BK trades and non-trades. Bk philosophies and direction with the team. The stuff that you supposedly are trying to make a point about has absolutely nothing to do with that statment....Basic reading and comprehensive. Two entirely different things. Now since you want to go down the road of comments, which again has nothing to do with my statment. I will address that briefly. I have absolutely no idea why you are posting comments about evaluation of players and ex-players (which by the way were very accurate at those times) as it relates to "my predictions with the BUILDING of this team". The two have no relation, I am talking about all of the fantasy mess and moves you post versus factual information about again "The Building" of this organization that I put out. That is what I am speaking of. Opinions about Dan Dickau and Chillz is out in left field. Again reading and comprehension. Everyone has opinions about players and at that time I posted that Chillz was terrible, being outplayed by Deng and had a very poor outside shot, which he still does, was quite frankly true. At that time that was very accurate...so again what is your point. Secondly, Dickau is still an average player, putting up good numbers on a sorry team...so again what is your point. You are pulling for straws here and putting up quotes that have nothing to do with your fantasy trade mess vs. factual moves with the Hawks. Again put your money where your mouth is!!! Lets start betting about who will be right concerning the BUILDING of this organization. Put up or shut up!!

First off Josh Smith was not 17th pick material from the start. He was ranked No. 2 at one time behind Dwight Howard...remember!! So yes getting a 3 or 4 pick for him at this time is a bad return on the investment for Josh Smith, especially since Josh has proven himself a special player and a attraction in Atlanta. Secondly, yes BK is not going to trade Al before the season. I guarantee it!! During the season maybe, but he has see how everyone plays together after we draft Williams. If Al is important to the success of the 2005 team then he may sign Al. But right now and right before the draft Al Harrington is not going to get traded, like you have in all of your fantasy trades. So far I have been right (100% right) will all of my predictions with the building of this team since BK has been the GM. I adamantly said he should draft Josh Smith well before the draft and he did. I said Walker would be traded Walker before the deadline and he did. I said Al would not be traded last year before the deadline and he didn't. I said Josh Smith will be a starter if Woodson would give him a chance and he finally did and guess what he was a starter. Basically what I am saying is I put out realistic information and possibilities based on information coming from the ORGANIZATION. But you put out a bunch of fantasy mess that will never happen in a million years. Put you money where your mouth is....you want to bet that Al will get traded before the season or before/during the draft? You want to bet that we draft Bogut or Williams with the second pick and not trade it? Lets start putting wagers on some of your predictions which will never happen. You would be flatout broke and it would shut that fantasy mess down that you put out.... quickly!! If you want to bet let me know. I would gladly take you up on it. It will make you put out what you really think will happen, not what you want to happen.

We can stop all of the fantasy trade stuff for the No. 2 pick. We are not trading that pick. I try to put real information on this forum, not a bunch of fantasy mess. The Hawks have told those two that they are the guys they are going to pick. Read below..... Read todays insider: Friday was media day at the Chicago predraft camp and several of the top prospects in the draft made some interesting revelations: • Andrew Bogut and Marvin Williams both told Insider that the Atlanta Hawks have told them that, if available, they will take them with the No. 2 pick. That's not a big surprise for Bogut. The Hawks need a center and have him ranked No. 1 on their board. That's a more interesting revelation for Williams, given that some have thought the Hawks might opt for a point guard if Bogut was off the board. Bogut said the Hawks are cheering for the Bucks to pass on him. "Every time they read about me having eye problems or Rick Majerus pushing for Marvin Williams, they love it. They're rolling on the floor," Bogut said. "I think they're hoping I'm there when they pick." Bogut was the best interview of the day. "I've dominated at every level I've played at and the Bucks need a center," Bogut said. "I think people keep saying I can't be No. 1 because of the myth of the great white stiff."

You are wrong....there is quality and quantity in this draft for the PG position. There will be possible 1st round quality guards in this draft to be had in the 2nd round. There are several Jamal Tinsley's and even better in the 2nd round of this draft. Again you are very wrong!!

What?? Would you please post some relevant stuff on this forum. This is not even worth discussing. Trade Josh after one year and at 19?? Come on man, get out of your fantasy world dude. You kill me with this fantasy stuff. What's next?? Trade Chillz and Josh for Deron Williams. Wow...Could you possibly put some real actual, factual, possible Atlanta Hawks news in your dicussions? If that is possible!!Sometimes I wonder if it is. I don't think so.