Hawksman

yup

Diaand Hansen are going to have to perform well.

Director of Basketball Operations Billy Knight: "We're very pleased and excited to have these guys here. They're the type of players that we're looking to add to our team. First of all, we feel they are quality men. We feel they're guys that are going to be a bonus to have - not only on the team but in the city and in the community. We think all of those things are important. But obviously the game is important itself." "We feel they're good basketball players. We think they're versatile players. They'll be multi-position players. We think they'll add some youth and energy to our ballclub. We're not expecting them to be miracle workers. We're not putting the weight of the team on their shoulders. But we expect them to contribute and add to our team in some way. How it will happen - we'll let that manifest itself as we go. They'll be welcomed additions to the team, and we think you'll enjoy watching them play." Stotts Head Coach Terry Stotts: "I think we're very fortunate that we've got two guys that are mature rookies. This man here (Travis) spent two years in Santiago, Chile (on a Mission). So he's very mature. Boris has had a lot of experience in the European leagues. He's played on a championship team at a very high level. I think we're fortunate to have not only talented players, but very mature young men, who I think will be welcomed additions to the team. As far as Boris goes, he gives us someone I can practice my French with. That's an added bonus. This is their day, let's let them talk." Boris Diaw: "I'm very happy to come here. I know a little bit about the team. I was very happy when Atlanta drafted me. I think I'm going to enjoy the city." Diaw Travis Hansen: "I'm very happy to be here. I was very excited to get drafted by Atlanta. Coach Stotts called me right after and I was very excited to talk to him. (Stotts: "No, you were disappointed to drop that far.") I was a little disappointed, but as you can tell I'm excited now. I met a lot of guys today, and they're quality guys and really good basketball players. I think the Hawks have a great organization, and I'm looking forward to being part of it." Boris, what were your initial thoughts on the city of Atlanta since getting in on Sunday? "I've just seen a little part of the city, and it's a big town. My old teammate (in France), Rod Sellers, has told me that it's a very nice town. I like big cities." Travis, what were your thoughts on the day of the draft, and talk about your playing style? Hansen "I was excited, but on draft day your dream can come true or it can't, in one day or a couple of hours. Leading up to the draft you're really nervous. Then it finally gets here, and you're excited and just want to get it over with. You want to know where you're going to play. We had so many things going on with my agent, ideas of where you're going to go. I just kept dropping, and then when Atlanta was picking, I was like 'come on, come on.' I worked out here twice (before the draft). As far as what I'll bring to Atlanta, I think I'm a high energy player. I love to play. I can hit the three, drive a little. I think I can do a little bit of everything. And I spent a couple of years in Chile (not playing), so I'm really (playing age of) 23 or 22. So I think I can get a lot better at a lot of things. I look forward to working hard." Where do you see yourself fitting in, assuming the return of Jason Terry? Diaw: "I think on this team, Jason Terry is like a point guard, but he can score too. What I did in Europe, which I think helped the team, was to get the ball to shooters like Jason Terry, to get the ball inside to players like Shareef and Theo. I don't think I'll be asked to score 30 points. But I will try to make my team play better." Hansen: "I think I'll be able to contribute. They have great players. Jason Terry plays like a one and a two, of course he's a scorer first. He's a big time player. He's done well in the NBA. It will be a great opportunity to play with guys like him, Shareef, Glenn, Theo. And I think they want us to be more versatile, to push it up so you don't have to give it to Jason every time to come down and start the offense, so he can run off a pick, and me and Boris can bring it up also. My ballhandling is something I'll work on during summer league." Boris, how did you get started playing basketball? "My mother, who was a basketball player got me into it. I started playing when I was two years old. I would run up and down the court. She was good obviously. She (her team) beat the USA several years ago, with the French national team. That's why I started and why I love basketball." Travis, who would you compare yourself to? "I think there's a lot of players I try to play like. I don't know if there's one particular player I play exactly like. Definitely Jon Barry. He can shoot any shot, he's very high-energy. Doug Christie, because I like to play defense and get into people. Danny Ainge, he was a little feisty. I don't think I'll bite anybody. But he was a feisty player, very competitive." What is your strongest attribute? Travis: I try to be versatile. I think in the NBA that could get me some more playing time from the coach, if you can play different positions. I can shoot the open shot, I can drive and finish and I love to play defense." Boris: For me, I think what I do is a little bit of everything. I try to play defense, make good passes, make some plays, to score sometimes." Billy, what made you decide to draft Boris? "He's played in the European league with grown men, competing against them every day. And he's competed in that league for a number of years. He has a poise about him, and composure. His (French) team won the championship. He has poise in pressure situations. He can handle the ball, make plays, score. He can guard the top offensive player on opposing teams. I liked everything about him, rather than one thing. He's a good athlete, he can play multiple positions. And I think he's young enough to still have a big upside. I think there is a lot of room for growth (in both players), even though they are mature players. They both compete all the time."

He turned down the deal last year. He will stay. He wants to stay. His agent wants him to stay. Knight and Kastan want him to stay. He will be back. No if, ands, or buts about it.

We cannot just let Newble, DJ, and Glover go. I wish there was a way where we could keep all of them but that is not going to happen. I will be pleased with signing one of them, two at the most.

WHOA! What's going on here. Why isn't he with us? He should be on our summer league team. This is confusing me. I thought we were going to resign him. What will we have then? We need him. Glover and Newble are not gone yet, there is still a possibility one of them would resign, but if we let DJ go along with them, then that is not a smart move at all. I do not get this. Although there are rumors that we might get James Posey, this just makes my stomach drop.

Well, atleast we will see some of Diaw I guess. I saw this coming. He got very lucky to only get 3 games. Best of luck to him.

Guys, it is simple that he is staying in Atlanta. We all should know that by now.

I wish Dion could stay. He was huge last year. We might regret this. Oh, well I guess it's for the best. GO HAWKS!

Terry is not going anywhere. End of story!

Thanks! Hansen and Diaw will turn out great. I know it.

hotlantadude81, you need to be optimistic sometimes. All the time you are negative and it's annoying. Although I know I cannot stop you from doing it, will you try to be positive? Chicago still has a ways to go.

Congrats to Billy Knight! He drafted two great players. Many people thought Hansen would go in the first round! I think Knight is a very good GM. Lets just hope this works out well for us.

I think that Diaw will be a perfect fit for this team. He is long and athletic and is a great defender. As you know he is a big point forward who thinks to pass first. I think he will help right away and in the future, he will be a fan favorite. Travis Hanson is another player that we needed. A sharp shooter. He is 25 years old and that means he is very smart and knows a lot about the game. Overall, how do you think we did this year in the draft? I think we did very well.

My picks..... Boris Diaw I don't know

Please tell me how that was my best post in a while? What are you trying to say. Just wondering.

We were suppose to workout Boris Diaw today but he had a championship in Europe today. We did bring in one player to workout today and that was D. Jones from Duke. I was at the Hawks Basketball Camp today and I saw him come out of the practice gym. Anyway maybe I will meet some of you guys down at ESPN ZONE tonight.

I like your thinking! If Ebi is there at #37, we better get him or Kerdrick Perkins. We need to try a high schooler. I agree with you on the Diaw vote!

I think we should bring him into the summer league and see what he can do.

With the NBA draft fast approaching (just two days away), the Hawks on Tuesday welcomed prospects Malick Badiane, Rick Rickert, Kirk Penney and Richard Jeter in for a workout at the Philips Arena practice facility. The Hawks will pick at No. 21 and No. 37 in NBA Draft 2003, coming on Thursday, June 26. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Badiane Malick Badiane, 6-10, 230, Forward/Center, Langen (Germany) How did everything go out there? “It was a good workout, physical. I liked it. This is my eighth one.” How would you describe your game? “My job is to play defense, rebound and block shots.” Can you compare your game to a current NBA player? “Ben Wallace.” Any idea about where you will be drafted? “You never really know, but I think in the first round.” -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jeter Richard Jeter, 6-6, 210, Guard/Forward, Atlanta Metro College How did the workout go overall? “It was very good and extremely competitive. Since it's sort of the end of the tryout period, it was a dogfight. But I wasn't about to let anybody push me over. I had to really compete hard. I think I did very well. This was my 11th workout.” How would you describe your game for those that don't know much about it? “Usually, players that are very athletic can't really shoot. I shot 47 percent on three's this year. I feel I'm as pure as any shooter in the country. I think I've proved that in every workout.” Is there a NBA player you try to pattern yourself after? “I've been told I remind people of Tracy McGrady.” Any feeling on what may happen on Thursday? "I plan to be a first rounder." Has playing for the Hawks crossed your mind? “It would be a dream come true. I went to school here and have friends here. Since my dad was in the military, I never had a chance to stay one place and make friends. I've been here two years, and it would be nice to stay here and be able to perform at the highest level in front of my college coach and my teammates from last year. It would make me real proud to be able to perform in front of them and my family.” -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Penney Kirk Penney, 6-5, 220, Guard, Wisconsin How do you think everything went out there today? “It was good. A good bunch of guys came in and they worked us out well today." How has your workout schedule been? “I've worked out for several teams, but not as many as these guys. Some of these guys have worked out for 15 or 16 teams. This is my last one. I'm happy to be done with this process, and hopefully good things will come." How did it go personally? “Not too shabby. I did what I could and I hope they liked it." Describe your game for our fans. “(Jokingly): I'm unbelievably athletic. I throw it down every opportunity I have, jump from the free throw line, that kind of game. And I might hit a couple of jumpers along the way." Is there player who you pattern your game after? “There are a lot of players I look at and follow, and try to learn from. But there's not one player specifically. I like to watch Steve Nash and Dirk Nowitzki and Wally Szczerbiak." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rickert Rick Rickert, 6-11, 215, Forward, Minnesota How did today's workout go? "I thought it went great today. The workout, and the competition was really good. It was a lot of fun. I think this was my 14th workout." It was a physical workout. Is that how you like to play? "That's definitely how I like to play. I was brought up that way in the Big Ten. So it's kind of second nature." Do you have any expectations as to what may happen on Thursday? "You always like to think the best and hope for the best of everything. But right now I have no idea. It's my goal and my dream to play in the NBA, so that's all that really matters to me." What are your strengths as a player, and one thing you've shown in workouts that teams might now have known about you? "I think they look at me and they see a skinny kid. They would think I'd be soft. But I think I prove them wrong with my competitiveness." Are there any NBA players you watch closely, or pattern your game after? "I grew up in Minnesota, so I've watched Kevin Garnett all the time. He's just a great player. He can shoot it, he can take it to the basket. He's just a great, fundamental, athletic player."

Man you know how much I hope Ira comes back. With him and Diaw.....dannng! Now that would be a playoff team. Ira should be our small forward. As much as I want Ira back, I doubt he will be back because Kastan has not been talking about bringing him back at all. He has just talked about JT and Glover.

I talked to Hawks' advanced scout Harold Ellis today and he said that we are very interested in Boris. He will workout with us today or the day after. I hope Ira is back either way, but I doubt he will be back.

Well, Ira probably wont be here next year, so I think he will be a good upgrade.

The Hawks Draft Party at ESPN ZONE!

Hey guys, this is a player. This what we need. I'll keep saying it over and over again.