[外電] Hawks 5th as Raptors get top pick
Hawks 5th as Raptors get top pick
By SEKOU SMITH
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 05/24/06
Secaucus, N.J. — Hawks part-owner Ed Peskowitz isn't interested
in a return trip to the NBA draft lottery next year. He made that
abundantly clear Tuesday night after the Hawks came up short in
their bid for the No. 1 overall pick in the June 28 draft.
Toronto was the surprise winner, followed by Chicago, Charlotte
and Portland. The Hawks will pick fifth.
Part of Peskowitz's reasoning is that if the Hawks are absent
that means the franchise's rebuilding plan will have crossed a
significant threshold — a playoff berth for the first time in
seven years.
His real reason for not wanting to make a return trip as the
team's representative, however, has more to do with his
competitiveness.
"This is my last time," Peskowitz said of his first experience
as the team's representative. "[Darn] right. It's disappointing
when you don't get the No. 1 pick. Everybody who comes here wants
to win. But [Hawks GM Billy Knight] really believes that this
draft is deeper than people are giving it credit for being. So
we're going to have a chance to get a really good player with
the fifth pick."
If recent history is any indication, the Hawks could get a true
impact player. Five times in the past six drafts the No. 5 pick
has turned out to be a major contributor as a rookie.
Charlotte selected first-team All-Rookie pick Raymond Felton with
the fifth pick last year. Felton's predecessors at No. 5 include
Devin Harris (Dallas) in 2004, two-time All-Star Dwyane Wade
(Miami) in 2003, Jason Richardson (Golden State) in 2001 and
Rookie of the Year Mike Miller (Orlando) in 2000.
"All you have to do is study the draft in recent years and
consider that the top five is usually well defined, regardless
of what type of draft people expect it to be in any given year,"
Hawks coach Mike Woodson said by phone Tuesday night.
Knight could not be reached for comment.
While June's draft is considered to be devoid of a true
"franchise" type talent at the top, it is by most estimates an
extremely deep draft — bolstered by a thick crop of
college-experienced players and no high schoolers, who were
barred from the draft pool by virtue of last summer's age-limit
rule prohibiting them from entering the draft directly or before
their 19th birthday.
"Most of our workouts are scheduled for after the [June 6-10]
predraft camp," Woodson said. "So we'll get a better look at
some guys between now and then. But our scouting staff has
worked hard to make sure we're well prepared. "
The Hawks drafted Marvin Williams with the No. 2 pick in last
June's draft. Most evaluators considered him the best long-term
talent in a draft.
After a slow start, Williams, 19, finished strong and was a
second-team All-Rookie pick.
Whom the Hawks will take this season is anyone's guess, given
Knight's penchant for keeping his plans under wraps until draft
night. Villanova combo guard Randy Foye, Connecticut point
guard Marcus Williams and forward Rudy Gay, and Washington guard
Brandon Roy are the players most commonly mentioned by mock drafts
as possibilities at No. 5.
資料來源
http://www.ajc.com/hawks/content/sports/hawks/stories/0524hawks.html
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