Posted by: Neil on May 23, 2007 3:16PM EST Please someone from Atlanta call Hibbert and get him to change his mind!!!!!!! He was the best option at #3. But if that can't happen we need Conley Jr. at #3 and then hopefully get Noah at #11. But what about Tiago Splitter if Noah is gone? Does he just suck or what? nobody has said anything about him and he is a defensive oriented 6'11" pf/c

Posted by: Neil on May 23, 2007 3:36PM EST We could also trade the #11 pick and one of our forwards (marvin or shelden) and/or point guards (any of them it doesn't really matter) or salim who is a good shooter but too short to be a shooting guard for a good established center like camby which would be the best option for us then we would have this lineup: conley at pg, johnson at sg, smith at sf, marvin or even zaza at pf and camby at center. Get rid of ivey, batista, and slava they are no good.

Posted by: Anonymous on May 23, 2007 4:31PM EST i don't think the hawks office will consider yi at all. i hope this isn't taken offensively, but the dozens of comments advocating his pick last night were probably written by a bunch of chinese fanatics who are too blinded by the dream of another home country representative to acknowledge the obvious fact that the hawks need a point guard. aside from the fact that there are better available big men than yi in the draft, the hawks immediate first-step needs to be the acquisition of either mike conley jr. or a proven point guard (via trade), someone lifetimes ahead of lue, claxton, or johnson. we don't need a center with fast feet and a soft touch. we need a much stronger and more athletic presence that will dominate rebounds, score or demand double-teams from the low-post, and protect our basket with muscle and shot-blocking.

Posted by: Melanie on May 23, 2007 4:35PM EST Al Horford =]

Posted by: HAWKS FAN FROM DAY ONE on May 23, 2007 4:35PM EST CAMBY!!! CAMBY!!! Man, get real!! Trade the 11th pick and a forward and R. Ivey to the Timberwolves for KEVIN GARNETT. CAMBY sucks when compared to KG any day. PG- #3 pick SG- Joe Johnson SF- J. Smith/J. Childress/M. Williams PF- Z. Pachulia/S. Williams C- KEVIN GARNETT

Posted by: neil on May 23, 2007 4:58PM EST ok garnett would work but if we can't get garnett then camby or jermaine oneal one of those three would be much better then hawes, noah or splitter or horford

Posted by: JCarter on May 23, 2007 6:11PM EST We need a Point Guard to free up Joe Johnson more. So Mike Conley Jr. is the best point guard we can get or Acie Law. The 11th pick is for a Center. Joakim Noah or Al Horford would be come good pick ups. We need a "strong" Center down low to block shots with Josh Smith since our power forwards can't do it. A floor leader and a gate keeper is what we need. We have enough positions in the middle. We are not in a good position to trade for Garnett or anyone else. No one is going to come to the Hawks. They want to go to a team that has a chance to win a championship.

Posted by: ANTOINE on May 23, 2007 6:30PM EST DEAR HAWKS, PLEASE DRAFT ROY HIBBERT PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!DO NOT DRAFT A 5-6 POINT GUARD FROM EUROPE WHO ONLY AVERAGES 2.6 POINTS IN 3.2 MINUTES A GAME!!!!!!!!HIBBERT IS THE BEST BET TRUST ME!!!!!!!!

Posted by: JCarter on May 23, 2007 6:40PM EST Mr. Antoine, Hibbert went back to college for his senior year. We can't get him, but you are right, we do need a big man.

Posted by: King of Marietta on May 23, 2007 6:47PM EST PG- Conley Pg backup- T-lue SG- All-star Joe Johnson SG backup- slimin or J-chill SF-J-smoove SF backup-J-chill or Marvin PF-Marvin PF backup- Shelden or Jokim Noah C-Jokim Noah, Spencer Hawes or KG C backup- ZAZA and Shelden

Posted by: Brandon on May 23, 2007 7:02PM EST Just taking a shot in the dark, but is it completely ignorant to ask if the Hawks can trade the #3 & #11 for the #1 to nab Oden?

Posted by: Phillip on May 23, 2007 7:09PM EST Just in... Roy Hibbert is going back to school next year. We wont be able to draft him. we should draft the Chinese guy (forgot name) and Spencer hawes

Posted by: Chase on May 23, 2007 7:21PM EST get some gators, weve got 3 good enough veteran point guards go for noah and horford

Posted by: wes on May 23, 2007 7:32PM EST i think we should draft mike conley jr. for the third pick and for the 11th we either take spencer hawes,or if he is still avaible brandon wright and if both are gone then take jokim noah

Posted by: leroy on May 23, 2007 7:40PM EST 1. we should try and do anything and everything to get a deal for the #1 pick with portland 2. if we cant get a deal done pick up conley at #3 even though its a bit of a reach to take him that early...but i think its one of our biggest needs...so take him 3. with #11 take noah if he is there

Posted by: Chow-yun Skinny on May 23, 2007 8:38PM EST I think with number 3 you go for shot blocker low post presence. Al Horford (can score on the block) or Brandan Wright (raw offensive skills but good defender) would be good pickups. At 11 most likely Acie Law (good leadership) will be available.

Posted by: ToeKnee on May 23, 2007 10:34PM EST As much as I love entertaining all the possibilities with that #3 pick, and there are plenty, we've got to pick Conley. No more waiting around for the future(to some extent). NO MORE PROJECTS!!! thats why i think Yi would be a horrible idea. not that he won't be any good, it's just not a great impact off the bat, too much transition for a team still working on it's chemistry. With Conley we can really just hit the ground running this year. no worrying about speedy's knees(i dont care if he ever sees the floor again. put him in the big Hawk suit to work off his debt to the city) and AJ and Lue are great to have around, they really improve our team. But Conley can really make us go without a huge transition or growing phase. I think he'll fit in with Joe and Josh right off the bat. You have to take Conley at #3. No TRADES!!! please. we need 2 guys!! just use the picks!!!don't get crazy or greedy! At 11 you gotta go with a defensive presence in the paint. I LOVE Noah!! with all our 6-9 guys you really dont need a beast in there just to take up space. Noah, Josh, Solomon, Chills, Zaza, Shelden, thats a decent frontline. go get a veteran big guy who can actually do more than lorenzen. so my picks(hopefully Billy's) are Conley at 3 and Noah at 11. I like Brewer too, it's hard not to like a lot of these guys. but these two with the talent we already have puts us in the playoffs GO HAWKS!!!

Posted by: JK on May 23, 2007 11:01PM EST take PG Conley and C Hawes. end of story. we will make the playoffs. w/ conley, johnson, smith, williams, and hawes on the floor.

Posted by: Joshua on May 23, 2007 11:26PM EST Seriously half of you need to grow up and then some of you need to learn basketball management . I wish the team would get KG or Camby , But there is still an ownership fight and money is tied down . It's why the team didn't get AI last year . Realisticly they could draft Conley trade him to Portland for Jarrett Jack and a few bits , But I bet Noah and Wright are the two for the three pick , Belinelli Hawes Fernandez or Law for the 11th pick . F/A wise they are looking at a greek guy I can't pronounce and Turkish point Cenk Akyol to solidfy that position . But they have around 10 mil into Tyronn Lue and Speedy Claxton . This team can win it needs two things more depth and a solid passer . Mike Woddson has to pressure on defense and run more on offense .

Posted by: John on May 24, 2007 12:27AM EST Although Conley Jr. would be the odvious choice..think of the excitement created if the Hawks draft the 7' foot Yi....can someone say Yoa's impact on the city of Houston? Have anyone seen this guys skills? He is actually good. Very quick for his size, and can score. Maybe the Hawks could finally sell out some games and fans are not there to just see the other team.

Posted by: Obsa on May 24, 2007 12:31AM EST I hope we find a CENTER, noah and hartford are PF, trade the 11th or 3rd for D. howard. or mayb the 3rd and next year 2nd for Agent Zero, and the 11th for D howard. buy for real. we need to find a big guy, and i mean 7 or over that is not 230(yi). i wish by some crazy thing port doesnt get oden, and we get him. for the 11th, we need a scoring PG/ passing PG, like agent Zero, then people would have to double team both our new PG and joe johnson.

Posted by: john on May 24, 2007 12:32AM EST TELL ROY HE NEEDS GO GET HERE WE WILL TAKE HIM AT 3.

Posted by: anthony on May 24, 2007 12:35AM EST People are discounting how much of an impact Kevin Durant can make. Durant can take some of the scoring burden off of JJ and we won't need a special talent at point guard because of all of the talented forwards. How can we get Durant. The No. 3 pick and Marvin Williams for Durant and considerations (Marvin is from Washington state) and they could use numbers, not just one players. The Hawks mainly need someone else who will put pressure on defenses.

Posted by: Liang on May 24, 2007 12:42AM EST No way we take Conley. He's way to inexperienced, and his build is not goo enough. We really need to get a trade for #3 for a big man. If Camby, that's tons of shot blocking. I'm sure KG won't go, but I think that if we could get any big man that can rebound at least 7'1", we should pick up Brewer at #11. Horford would be a good pickup, but I really like Brewer at this time.

Posted by: John on May 24, 2007 12:42AM EST Anthony it would be dumb to get another SF, we have josh smith and josh childress, we need help on D, some1 at center, to block shots and score points in the paint. we need a PG to take the ball down. we do not need another PF or SF or SG, just a Center and PG.

Posted by: neil on May 24, 2007 12:50AM EST The consensus is to take Noah at number three to solidify the middle with a defensive oriented big who brings crazy energy like ronny turiaf does for the lakers. There is no way he will fall to 11 since Hibbert is out. Of course it would have been Hibbert but obviously he didn't want to play for the Hawks or something. Then the only other top center out there is hawes and he has no defense he would be another zaza we dont need that people!!!!!!!! Then at worst we take acie law at 11 or conley if he falls or even crittenton regardless either of the three will work

Posted by: ed on May 24, 2007 1:08AM EST we're going to take Horford or Wright at 3 and then Acie Law at 11. I've got no problems with the picks, but I hope that idiot Billy Knight does the right thing...

Posted by: Tom S on May 24, 2007 2:38AM EST Why is everyone so high on Noah? Take Conley at #3, and try and trade for a low post presence. Noah will be nothing more than Verejao at the next level. I like him, but I don't see anything more than a high energy bench player. He adds no value to the Hawks. If we cannot get any value through trades I would rather see the Hawks take a chance on a young true center prospect, like Hawes.

Posted by: steve on May 24, 2007 2:50AM EST 3- Brandon Wright- Hawks need a shot blocker, he will block shots. Unlimitied upside. This should be called the Oden, Durant, Wright draft. Instead of just the Oden and Durant draft. 11- Spencer Hawes- Can board, good scorer around the basket. Will most definitely be AVAILABLE at this pick. (Horford, Brewer, and Noah will all be gone) The shocker- trade Josh Smith for Mike Conley Jr. Hawks lineup: pg- conley sg- johnson sf- m. williams pf- b. wright c- s. hawes bench: lue/claxton, childress, shelden/soloman, zaza We would have a solid starter at each position to grow and a solid back up at each position. Smells like playoffs.

Posted by: cobe on May 24, 2007 2:57AM EST Lets package the dog walker Billy Knight and Mike Woodson for a bag of Spalding basketballs. We'll even throw in 15 of our 16 owners if anybody is interested

Posted by: cobe on May 24, 2007 2:59AM EST P.S. I can't wait to see what color suits speedy has in store for us next season.

Posted by: Charles on May 24, 2007 3:01AM EST I've been reading a lot on Yi JianLian and I think this guy's gonna be a beast in this league. He's already dominated Noah in a workout in LA, and would bring some additional low post scoring to the Hawks mediocre front court. Not to mention his marketing appeal overseas is unreal. We then use the 11 pick and get Acie Law. I think Law is a better fit than Conley simply because Joe Johnson handles the ball so much, and Law is a much better scorer from the outside. The way our team is structured, I don't think we really need a "true" point guard like everyone says. I'm also not convinced that Claxton is as bad as he played last season. Let's see what the guy can do when he's healthy! I hope BK doesn't bye into all the point guard craze and gets the best player available at three. Yi is IMO and will really help this team down the road.

Posted by: Charles on May 24, 2007 3:05AM EST And go on youtube if you dont know who this guy is. Video speaks for itself. And dont give me the argument that he's got no competition out there. Chinese Professionals are very comparable to US college players. Yi has Pau Gasol written all over him...

Posted by: basketball expert on May 24, 2007 5:39AM EST The master has just ruled, because the Atlanta Hawks have a full roster they should trade the Slava and Royal to make space for the new rookies. Then trade Slava and Royal along with the #11 pick to a stupid team so we can move up in the draft to assure that we can get a quality shot blockin' defensive playin' make you wanna cry type of player.

Posted by: chez on May 24, 2007 6:12AM EST we have to get Conley jr so we can have a stable Pg once we get him at point we should draft a big man like Roy Hibbert to man da center spot or trade the pick for A great veteran center that blocks shots

Posted by: Marcus on May 24, 2007 8:09AM EST Um, We need to take Acie Law at the 11th spot. He is more prepared to run an offense then Conley. He scores more, has less turnovers, and has a better management of the offense. PLUS EXPERIENCE. We want to win now. Smith and the Williams have gotten their chance to grow, we don't need to take the time with Conley. Take a big man with the three spot, or trade the three and Royal and Speedy for a good big man with experience.....for examply Howard or Camby

Posted by: medayoallday on May 24, 2007 8:32AM EST I hear everyone saying they should draft Conley at #3 thats crazy. I think he's very over rated. His jumper is broke and he's got a small frame. You have to figure he's had Oden to play along side his whole carrer. I was saying they should draft Horford but after seeing the high lights on Yi and hearing what he's been doing in workouts they should draft him. Dude is sick quick first step, exellent footwork, wet Jump shot, and is a dunker. The NBA is changing no more lumbering 7 footers who cant play, this guy has star potential. If Conley is avalible at #11 by all means draft him but if not Law can play. He single handly put Texas A&M on map. Crittenton to be honest has the best potental of the three point guards. He's 6'5 and is extremly athletic not to mention he's from ATL.

Posted by: chris on May 24, 2007 8:42AM EST do we have any money available to sign a free-agent point-guard? if so, sho is available?

Posted by: Jason on May 24, 2007 8:42AM EST Why would you take Conley at the #3? We could trade down to either the 5 or 6 and still get Conley, but we would have to know the Celts want Yi. We could trade the 3 to the Celtics for someone like Ryan Gomes or Rajon Rondo and the 5. Portland- Oden Sonics- Durant Celtics- Yi Grizzlies- Wright Hawks- Conley At #11, the Hawks could take a defensive minded PF/C like a Tiago Splitter, but I do not think that Noah is going to be much of anything in the NBA....at best he is a poor mans Tayshaun Prince on the block. Noah has no offensive game what so ever. Hawes does have a different type of game for a big man, but I am not sure he can bang just yet. On potential alone Hawes could fit into the #11 pick.

Posted by: medayoallday on May 24, 2007 9:12AM EST The hawks should also try to trade for another pick in the late first or early second round and try to get Sean Williams from BC suppose to be next Ben Wallace

Posted by: I.Favors on May 24, 2007 9:36AM EST I hear that Billy Knight might trade the picks to get a veteran point guard and veteran center and depending on him he might trade to get another backup point guard and backup center and make them into starters. I say he better keep the picks, I don't try Billy with anything involving picks and and signing free agents. Let Dominque do the drafting and free agent signings.

Posted by: Neil on May 24, 2007 10:28AM EST Has everybody heard..the blazers are trying to put together a trade to get conley together with oden. They said they would probably have to involve a third team. This could be the way to get garnett, camby, oneal, gasol, bibby, or billups!!!!!!!!!!!!! Then we could use the 11 pick to get either the pg or center whichever we didnt get in the trade.

Posted by: Obsa on May 24, 2007 10:30AM EST I am not usually a fan of trading up, but mayb we should trade up and get greg oden, he is the best D player maybe best player in the draft. he would help us so much in the paint, and he has size, so we do not have to worry about him. mayb trade down the 11th, to pick up a 2nd, then pacage the 3rd and the 2nd round for greg oden. other trade for FA or draft PG.

Posted by: medayoallday on May 24, 2007 10:33AM EST To knight's defense theres a problem with management and they got experinced players at close to bargain prices. Claxton and Lue played for a championship Zaza was also a bargain considering what guys like jerome james got payed. If they dont screw things up to bad in the draft and there are no serious injurys I dont see why they can't make the playoffs or contend for a spot. This is the East after all. Josh Smith will be an all star next year

Posted by: Obsa on May 24, 2007 10:35AM EST Neil that is crazy on thier part, mayb they can get yi and conley, but oden and conley. are they high. i wouldnt mind trading up and getting oden, but to get 2 top 5 picks, when you only have 1 1st round. they would have to get the 1st and 2nd, because with hibbert out, we would try and get conley.

Posted by: neil on May 24, 2007 10:37AM EST Has everybody heard the blazers are trying to trade to get conley together with oden. They said the trade would have to involve a third team. This could be the way to get garnett, camby, oneal, gasol, bibby or billups!!!!!! And then get either a pg or center with the 11 pick whichever we didnt get with the trade.

Posted by: neil on May 24, 2007 10:38AM EST sorry thought it didn't go through

Posted by: Neil on May 24, 2007 10:44AM EST obsa thats what im saying. since we would take conley they would have to make the trade with us if they wanted to get conley

Posted by: Lee on May 24, 2007 11:04AM EST Billy Knight will screw this up if given the chance. Just wait and see. Or we could fire him today and get this organization back on the right track today...

Posted by: phil on May 24, 2007 12:09PM EST Take Al Horford at #3 and Acie Law at #11. We need a big man and Acie Law is the best scoring point guard in the draft. We don't need point like Conley that can't get his own shots.

Posted by: Bob on May 24, 2007 1:06PM EST Im so glad we got the 1st pick! we should take oden. period.

Posted by: wuffe on May 24, 2007 1:39PM EST number 1. Please stop saying we need Tiago splitter he's barely a #1 draft Pick. number 2. THIS DRAFT IS THE ONE! LOOK FOR BILLY KNIGHT to do a trade with the top 3 pick for a young center .. ie. Lakers Andrew Bynum .. He has the tools.... I am not sure about sure about the Yi guy even though his ability is obvious .. they say he is more a Norwitski /Bargiani 7 footer .. soft. number 3. Do not get conley at number 3 spot too high ... get Acie Law at 11. With bynum at center and law at the point this team will be fast. u could even trade m williams for bynum c-Bynum PF-Sheldum Williams SF-Josh Smith SG-Joe Johnson PG-Acie Law Bench -Josh Childress

Posted by: Tony Mac on May 24, 2007 2:04PM EST Take Yi at #3 then Law at #11 end of problem. We draw and we are better all around, period! We got some slow tough big men, that cant score that well, we need somebody that can run, shoot and rebound like the Chinese guy, look what Yai did for Houston in attendance too. Yea, Conley might be gone, but like Law better anyway, that guy can be a star, and a backbone for our team if given the chance. Only other chance is give up the #3 and a player for Garnett, and still get Law at #11. Good Luck, tired of waiting for a good team, its about time now management!

Posted by: yoni on May 24, 2007 2:18PM EST you guys talk as if you know about how contracts work. you cant just talk about trades as if its easy, there are many restrictions and u cant just throw names out there. based on pure talent and what the hawks needs are, the hawks shoud draft al horford(who will develop into a 20/10 guy) and the best available player at #11 with HOPE as trade bait, along with one of their plethora of forwards, to trade up and get conley, if feasible

Posted by: wes on May 24, 2007 2:19PM EST I really like Javaris Crittenton point guard from georiga tech this guy is a 6'5 point guard with a lot of skills and hasnt even scratched the surface of his potential I think the Hawks shuold draft him with the 11th pick and maybe a big like brandon wright or trade down to get spencer hawes with the 3rd pick

Posted by: Rocco Malone on May 24, 2007 2:24PM EST The Al Horford crusade has begun. This guy put me in the mind set of Karl Malone. He is big, athletic, strong, fast, and ready to start in the NBA today. It is time to WIN now. The 11th pick can focus on a point guard; Law or Conley, who ever is there. I think Sam Cassell is a free agent this year. Let him start and tutor the rookie PG and offer him a job whenever he retires. Sam is a NBA Champion and that is what we need. A smart champion at PG to lead the way for the rookie and The Highlight Factory. >>>>>

Posted by: anonymous on May 24, 2007 2:56PM EST Blazers want to trade to get conley. Trade the #3 pick to them and speedy or a sf for jarrrett jack and magloire. How about that deal then we could still get law at 11 or another big

Posted by: Obsa on May 24, 2007 3:09PM EST Blazers better believe that we are going to want Oden, and unless they are willing to get rid of thier 1st, then they are not going to get conley. i think they are crazy to think they are going to get oden and conley. BILLY KNIGHT GET US GREG ODEN, he will help us so much in the paint, we do not need to worry about PG, royal ivey could do it, he just needs a chance.

Posted by: Will on May 24, 2007 3:23PM EST I don't think Portland would trade the #1 pick unless they got a lot, and I mean a lot, in return. We would have to give the #3, #11, next years 2nd round and a player like Marvin or Chilldress in order to get the best prospect in years in Oden. So we will most likely stay put and take B. Wright, big w/ huge upside, or horford at #3. I'd take Wright. At #11 you take Conley if he falls or Law or Crittenton in that order. PG- Conley/Law/or Critt. w/ Speedy and Lue for backup SG- J.Johnson/S.Stoudemire SF- J.Smith/J.Childress PF- M.Williams/S.Williams C-B.Wright/Z. Pachulia

Posted by: b mac on May 24, 2007 3:53PM EST Its simple... We definently need to take Connely Jr. or Yi with the #3 pick. We don't need to pick Brandan Wright or Al Horford, that would be a stupid move. We would just be wasting our pick because we already have four of them in the forms of Marvin, Shelden, Jsmoove, and Solomon(who showed a lot of upside towards the end of last season). With the number 11 pick it depends who we take at 3. If we draft Connelly Jr. at 3, then you have to pick a big man. I definently say Hawes or Taigo Splitter. Both of them show a lot of potential. If we pick Yi at 3, then the pick is Acie Law at 11. Connelly Jr. will not fall out of the top 10. If it were me making the pick, I would take Connely Jr. and Hawes.

Posted by: Knows on May 24, 2007 4:00PM EST Crittenton will be better than both law and conley. He did more with less than conley, he will have the ability to take over the games and he is very unselfish at the same time. Exactly wut we need at 11. AT 3 take brandan wright or Al Horford, those guys are locks to be 20-10 players consistently

Posted by: The Rev. on May 24, 2007 4:18PM EST Come on guys. We need a Point Gaurd with some spunk. Conley has that. He would open the floor up for JJ, Marvin, and Josh. And the pick at 11 would need to pick Hawes. Someone big to intimadate and the Hawks would dominate. It is a shot and a prayer.

Posted by: HERBINI on May 24, 2007 4:48PM EST HERE IS THE REAL DEAL: WE ARE NOT GETTING ODEN!!!!!! STOP IT!!! WE ARE NOT GETTING GARNETT!!! STOP IT!!!(I HOPE THAT I AM WRONG THOUGH) YI WILL TAKE A WHILE BUT I THINK THAT HE WILL BE VERY GOOD IN A YEAR OR TWO BUT WE STILL WILL NOT MAKE THE PLAYOFFS. I SAY THAT OJ MAYO IS COMMING OUT NEXT YEAR AND HE IS REAL GOOD!!! WITH THAT BEING SAID WE MAY NEED TO EVALUATE WHAT WE ARE REALLY GETTING AT 11 AND IF IT IS NOT WORTH IT THEN LET PHX GET THE PICK AND RETAIN OURS FOR NEXT YEAR.

Posted by: Stephen P. on May 24, 2007 5:21PM EST In response to Herbini how can you say we wont make the playoffs next year when injuries was clearly the reason why we didnt make it this past season. with everybody healthy this hawks is capable of making the playoffs. but to the draft at 3 it has to conley jr or YI if we take Yi then Acie Law has to 11 if we take conley jr then at 11 we have to take the best available big man and that is NOT noah!!!! THE HAWKS WILL BE IN THE PLAYOFFS NEXT SEASON!!!!

Posted by: d nice on May 24, 2007 5:39PM EST Yall all would get burned at the stake by your fans. if we take Conley jr. im goin to set myself on fire. CLEARLY....Acie Law is the best point guard in da draft. then u got Aaron Brooks and u wanna talk about an inexperienced conley jr. he needs to a team dats already a playoff contender to fit in to an offense. and if we draft another foward...im movin to texas to b wit the Spurs. ok we need a center so why wouldnt we get Hawes, Yi, Aaron Gray, or Marc Gasol he's 7'0 270!!!! we need size and skill down low. And for all my concern we can trade everybody on that roster as long as we keep JOE J., J-SMITH, AND M.WILLIAMS

Posted by: JonJ on May 24, 2007 5:46PM EST The best option for Atlanta is a trade, but with every trade proposed is a trade that must be accepted. So i propose a draft day trade to prevent missing out on something ridiculous like Oden or Durant falling to three( won't happen, but if it did would Knight ever here the end of it). On draft day Atlanta takes their 3rd and 11th pick, along with speedy claxton, josh childress, and salim, lorenz, zaza (really hoping it isnt zaza, looks most appealing with salim, but that would leave us at a guard deficit) They take these players and picks and trade them to Memphis for Pau Gasol and the 4th overall pick. Now with this 4th pick it was brought to my attention would be to high to pick conley so with this pick we could trade down. Pick up a guard from another team and then select from one of the only three point guards in the draft. In my opinion it should be Law because he is proven and he is a competitor. The trade would also leave Atlanta with extra money for maybe signing a free agent.

Posted by: JonJ on May 24, 2007 5:51PM EST NOT TALKING BAD ABOUT WOODSON but taking Jianlin is to much of a risk with his coaching style. I am not there in the games so I could be missing a whole lot, but Woodson seems to go through stretches where he plays players and when he doesnt. For instance i saw nothing from s. williams or stoudamire that should have taken them out of the regular season rotation. Instead Woodson gave more minutes to players that we did not keep the whole season(their names escape me at the moment) Drafting an international player takes the right type of environment and the right type of situation. I was reading an Espn article and they said this past year when Barganani fell out of the regular season rotation the GM told the coach and the media that he was to get no less than twenty minutes a game. and barganini was the closes thing to challenging for the ROY.

Posted by: Mac on May 24, 2007 8:11PM EST Dear Hawks, Please just take Mike Conley with the number 3 overall pick! If we take another 6'9" foward i think I might vomit. And guess what...the number 11 pick is a great spot to address a need almost as big as a point guard, that being a BIG man. Again, please no more 6'9" fowards! thanks

Posted by: Neil on May 24, 2007 8:21PM EST OK this is it.......we will get either conley or law and a big either hawes, yi, noah, splitter, or even better pull off a trade that will bring an established center. We have soooooo many players to work with that we could afford to do without. So that is it, those are the only options to argue about, end of story!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Neil on May 24, 2007 8:26PM EST oh yeah and like mac said if we draft another 6'9" guy (I dont care how tough horford is or how talented wright is) my days of being a Hawks fan will be over and so will 90% of the other remaining hawks fans. PLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLeeeeeeaaaaasssssse don't do it BK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: King of Marietta on May 24, 2007 8:38PM EST Does anybody think Min. will Trade Kevin Garnett for Our #11 pick? Just thorwing it out there.

Posted by: King of Marietta on May 24, 2007 8:44PM EST Yi would Problaly be this years Andrea Barganani. We don't know if he'll play the same level he did with the CBA. Some people will say He dominated USA, but look at Andrew Bogut. Also, Barganani had a heck of a game when Italy faced the Raptors, but look at at him in the NBA, just a nice solid player off the bench.

Posted by: HERBINI on May 24, 2007 8:49PM EST DEAR KING OF MARIETTA: ARE YOU KIDDING JUST THE 11th GO TAKE A NAP!NOW!!! THEY ARE GOING TO WANT MORE THAN THAT I MEAN WOULD YOU DO IT? DORK!!! AND I HAVE READ ABOUT CAMBY WAY TO MANY TIMES DONT DO THAT I MEAN HE IS ON HIS WAY OUT OF THIS LEAGUE AND I WOULD RATHER HAVE YOUNG TALENT THEN "ESTABLISHED" BIG MEN THAT WILL ONLY BE HERE FOR A SHORT PERIOD!!!!

Posted by: Matt on May 24, 2007 9:25PM EST Alright this is how it should go down on draft day. The hawks cannont make another mistake like they did two years ago when they didnt draft CP. Dont gwt me wrong i think that Marvin Williams is a nasty player and can only get bigger and better, but they need a point guard who isnt selfish and will dish the ball to Johnson and Smith. Take Conley at 3 and then take either Hawes, Williams, Noah (if he's there) or another other big man. If seen alot of these mock drafts and there is no need for them to take two big men. Zaza is a great center they just need a decent back up, then you have the williams boys at the power forward. They could even trade salim, claxton and the 11th pick to indiana for O'neal. But all in all they NEED to draft Conley at number three i dont care what they do at 11 aslong as they get the best pg in the draft.

Posted by: BigJK on May 24, 2007 10:11PM EST what do yall think about trading 3, 11, and 1st pick in 2009 for Oden??

Posted by: dru on May 24, 2007 10:22PM EST We have to take a defensive presense at #3 if we keep the pick then we can take a PG at #11. But think about it...the team is so young right now. Do we want to make it younger with another 19-21 year old? We need a veteran inside presense to toughen up this team. Maybe we should trade the 3 pick and get a PG with #11. Or...I kinda like the Andrew Bynum idea...I know he is real young too. He is a 7'0 monster and he's only 19. He can be a nice 20pt/12 rebound inside presense. We could trade our #11 pick for Bynum since he was drafted #10 by the Lakers then we could get a PG with #3. If we did this we can trade down to 5-6 and pick up another player and still try and draft a PG.

Posted by: larry page on May 24, 2007 10:36PM EST PLEASE ATLANTA HAWKS MANAGEMENT DO WHATEVER YOU HAVE TO DO VIA THE DRAFT, FREE AGENCY OR A TRADE TO GET A DOMINANT SCORING AND REBOUNDING CENTER. THE HAWKS WILL NOT GO THE NEXT LEVEL OF BEING A CONTENDER WITHOUT ONE, ONLY NBA VETERANS NEED TO APPLY.

Posted by: JK on May 24, 2007 10:49PM EST the Hawks need to get Conley and Joakim Noah. cuz noah can play the 4 or 5. We would b unstoppable. Shelden Williams will jus have to step up n b a beast inside.

Posted by: Nathan on May 24, 2007 11:11PM EST Noah is GARBAGE. If we draft this scrub I am going to open a vein. The absoulte best pick at #11 is Al Thornton from FSU. He can can play the 2 or the 3 and would be awesome coming off the bench behind Johnson. He is only the best player in the ACC and was good for almost 30 a night. Much like Chris Paul did and we passed on him. I know another swing-man is not what we need the most, but you HAVE to take the best possible player available at #11. And Thornton has the potential to one day be the 6th man of the year. Not bad for #11. Noah is too soft and cannot post his way out of a wet paper bag in the NBA.

Posted by: knightson on May 24, 2007 11:19PM EST okay evrybody the picks are simple im going to give you some inside on who me and knight talked about the other day. im his grandson okay we are going to take conley just because he is the best point guard in the draft also at 11 we will try to get noah if he is there because he is a energetic shot blocker with potential. we already have a shot blocker in josh smith and sheldon and marvin to help. so our starting 5 will be Conley johnson smith S.williams Noah now one thing about this is we do not have to have a regular starting five. the warriors don't have a center and they went to the second round. if he have a energetic team with a leader in joe and josh. so don't be so sold on a big center with a regular starting five . we said we will take a energetic 5 all day okay.

Posted by: anonymous on May 24, 2007 11:19PM EST I'm OK with a draft and trade Conley with Portland, if we get help BIG along with Jarrett Jack. Say, trade Conley, Sheldon, and either Claxton or Lue for Zack Randolph and Jack. Then use the #11 pick to get some help inside. Not saying Portland will do it... but if they would, it would be great for us.

Posted by: Nathan on May 24, 2007 11:21PM EST Billy has the chance to make the deal of year. We need a point and a center. There are only one of each in this years draft. Oden is franchise material and there is no way Portland is going to give him up. Conley is good but not a third pick. Knight has to find a way to package that 3rd pick with Salim and Speedy for established talent. I like Speedy when he is healthy but knee problems are like a poison pill in basketball. The opportunity is here. Billy, make us proud.

Posted by: Charles on May 24, 2007 11:31PM EST I don't know why everyone is so nuts about Conley. He's a very small PG with not a whole lot of experience. Compound that with the fact that he can't shoot, sounds like a younger version of speedy claxton. There is no way he'll be able to step in right away and make an impact. It took Deron Williams three years in Utah and he was MUCH more polished going into the draft than Conley. Plus, I want the ball going through the best player, JJ, at all times. With a point guard like Conley, he'll have to settle for jump shots instead of making things happen. I think at PG we need someone that can shot and score and play some defense. Let JJ handle the rock...

Posted by: Obsa on May 25, 2007 2:16AM EST Charles, that sounds like levi stukes, he can make jump shot, and he is sick at shooting 3s, we do not have to waste a draft pick, because i think he will go undrafted, but you are right we need a point guard, that is good at 3s and jumpshoots. we still need a center, that will help us in the paint. i want some1 tall, like 7ft.

Posted by: Thomas on May 25, 2007 4:07AM EST Let me just start by saying that we shouldn't even think about trading Josh Smith for anyone less than Dwight Howard. Smith is going to be the best player on the team (if he isn't already) in the next year or two. He is already one of the most dominant defenders on the wing. If you go back and look at the stats for each player he was matched up with you'll notice a trend of poor shooting percentages and low scoring totals. Not to mention that he finished second in the league in blocks per game.

Posted by: KD on May 25, 2007 6:01AM EST Hawk fans remember how Ohio State got to the championship game? Oden was on the bench in foul trouble and Conley carried the team on his back. He stole the ball on defense, organized the team in the half court set, scored on drives getting the other team in foul trouble ( looked like Big Shot Billups), and scored from the three. The guy is a player and doesn't have to be converted ar undergoe experimentation to learn how to be a floor general. Conley is worth the #3 if the Hawks really want to win soon and go to the playoffs. Keep Lui for backup and mentoring. He is a proven winner.

Posted by: Jarvis on May 25, 2007 7:16AM EST There is a combination that I think is very possible that many haven't thought of so far. If its true that Portland wants Conley, we could give them Conley (the #3) and the #11 for Jarret Jack and Lamarcus Aldrige. Think about it, with Oden coming in, giving up Aldridge is no problem, and with Conley and #11 they could make up for Jack. So we don't have to give up any of our key guys and bring in talent from last years draft that is easily is good or even better than the combination of prospects in this year's draft and who already has a little NBA experience. So the rotation would look something like this: PG - Jarret Jack SG - Joe Johnson (All-Star) SF - Josh Smith (All-Star to be) PF - Shelden Williams C - Lamarcus Aldrige (NBA All-Rookie First Team) Bench PG - T. Lue, Speedy Claxton SG - Josh Childress, Salim Stoudemire SF - Marvin Williams, Josh Childress PF - Marvin Williams, Josh Smith, Solomon Jones C - Zaza Pachulia, Solomon Jones, Lorenzen Wright I like Shelden over Marvin in the staring four spot, although some may differ. I think he is more of a physical presence for our frontline. Though we lose our draft picks, we would pick up past draft picks who were as highly positioned as this years crop of athletes. And we have met our needs and have become so very deep. Can we cut the rest of the players, i.e. Slava, Batista, and Royal. Anthony Johnson can stay, veteran leadership.

Posted by: TP on May 25, 2007 9:47AM EST I'm hoping and praying that Billy Knight will take Mike Conley with our first pick. This is why. He has what I call the ultimate swagger. He has the skills and the mind-set to control the tempo of a game. His biggest weapon is his ability to get into the lane to score points and create fouls. His decision making on the court is superb for a 19 year old kid. It's very rare for an athele to possess this type of swagger. Here are a list of former NBA players who possess the ultimate swagger. Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Isaih Thomas and Michael Jodan. All of them took their teams to the NCAA Final Four. Mike Conley help his team get to the Final Four as a freshman. When Greg Oden got in foul trouble, guess who carried the load..... you guest right, Mike Conley. You measure young talent by how deep they're able to carry their team through the NCAA Tournament against the toughest competition. This kid know to win. With the 11th pick, I like Spencer Hawes or Joakim Noah.

Posted by: Jason on May 25, 2007 10:57AM EST If anyone cares, Jay Bilas said on ESPN radio that if Conley, Deron Williams, and Chris Paul all came out in the same draft, that he would take Conley. Pretty bold statement. Anyone who says that Andrew Bynum is ready.....wow....I don't think he is. If I remember Kwame took most of his minutes late in the year, probably because Bynum was worn down. Bynum would not fit in the run and gun system either, that guy is not a mobile center. By the way I am a hardcore Tech fan and even I know that Crittenton is not ready, the dude was turnover city in college and he needs to fix that problem before making the leap. We keep shooting ourselves in the foot by not taking a point guard, so we need to just bite the bullet and take Conley at the 3. Knight will probably screw up and take McRoberts at 11.

Posted by: gregory on May 25, 2007 2:06PM EST i think we could possibly make a deal involving our #11 pick for shaq and/or d wade. maybe throw in r ivey to satisfy miami. shaq and wade would make us instant playoff contenders and we could get erek suhr- 5'8" pg from indiana with our #3 pick who no one seems to be talkin about. our lineup would look like this. PG-suhr/wade SG-jj (joe johnson)/ salim SF- josh smith PF-marvin/shelden C-shaq diesel/lorenzen wright i personally think with this lineup we'd be atleast as good as chicago but the cavs would probably still beat us cuz they have Zydrunas Ilgauskas and that dood with the long hair that the ladies love. oh and lebron. we should trade salim for lebron tho if the cavs would bite on that. i mite even be willing to trade our #3 pick for him but idk suhr's a heck of a proven PG. anyway GO HAWKS!!!

Posted by: HERBINI on May 25, 2007 2:46PM EST TP...TP...TP.... YOU MUST PLAY IN TRAFFIC FOR FUN!!! HOW DARE YOU COMPARE CONLEY TO MAGIC JOUNSON, LARRY BIRD, AND MICHEAL JORDAN. YOU SHOULD BE BLOCKED FROM EVEN READING ANYTHING ON THIS SITE. YOUR OPINION IS NOW WORTH NOTHING. YOU SHOULD NEVER OPEN YOUR MOUTH AGAIN. YOU ARE LIKE THE GUYS ON THE COMMERCIAL THAT WAS TALKING SPORTS OUT OF HIS ASS. HE MAY BE GOOD IN COLLEGE BUT HE WILL NOT BE A GREAT NBA PLAYER HE WILL BE JUST ANOTHER ALRIGHT GUY. GO HAVE YOURSELF SOME SLEEP

Posted by: King of Marietta on May 25, 2007 7:07PM EST YES, HERBINI I was taking a cheap shot, I said a stupid thing, a was watching the Braves game when I typed that.

Posted by: King of Marietta on May 25, 2007 7:11PM EST P.s the Hawks problaly would of take that trade! (No offense actullay I'm one of the biggest Hawks fans)

Posted by: jay pat on May 25, 2007 7:12PM EST some of you are ridiculous with these trade proposals. Even BK is not that foolish to do some of these trades. Conley is our pick and get use to it. Ya he only had one tournament but he was more important to their team in that tournament run than oden. I'm not saying draft conley over oden but the tournament proved Conley's value. He has floor vision and toughness. That's something alot of young PG's lack. You simply can't teach his skills, he'll eventually develop a better jumper. Now if portland is serious about a trade to get Conley then they'll be willing to give up alot. I hear they need a small forward, how about our #3 pick plus Childress for Lamarcus Aldridge? Take them to the woodshed and see if they succumb to the pressure of Conley and Oden't agent.

Posted by: King of Marietta on May 25, 2007 7:20PM EST And the third overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, The Atlanta Hawks select: http://www.youtube....

Posted by: TP on May 25, 2007 9:12PM EST To the Atlanta Hawks Organization, please don't go for the bate.The Trailblazers is trying to bate you.They know as well as I do that Mike Conley is the most valuable player in this year's draft. Mr. Knight, you are sitting on a goldmine. In 1984, everybody was talking about taking a big man. Houston took Akeem Olajuwon, Portland took Sam Bowie and Chicago took Michael Jordan. We all know the end of the story with those picks. Bowie never recover from his injury with no NBA title, Michael won 6 NBA titles and Akeem won only 2 NBA titles. Majority thought Houston was getting the better deal but it was Chicago who was sitting on a goldmine. Mike Conley accomplish something the other players in the draft couldn't accomplish except for those Gators and that is getting to the final four. He won 3 consecutive high school state titles....one his freshman year. The most significant attribute about this kid is his blood line. His father is Mike Conley Sr. He won the silver metal in 1984 and in the 1992 Olympic he won a gold metal. The hawks are overdue in bringing a title to the city of Atlanta. I'm almost 100% sure that Mike Conley will bring a championship to Atlanta. Greg Oden is a decent player but he hasn't learn who to stay out of foul trouble and I believe it will get even worse for him at the next level. If it wasn't for Conley Ohio St would not have made it to the final four. I just hope we take Conley with our first pick.

Posted by: jay pat on May 25, 2007 11:17PM EST I agree with you TP. Conley is a good pick and Atl might be better off having gotten the third pick rather than the top 2 and being forced to take oden or durant. But you are out of your mind comparing conley to Jordan. Jordan was projected to be great out of college much like Durant is now. The blazers just screwed up and chitown got lucky. Please for the sake of not embarassing other fellow hawks fans, never compare jordan or conley again.

Posted by: TP on May 25, 2007 11:18PM EST Correction, Conley won 3 consecutive state titles after his freshman year.

Posted by: TP on May 26, 2007 12:21AM EST It was never my intention to offend anyone about what I feel or what I believe to be. Bird, Magic, Isiah and Michael have their on style in the way they played the game as well as Mike Conley. They all possess the ability to take over a game when their team need them the most. They perform without a trace of fear in their blood. When the game is on the line, they want the ball in their hands. This is why we need Conley in Atlanta. The first time I saw MJ play his freshman year with the Tar Heels I knew he was going to be a great player but not on the scale of winning 6 NBA titles. Who ever land this kid will win a NBA title with him.

Posted by: hugh biggins on May 26, 2007 3:44AM EST seruiosly, when is lebron gonna do something. anyway.. i can easily see us getting kobe or carl crawford with our 3 and slash 0r 11 pick. if we didnt go playoff bound then, then i would be dallas bound. im done sitting around. let's do something with the hawks organization and quit drafting players, then trading them, just to see them become frachise players. cough stephen jackson cough. dangit guys come on hawks owners

Posted by: jason on May 26, 2007 3:55AM EST this guy above me clearly knoes nuothing aboot bacsetball, VIA the NBA nation bakscetbakl assocsoiatuion. i would personally lic all idjiots to be kiked off of thsi bloggg. clearly, we can't get kobe with the 3rd pic. u seeriusly thinc the clips would give4 him up??? i mean we need to aim lower aka stevenash. he is a point gard that knoes how ta play da fgame wit ellegance and grace like kareem abdul jahad used to play for the lacers. plus i thinc tyhe suns r tired of waeting on him to develop. he seriouslu needs to hit the waits so that he can bang wit da bigs down low. here in atlantsa we have places like the YMCA and la fitness where nash could go work out and become a stronger specimen/asset for a team like the hawks who r in dire need of a point gurad. usually also i dont support players who didnt attend college but i really think we should trade for a guy like eddie jones or baron davis specially davis the way he plaid in the playoffs against utah. we could package someone we dont need like childress and batista for davis and al harrington who has publicly stated he misses atlanta. anywho- go hawks.

Posted by: medayoallday on May 26, 2007 12:33PM EST Everyone keeps saying take a big at #11 stop it. There wont be a good one around at 11. Look Hawks already have sheldon he can bang and defend. I'm telling everyone YI is the truth. Stop saying hes dirk or bargani they never dunked the ball in there whole carrer. This guy is a matchup nightmare. He shoots like a guard and is actually quick of his first step and he's 7 foot. Take best availble point at #11. Everyone is hypeing conley up he will dissapoint trust me. Take Law and if you want to go with Best potential at point take ATL"S own Crittenton. YI will help attendence big time. Look Oden and Durant are all the way in the Pacific Northeast YI will ccovet mass media attention trust me take YI. Don't trade for a Vet who wont want to play there anyway.

Posted by: landon on May 26, 2007 2:54PM EST if he is not drafted in the first 2 pics we shud get ourselves me main man Yi the 7 foot wonder from the down under. actually he from china or something but anyway, he is like taller den yao and i like dat. id take him over oden or durant any day of da week. playas like dem is always hyped up too much like remember da draft wit lebron goin numba one? and wat has he done in his career? no championship rings no nothin. durant and oden will be the same way. no nothin. id like to trade for a veteran like adam morrison. dat guy has a love and a passion for da game. we need more nba playas like dat. like coach k on duke teaches playas to play dirty but dont get caught. never draft a dukie. they is always dirty. look at shawn bradley and the career he had. if he wasnt plagued by injuries hed prolly still be dominatin. i like me odds. i saw pirates of the carribean last night. kiera knightley looks gooooood. a little off topic im sorry. anyway, i like yi from china as our 3 pick and wit 11 get me main man roy hibbert from george washington or somethin.. peace out -landon

Posted by: TP on May 26, 2007 3:11PM EST Medayoallday, I respect your opinion but I disaggree with your picks. This is why. Mike Conley won 3 consecutive H S state titles, Law and Crittenton 0 state titles. Conley made it to the NCAA Championship in his first year in college and he had to carried his team on his back because Greg Oden couldn't stay out of foul trouble. Conley knows what it takes to win a championship and I believe he will carry that winning mentality with him throughout his NBA career. He inherent that winning spirit from his father Mike Conley Sr who won a silver and gold metal in the world olympic games. At a very young age Conley has accomplish more than Law and Crittenton combine. As fot YI, what has he accomplish in China? What ever he has accomplish in China, could he accomplish those thing against the level of competition in the USA? We really don't know the anwser to that question. The hawks biggest problem is winning the close games and taking care of the basketball down the stretch and I believe Mike Conley is the answer. I like Joakim Noah because he will also take that winning spirit with him into the NBA. He inherent his athleticism from his father Yannick Noah who won the Franch Open in 1983 and his grandfather was a France professional soccer player and his mother was Miss Sweden 1978.

Posted by: john on May 26, 2007 7:09PM EST is landon some kind of moron? i mean seriously read his post 2 up from mine. first of all Yi is not taller than yao and adam morrison is not that great. anyway, i say we draft joakim noah at 3 before we regret it and then conley at 11 cuz conley truly has the skills and the confidence to take us to the next level. he is a nightmare for defenders. the thing about joakim is, however, even tho he is a dandy i dont see him scoring more than 4 or 5 a game and 2 or 3 boards a game for his career. hes not as good as ppl say. he wont be a great nba player. the only good thing bout him is his 3 point shooting.

Posted by: erik on May 26, 2007 7:14PM EST trade our 11 pick for yao ming and draft the other china man with 3. we'd be the amazing asians.

Posted by: medayoallday on May 26, 2007 7:33PM EST first of Landon u have no clue what you are talking about. To my dude TP what yousay makes sence u obviously know about basketball. All i'm saying is in no way conley worth the #3 pick. Yo im not sure but didnt my boy YI win a title in China. And Law is money come crunch time. See I feel with the top picks you have to draft with the understanding that you are trying to get a superstar. I dont see Conley being a star. Maybe a TJ ford kind of guy. like i said if hes there at 11 go for it. Truth is the Hawks need better attendence does conley really offer that much exitement. And Noah I agree brings that fire that is needed from the hawks but at the next level is nothing more than a role player. Tell me what you think and one more thing YI is eating him up in the work outs.

Posted by: medayoallday on May 26, 2007 7:39PM EST john if noah is only going to average 5pts why draft him at 3. Since when you trade 11th pick and get yao NOOB!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: medayoallday on May 26, 2007 7:57PM EST YI ALL DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!! pg-Law 12pts 6ast sg- j Johnson 23pts 5asts sf- josh smith 19pts 9reb. pf- YI- 17pts 7rebs c- seldon 1.5pts 10rebs childress and marvin try for sixth man

Posted by: melvin on May 26, 2007 11:44PM EST I say Kevin Garnett and Bracey Wright for our 11th pick and Roayl Ivey/lorenzen wright. Ivey and Bracey Wright r pretty much just throw ins to make the other teams satisfied. this would make us a much stronger team. we might even make the playoffs.

Posted by: medayoallday on May 27, 2007 4:00AM EST yo stop talking about Garnett and all these stupid trades. It isnt GOING TO HAPPEN. WHOEVER IS WRITING STUFF LIKE THAT IS WASTE TIME OUT OF MY LIFE BY HAVING ME READ YOUR STUPID REMARKS GET SERIOUS. 100 ALL DAY

Posted by: melvin on May 27, 2007 2:04PM EST k maybe not garnett but there's plenty of other options. i say draft joakim noah at 3 and trade our 11 pick and maybe esteban batista or someone we dont need for jason kidd and vince carter from new jersey. this would make us a really strong ball club. our lineup would look as follows pg: jason kidd/claxton/ivey sg: j johnson sf: vince carter/josh smith/shelden pf: marvin williams/josh smith/shelden C: joakim noah/shelden this lineup would bring a great mix of youth and experience. lets seriously do this trade.

Posted by: jay pat on May 27, 2007 2:09PM EST TP i think you got it right. Conley is a winner, and he's won every where he's went. Who cares if he had oden with him the whole time. Plus Conley may not be a shooter but we already have a couple of shooters in marvin and JJ. We need slashers and penetrators cause no one on our team can do that. Not Josh Smith or Josh Childress. Much less Speed Claxton. THe only real player who can somewhat get into the lanes is Anthony Johnson and he's not a real NBA starter. SO if Billy Knight screws this up and drafts someone else its gonna be a real mess. Hey if portland wants conley enough than how about if we trade 3 and 11 plus Josh Childress for Lamarcus Aldridge and a Jarret Jack.

Posted by: Hawks #7 fan on May 28, 2007 4:59AM EST CONLEY IS NOT WORTH A #3 PICK #3 = power foward..wether it be horford or wright #11 = PG conley most likely wont be there....2nd option should be crittenton...3rd option should be law that is very simple... now those are the only 5 people you really need to work out...maybe throw in Yi the only trade worth the #3 would be aldridge...but that most likely isnt gonna happen...and if it does i would hope for more than just aldridge alone 3 and 11 and chilldress for aldridge and jack? you must be a celtics fan

Posted by: Jarvis on May 28, 2007 7:41AM EST TP I think that you are just very high on Conley. I know we have passed on Deron Williams and Chris Paul but that was then, this is now. Conley has had a great prep school career and a nice year at OSU. I think you started to push too hard when you mentioned that his father was a high profile athlete in another sport. Even great players in this sport don't produce equally as good offspring. Just because Bill Walton is an Hall of Famer doesn't mean that Luke Walton will be. The next MJ won't come from Wyneta. Dominique Wilken's nephew Damien isn't what you would call an All-Star. You have to admit that that was stretching it. But I like Conley too, but really this is good strategy for him because really there's no other guard to choose from. His high status simply comes because there is no one else to compare him to. He could be a Paul but then again he could be a TJ Ford or at worst Sebastian Telfair (on the court). Hawks #7 Fan: I like the 3 and 11 for Aldrige and Jack, without Childress though. That would be too much. Jack is a Chauncy Billups type guy and is better now than Law and Crittenton. Aldrige is the closest thing to an Amare Staudemire or Dwight Howard than anybody else in the league. KG is in his own world.

Posted by: TP on May 28, 2007 10:23AM EST Jarvis, I respect your opinion but please explain why Mike Conley is not worth the #1 pick? Out of all the athletes who left school early prior to an NBA draft, their potentials were judged by how they perform in HS. Mike Conley is a proven winner and he carried the load for Ohio St because Greg Oden stayed in foul trouble throughout the season. His yearly statistics are extremely better than any PG in this draft. Did you study Jarrett Jack and Lamarcus Aldridge 2006-07 statistics? Compare their stats to Tyronn Lue and Zaza Pachulia. Once you have done that, come back and explain why it make since to trade for them. Remember, our team was better than Portland on paper. Take your time and study this link. http://www.nba.com/playerfile/... I didn't base my decision on why we didn't take a PG the last 2 yrs. Conley proven record and his stats compared to other PGs in many years is what got me so excited.

Posted by: HAWKS FAN FROM DAY ONE on May 28, 2007 10:10PM EST LaMarcus Aldridge is DAMAGED GOODS!!! This is a guy that had shoulder surgery not even two years in the league AND he's got a BAD HEART!!!! I agree with my man, TP.....the Blazers are baiting and playing the Hawks. Billy Knight, if you muck this one up......we're not in the business of GIVING away weapons.

Posted by: HAWKS FAN FROM DAY ONE on May 28, 2007 11:12PM EST I have said it and will continue to say it.....LAMARCUS ALDRIDGE is DAMAGED GOODS. You will see this on every blog I feel like putting it on. This guy had surgery on his shoulder not even two full years in the league, not to mention his irregular heartbeat. Who in the hell wants to see Jarrett Jack back in Atlanta? Clearly not over Mike Conley, Jr. Portland is toying and baiting the Hawks into doing something DUMB. I hope that Knight doesn't give them what they want, because according to Stephen A. Smith (prior to game 4 of the Spurs/Jazz TONIGHT), the Trail Blazers ain't giving up NOBODY of importance to get that #3. Let me make this simple for everyone that is interested: keep the #3 and draft Conley, Jr. There's Atlanta's point guard. Now, what happens with the 11th? Well, up until today I was on the "trade up" bandwagon. I was on the "package deal to get a veteran" bandwagon. I was even on the "get KG" bandwagon......until I searched "Yi Jianlian" on YouTube. Now, before you guys start in on me, it took a minute to even give the guy a look. I saw on all of these blogs to go and take a look at him. I bet over half of you haven't even done so before you started hating. Well, I did. I say, package the #11 with some of the crap on our bench to clear up some cap room, move up a few slots in the draft to ensure that he will still be available and draft Yi Jianlian!! I just saw a TRUE 7 footer with ball-handling skills, low-post development, speed and mobility, and HOPS (which is necessary for blocks and changing opponents' shots!) Stop the comparisons to Yao Ming.....Yao WISHES he had Yi's game!! At 7'6", Yao's mobility is limited. He looks like someone left the door open at the giraffe exhibit at the local zoo when he's running up and down the court....LOL....not graceful at all!! In closing......Atlanta's draft day picks: Conley, Jr. at #3; Jianlian at #11 (IF we don't try to move up in the draft and free up more cap space, at the same time) If we do move up a couple of spots, STILL draft Jianlian!!!

Posted by: jay pat on May 29, 2007 12:40AM EST The only problem with this is that Yi will gone by the 4th pick likely. He will defnintely not be there at 11 and thats a guarantee. There is no one we have on our bench that we can package with the 11 to move up to the 4th pick. I agree with you on drafting conley at 3. He makes plays and is a winner. Aldridge I think would be a good pickup. I know his surgery might make him look bad but no one's perfect. At least he doesn't have off the field problems like most NBA players. I say Lamarcus straight up for the 3rd pick would definintely be worth it. Why not? they get the pg they want and we get a center who might be injury prone but with a great upside.

Posted by: medayoallday on May 29, 2007 10:05AM EST Hawks fan from day one. Finally someone with sense. And even if Aldride was health why trade a #3 pick in last years weak draft for this years strong draft. Yi wont be there past the Third pick. He's worth it on skill alone. Conley might slip, listen in any other draft with decent point guards he wouldnt go much lower. If he would have came out next year Mayo, rose, Harris would go ahead. Lets see how he plays when he dosent have oden to pass to. With Yi we address a need and get the best possible player. Besides Law is the floor leader and shooter we could use.

Posted by: medayoallday on May 29, 2007 10:19AM EST I think aldridge is good but come on he isnt all that. Hes more like a 4. True story i rather have Bynum from LA. Yo and I could see LA tradeing cause they have mad chinos there. I still say YI and Law or Conley if hes avalible.

Posted by: medayoallday on May 29, 2007 10:25AM EST Does anyone really think Conley is an All-Star in this league. Does anyone think he'll be a superstar I don't. But trust YI will he's got all the tools

Posted by: jp on May 29, 2007 10:29AM EST i think you're wrong on that one meday. Mayo is a head case, for god's sake he hit a high school ref in the head. What kind of garbage is that. IF he does get drafted high, he will be a pain in the buttox for some team for ever. He obviously has an attitude problem. Then who is the Harris guy you're referring too? I do agree with you on Rose though, he looks really really good. He'll be the #1 pick next year. Too bad we won't have our pick next year. May be we can trade the 11 back to phoenix to get our pick back next year. Just a thought. The real reason why Conley wouldn't drop far is because he's a talented point guard. They are just hard to find. We have a special player we can pick at 3 in Conley. Yi is never going to play center and he would get man handled by centers with his frame. Especially by the centers in our division. Why would you draft someone so high when you know they'll be a defensive liability. There are 3 special players in this draft and I think the third is Conley. Just watch.

Posted by: Jarvis on May 29, 2007 10:49AM EST TP, you are right the stats are similar. But the reason why I support Aldrige and Jack are that Aldrige was a rookie last year putting up those stats while playing only 22 minutes/game and this was Jacks first full season taking the lead position. I contend that Jack is very similar to Chauncy Billups, and with that in mind, Mike Woodson was the Assistant Coach under Larry Brown when Billups began to break out and become such a great leader. And I think its consensus that Billups is not a Steve Nash or Tony Parker type point guard but he is a very good floor general and leader. Thats all that we need at pg. Aldrige if he waited to come out in this year's draft would have been the third best player in this draft. But like the blog says there are endless possibilities. I have been researching Yi and I beginning to like him, but only if we think that Sheldon Williams can play the 5. Otherwise we will be drafting another 4 to add to our deck. And people are saying that the draft is deep. Its deep but deep with players that we don't necessarily need. Conley and Yi are the only players we should even think about taking at 3. But back to Aldrige and Jack. Their upside is greater than that of Zaza and Lue TP. Anyone that we will get in the draft has upside and will have to be developed, so why not develop talent that already has had the NBA experience.

Posted by: jwk on May 29, 2007 12:14PM EST THE HAWKS SHOULD LOOK TO TRADE BOTH PICKS THIS YEAR. A GOOD OPTION FOR THE HAWKS TO MAKE IS TO TRADE WITH THE LAKERS. WE SHOULD TADE THE 11TH AND SALIM TO THE LAKERS FOR ANDREW BYNUM(A YOUNG CENTER WITH GREAT UPSIDE, WAS COMPARED TO SHAQ IN HIGH SCHOOL). THIS WOULD BE GREAT FOR BOTH TEAMS BC WE ARE LOOKING FO A BIG MAN AND THE LAKERS ARE LOOKING FOR OFFENSE AND THEY GET THAT WITH SALIM AND POSSIBLY THE 11TH PICK. NOW WITH THE THIRD PICK WE SHOULD TRADE TO BOSTON. THEY ARE ALREADY UPSET ABOUT NOT GETTING ONE OF THE TOP 2 SO WE TRADE THE 3RD AND SPEEDY FOR THE 5TH AL JEFFERSON AND SEBASTIAN TELFAIR.

Posted by: medayoallday on May 29, 2007 9:33PM EST JP conley is exactly going to be just that a defensive liability. Look I dont want to bash Conley I just think he's hype. Which harris Paul harris from Syracuse. Next year oh and whats up with steele from bama.next year you also have gordon,freeman, bayless,calathes.

Posted by: tim on June 1, 2007 3:24PM EST Conley at 3 and Hawes at 11. Noah, Horford, Brewer, Wright will not fall that far to us. Hawes is a good low post scorer and at 7 foot he is not to bad of a athlete. We past on way to many point guards in the past, and Conley can run our team. What ever happened to that 7'8 asian that was coming to the NBA?

Posted by: zack on June 6, 2007 9:57PM EST this is a tough one for me but i'm do it backward and start wit the number 11th pick and say that is where we need a pg, but none of the pg values are high is number 3.... Conley is probably the best fix 4 us since he is the fastest and can run the break better... so if it was me i would send M. williams and the 11th pick to bucks for the 6th pick... unless you don't want to question M. williams potential then you stay with the 11th... The hawks don't need to draft the best player on the board they need to draft by postion... so at the 11th pick it would be in this order Mike Conley Jr, Javaris Crittenton, and then Acie Law.... On the 3th pick alot of people would doubt me but i would pick up Yi Jianlian because wit the right trainin and coachin he CAN be the best player in this draft he has dribblin skills, a quick 1st step, a soft touch, and can finish at the basket look at his video on youtube... BUT the only thing about a video it will ONLY show has highlights... which means you don't know anything about his defense, where he struggles at and how much endurance he has.... But REAlly i would stay away from Joakim Noah, Al Horford, Brandan Wright... b/c if you look up and down the Hawks roster... they are dam there the same players as M. Williams, Josh Smith, or Sheldon Williams.. and S. Williams came alive at the end of the season even though they were sub-par teams... thanks. sorry blog so long Luv ya Hawks

Posted by: AJ on June 12, 2007 1:01AM EST Hawks we go through this every year, lottery pic after lottery pic you know why? because we draft people like sheldon williams with the number 5 wirh brandon roy in our hands. What we shouuld do is draft Al horford with the #3 and trade the #11 and josh childress to whoever gets mike conely Jr.

Posted by: Jeff Gibson on June 14, 2007 3:55PM EST Take Yi Juanlin at #3 He looks Like an NBA AllStar; Next Take Jared Jordan at #11 His Stats Were better than anyone when it came around to Allround Stats including #1 in NCAA in Assists. ConleyII was #5 Crittendon #14, Although in allround Stats Rodney Stuckey also with Bo MccCaleb looked good in Comparison to Kevin Durant but not as much as Juanlin.

Posted by: Kev on June 16, 2007 1:55PM EST TRADE WITH TORONTO, THATS MY THOUGHT I was checking through the NBA news and noticed Toronto traded for another PG (which gives Toronto 4 PGs...) I remember Toronto was known for their 2 PG with equal shift time (Ford and Calderon). 4 PG = Trade Calderon seems to be very quick and reliable while being cheap. I say trade our 11th pick for this guy. No point in getting an unpolished PG with certain risk factor when there are teams that have expendable players.

Posted by: Darrell Simmons on June 21, 2007 2:28PM EST Billy, You have to take YI at 3. He is like kevin Mchale but runs the floor better. Moves to the hole quick with great hands. Will be an NBA star for Boston if you don't take him. I remember taking John Konkack over the Mailman years ago. This could be the same thing if we pass on YI. You will get the best shooting guard in Acie Law at 11 and be set. Conely could still be there at 11 also but law shoots better. Fill the house with fans take YI - Joe Johnson will love you for it cause he loves YI as well !!!!!!!!!

Posted by: nothing on June 21, 2007 8:42PM EST I am currently on vacation and even though I am in paradise right now I want to aid my fellow Atlanta Hawk fans on what should we do with our pick. I think we should pick Yi at #3 if not then trade for Zach Randolph!! Stupids!! Even though Portland is denying it, I think they will give up Randolph because they already have Oden. I think Portland is looking for a good small forward or shooting guard. With Yi our offense should be a good outside shot and quick inside drive combo. With Joe Johnson as the centerpiece of course. I just hope that our COACH will UTILIZE Yi unlike what the other coaches did with Darko. With Yi, we must have a fast paced offense. With Randolph, we will have a good INSIDE POST and potentially efficient OUTSIDE shooting. Defensive game is the key if Randolph is around. With Yi (provided that he is being utilize regularly), expect our team to be a powerhouse in the east 2-3 years from now. Not this season, this year we will still suck!! With Randolph, we will have a powerful team in the east, right now! I think Yi or do anything you can to get Randolph. Zach + Oden = DISASTER. There should only be 1 dominant big guy in a team, the other must only support. That's the unwritten rule: SPURS, LAKERS, CELTICS, ETC... Promise! Portland is thinking of trading him sooner maybe not now but sooner. I'll bet $1,000,000 on that........

Posted by: Ca$h G. Clay on June 28, 2007 8:21AM EST KG to Phoenix, #3 (hell toss #11 in there too if nessecary) to Minnesotta, Amare to tha A-Town Nuff Said

Posted by: College Coach here on June 28, 2007 6:15PM EST Billy, Take YI you have seen what this guy can do. He is so strong going to the basket and has a great work ethic. Imagine what he can do for the hawks. I think and many other coaches think that he is over-all most talented player in this draft. He will get you 20 pts and 12 boards a game at PF - C as a starter this year. NBA players that have been up against this stud are in awe of him. Take YI and the franchise is headed for winning seasons for years. His work ethic alone will make your team better and this guy is smart and smart players win games.

Posted by: HAWKS FAN FROM DAY ONE on December 24, 2007 4:05PM EST Anybody got a problem with our picks now? LOL.....GO HAWKS!!! (Glad we didn't get Conley after all!)