Thursday, June 21, 2007
Sports
History lesson
Hawks look to avoid past mistakes in ’07 draft
Javaris Crittenton (left)
Paul Abell/Getty Images2007 NBA DRAFT
Thursday, June 28
7:30 p.m.
ESPN
BY SCOTT SERGENT
In the world of professional sports, a mistake at draft time could leave a team at the bottom of the standings for years. Take the 1984 NBA draft: With the second pick, Portland chose Sam Bowie, which opened the door for the Chicago Bulls to draft a North Carolina junior named Jordan. Six world championships later, the Bulls’ place in NBA history was secure.
The Atlanta Hawks had their own draft disaster in 2005, when they passed on a guard from Wake Forest named Chris Paul, and took North Carolina’s Marvin Williams. Paul went on to be voted NBA Rookie of the Year, while Marvin Williams has missed playing time with a number of injuries.
It’s hard not to recall that old saying, “Those who do not remember history are condemned to repeat it.” The Hawks need to change the course of recent history, and a workout session held last week at Philips Arena gave the team a chance to evaluate the talents and history-shaping potential of some prospective draftees.
Acie Law of Texas A&M could certainly be an asset to the Hawks. And Law, an All-America player last year, relishes the chance to perhaps play for Atlanta. “People say this team needs a point guard,” he says. “I came in and showed them my talents and hopefully I will get the opportunity. I would love to play here and hopefully take this franchise in the right direction.”
Hawks head coach Mike Woodson says he was impressed with what he saw from Law during the workout. “Acie has a knack for scoring,” he says. “I think anytime you can do that, there is going to be a position for you in our league. The question is, can he score in the NBA? That is the key.”
Peter Bean, who writes for the online magazine Burnt Orange Nation, has seen
Law's game firsthand. “The guy is a winner, makes his teammates better, and is fearless when the game’s on the line,” Bean says. “His upside is a point guard who can score quite a bit, use his height to work mismatches, and play heady basketball at all times. We’re not talking about a franchise player, per se, but he’s a guy you’d love to have on your team.”
Another player the Hawks would most likely love to have on the team is Javaris Crittenton. The Atlanta-born Georgia Tech star, who attended Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy, knows there’s a difference between college play and the NBA. “I know this is a different league and I have a lot to learn, but I feel prepared,” he says. “I am a competitor. That's one word that describes me.”
And Crittenton certainly isn’t scared by the prospect of playing for his hometown team. “I don't think there would be any extra pressure,” he says. “I see it as a blessing and an opportunity to share the same stage as Dominique [Wilkins], Steve Smith and Mookie Blaylock. I would love to be here.”
“We have a young team, and if you are going to bring in a point guard, he is going to have to do point guard things, which is what we are looking for,” Woodson says of Crittenton. “I think he has a leadership quality, and overall I liked what I saw.”
NBA Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins is impressed with what he saw out of both players during the workout. “I think either of these guys would fit in well,” he says. “Looking at all the variables today, I think we can make a good decision on where we need to go.”
Certainly the Hawks can make a good decision. But will they? Or are they doomed to repeat the past? Ultimately, only history will tell.