Hawksman

You guys are missing the point. Literally. Boris Diaw-Riffiod will make a perfect player for this team. It's just what we need. A big point guard who can play defense and always looks to pass first. He is perfect. This is the guy we NEED to get.

David McDavid expressed confidence Friday that his deal to buy the Hawks, Thrashers and Philips Arena operating rights from AOL Time Warner will be completed soon. "We think the deal is practically done," McDavid said from his Fort Worth home. "We are at what I would call the 'ticking and tying' stage now . . . working out the details." As for predicting when the deal will be finished, McDavid said: "Tell you the truth, we are at such a close stage, I'm a very poor guesser. It could be as early as the first of July, or it could be mid-July, but I think it's going to happen very quickly." Since McDavid signed a letter of intent on April 30 to buy the teams and the Philips rights from AOL for $350 million to $400 million, lawyers -- his in Pittsburgh and AOL's in New York -- have been negotiating a definitive final agreement. During these 7 1/2 weeks, according to people familiar with the process, numerous issues have had to be worked through, typically with multi-million dollar ramifications. Much time also has been devoted to due diligence work on McDavid's behalf. "It just grinds you down," McDavid said of the process. The Texas auto dealer had hoped to complete the deal by June 14, when, under terms of the letter of intent, his exclusive negotiating period with AOL expired. However, he and the company verbally agreed to continue exclusive negotiations. McDavid said he has been "covered up" with correspondence from people who want to work for the Hawks and Thrashers, "but we're in a posture where we can't do anything, can't talk to anybody" until the deal is completed and approved by the NBA and NHL.

The ex-fiancee of Hawks forward Glenn Robinson is suing him. A Cook County jury found Robinson guilty in May of domestic battery and assault for a fight he had with Jonta French in her Chicago Heights home. The lawsuit, filed Thursday in Cook County Circuit Court, says the attack caused her emotional distress. Former Hawks head coach Lon Kruger has been officialy hired by the New York Knicks to be an assistant coach for the Knicks' upcoming season. Kruger spent 3 seasons with the Atlanta Hawks.

USF Names Steve Henson Assistant Coach TAMPA (May 29, 2003) — Steve Henson, a six-season NBA veteran who spent the just-completed season on the Atlanta Hawks coaching staff, was named acting assistant basketball coach at the University of South Florida today by head men’s coach Robert McCullum. He will begin his duties Monday. "We are extremely elated to have Steve join our staff," said McCullum. "I know the type of player Steve was and I know how he approached the game as a player and as a coach in terms of hard work, sacrifice and, above all, preparation. Henson, 35, was on Lon Kruger’s — and then Terry Stotts’s — Atlanta staff in this season after a year as a Hawks advance scout. He was an assistant at the University of Illinois in 1999-00. "I am certainly very excited about this opportunity," said Henson. "There are a lot of positives about the situation at South Florida. My relationship with Coach McCullum, we’ve known each other 14 years, had a lot to do with me making this decision. I have great deal of respect for him. I played for him a season at K-State and then worked with him at Illinois." McCullum was a member of the Kansas State coaching staff for Henson’s final season in 1989-90 and the two worked together on the coaching staff at the University of Illinois in 1999-00. It was in Gainseville where the two became best-acquainted, however. "His first few years in the NBA he wanted to find a place where he could train and work out so he made Gainesville his off-season home and that was the period of time where I really was able to get to know Steve," said McCullum who was an assistant at Florida from the early-to-mid-1990s. "I also worked on the at Illinois with Steve in 1999-00. Since we worked together at Illinois, Steve has been a part of the Atlanta Hawks organization and really picked up some valuable experience at that level." A four-year starter at Kansas State University from 1987 though 1990, Henson was a two-time honorable mention All-American and earned All-Big Eight Conference honors as a junior and a senior. The point guard is the only player in K-State history to play in four NCAA Tournaments and led the Wildcats to the 1988 Elite Eight. He also led K-State in scoring in 1989 with 18.5 points-per-game, a year after leading the nation in free throw shooting percentage, connecting on 92 percent (92-of-100) of his attempts. Henson holds K-State career records for assists (582), three-point field goals made (240 in 537 attempts), games played (127), starts (118) and minutes played (1,243). He is No. 2 on the school’s career three-point field goal perecntage list (44.7 perecent), No. 5 on the career scoring list (1,655 points) and No. 5 on the career field goals made list (527). He was named to K-State’s All-Century Team selected in February. Henson was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in the second round of the 1990 draft and was the 44th overall selection. He spent six seasons in the NBA with Milwaukee, Atlanta, Charlotte, Portland and Detroit. He also played three seasons in the Italian and Greek leagues. "He is extremely knowledgeable about the game of basketball and he is an outstanding teacher," said McCullum. "Our entire team, especially our guards, will benefit greatly from Steve’s knowledge and experience from his days as a player in college and in the NBA. He was a terrific shooter. He was tough, he exhibited a great deal of leadership as a player and had the ability to make boig shots under pressure. He has an outstanding offensive mind." On-the-floor coaching will be the area that McCullum feels like Henson will have the greatest impact at USF. "One of the areas that our staff will pride itself on, an area we feel will really push our program forward, is in the area of player development," said McCullum. "Once you get players on board, you have to have players reach their fullest potential and I think that may be the epitome of how a coach is graded. Then we want to put those players on the court and in a position in which they can be successful. That’s where we as a staff want to leave our stamp and Steve is going to be a big part of our staff being successful in those areas." McCullum was named head coach at USF on April 18 after three seasons at Western Michigan University. Henson joins a staff that also includes assistant coach Tommy Deffebaugh and acting director of basketball operations Scott Thompson.

Group of Six Work Out on Tuesday The evaluation process continued as six draft prospects visited Philips Arena to work out for the Hawks scouting staff on June 17. A solid group including the likes of first-team All-America Josh Howard, Dahntay Jones, Marquis Daniels, Aleksander Pavlovic, Carl English and David Brkic, the six forwards and swingmen were put through a variety of skill and endurance drills. The Hawks will pick at No. 21 and No. 37 in NBA Draft 2003, coming on Thursday, June 26. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brkic David Brkic, 6-10, 200, Forward, Italy How was the workout today? "Today it was good. It’s my third day in America, I’ve never been before. I like how everything works here in the states. It was a good day." What has your workout schedule been like and do you have any more coming up? "I’ve worked out one day with the Heat and now with the Hawks, it’s been a good experience for me. I’m leaving today for Toronto and then going to Indiana. I may workout in Memphis but I don’t know yet. Then I go back to Italy on Sunday." Is there an NBA player who you pattern your game after? "I like Dirk Nowitzki. I want to be just like him in the future – a tall three-man, small forward who can shoot, run the floor. Nowitzki is like an idol for me, I really look up to him." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Daniels Marquis Daniels, 6-6, 200, Guard, Auburn How did today's workout go? "The workout went great. Everyone came out and competed hard. It felt good competing against different guys from different conferences and just measuring up your talent." How many workouts have you had? "This was my eighth right here." What are your strengths, and what are you trying to show teams that you work out for? "I shoot the ball better than a lot of people thought I could. My experience is more with penetrating and getting and creating open shots for other players as well as myself." What could you bring to an NBA roster? "I can do a lot of different things. Even at my height, I can play point guard. I can also play off-guard and small forward. I can bring a lot of versatility to a team. A lot of teams need different things so it's hard to say." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- English Carl English, 6-5, 205, Guard, Hawaii How did today's workout go? "It went pretty well. I didn't shoot the ball as well as I had in the last few workouts I've had. Overall, I felt good. I thought it was interesting. This is my third workout. I have Orlando tomorrow, Toronto on Thursday, L.A. on Saturday." Can you compare today's workout to your others? "They're all pretty similar. You do some shooting drills, play some one on one., two on two, some basic defensive drills. It's just a matter of if you're fresh or if the travel is catching up on you. How you slept. That all impacts how you play the next day." What are your strengths, and one characteristic that teams are finding out about at your workouts? "Most of them know I can shoot. But I'm showing I can handle the ball well through picks, and I can find people as well. I'm going to give you 110 percent. I play hard, extremely hard every time. I'm very competitive. I just have to show them those aspects and hopefully they like me." Have you thought or dreamed about being the first NBA player from Newfoundland? "It's crossed my mind. I'm just hear trying to focus on what I need to do, and hopefully that will work out in the end." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jones Dahntay Jones, 6-6, 210, Guard/Forward, Duke How did the workout go today? "It went well today, the guys were out there really competing. It was good to go against some stiff competition and I had a good time." How do you think your individual workout went? "I think I did alright, I showed them what I could do." Anything unexpected out there? "It was pretty standard. It was a good workout, a good time." Have you worked out with any other teams so far and do you have more set up in the future? "Yeah, I’ve done eight or nine workouts already. I still have six to go, heading to New Jersey next. I’ve been a busy man. Is there anyone in the NBA who you pattern your game after? "I would say Doug Christie. He’s athletic, he scores, defends and plays with a lot of energy."

I will will have to have some kind of shootout with whoever has #21.

Think about it first. Are these rumors about the Lakers and Heat getting JT catching your eye or do you think JT is staying?

I loved the one where Big Dog hit a jumper and got fouled with 3.6 seconds left vs the Knicks. I loved the game when JT shot over Parker for the winning shot. I loved the game when Reef scored over Jordan to beat the Wizards. My favorite game though was the one when we beat the Kings. I was yelling at Kings fans afterwards. "Go home. Welcome to Atlanta, nice to have you here. Hope you had a good time because your Kings got squashed by the Atlanta Hawks baby!" I do not like the Blazers game because we lost. Man I though Glover would bring us all the way back and we would win. Benjamin was a big part to that game. I do not like the Pistons game because I though we had a easy win there, but we have the tendency to give up huge leads. Up by 16 and they won. Bummer.

I too think Boris would be a perfect fit. A big point guard. Great defender. Big energy player. He would be our best choice. He is very young too and 2 or 3 years, I think he will be a very, very good player. I got Boris Diaw feva!

Count me in! (Hope I get the Hawks).

Man I am pretty confident that JT is staying, but it would be awful if he leaves. I don't think he would leave us though. He says he wants his whole career in Atlanta.

Yea, I read the paper this morning and it said it might be delayed until July. He might not be here when the draft starts.

Where ever he goes, good luck because he was a great guy and a coach that just needs to develope. He needs space and I think being an assistant will keep him aware that he needs to work harder to become a head coach again.

Yea, I too am a huge Newble fan. He can chance the whole game with his defense. I hope we resign him. Welcome to Hawksquawk!

Yea....being teammates in college, it must have been very hard for Kenyon to take this. If I were him, that would also have inspired me to play better for one of my best friends that almost died.

Tried out Richard Jeter I see. Hmmm.....I think he is a good talent. Diesel would love it if if came here.

Diaw is very, very good. I am falling in love with his talent. He is long and fast. Good all-around player. If I had to pick at #21, I would pick Diaw. Howard is also a good all-around player. I think we will pick him at #37. I think we should try a high schooler like Ebi or Perkins. High schoolers are starting to do very well in the NBA. I think we should take a chance.

JT/Dickau Glover/Johnson Newble/Diaw/Howard/Crawford Reef/Hendu/Perkins Ratliff/Mohammed/Hendu I think we will trade for a PG. I would like to trade Big Dog for Reece Gaines and a future pick. Anyway, I think Big Dog is gone. One of the best shooters and a very nice guy that does not fit with our style of play. We will be very athletic next year I think.

Straight up, who do you think we are going to draft this year. Here's who we are going to draft in my opinion.... #21: Boris Diaw-Riffiod #37: Josh Howard #42: Kedrick Perkins

In the AJC a couple of weeks ago it said McDavid was studying Mark Cuban and Arthur Blank. I think he is going to be one of those energetic owners that really cares about his teams. AOL Time Warner wanted nothing to do with the Hawks. I am glad we will have an owner that cares. Dunleavy and Fratello are both great coaches. I will be happy with either, but I too think Fratello would be a better choice but, then again, I want Stotts to stay, he is a very good coach and he has a lot of potential. I think we can build on what we did the second half of the season with him as our coach.

On www.justbball.com 75% of them say Baron Davis is better than JT. How is this? Yes Baron is a great player, but he is injured all the time and well, JT isn't. JT usually does really, really well we he faces Davis. The two formal rivals in college are a great pair of young talent. I personally think JT is better, not because he is on the Hawks, but the way he plays is better to me.

Boris Diaw- he is an athlete. We need one and he is a great defender. Would fit well. Anderson Verejao- huge potential. Also a great defender. Needs to improve offensive game. Great rebounder Sofoklis Schortsanitis- Very tough an strong. Can set screens very well. Offensive game improving. Very powerful. Aleksandar Pavlovic- Also very athletic. Good defender. Knows the game well. Reece Gaines: strong, athletic point guard. Could help Terry a lot at the 1. Plays good D and great offensive player. Those are my top 5 who I want to get. In the second round I think we should go for a high schooler. We need to experiment with a high schooler such as Kedrick Perkins or James Lang. I also like Josh Howard and Zoran Planinic. #21: Boris Diaw-Riffiod #37: Josh Howard #42: Kedrick Perkins

I think he would be a good fit. An all around good player. Can play the post, outside, can play defense, rebound. I like him. I think he would fit with the team too.

Ohhh....that reason. I can see what you are talking about. LOL

The Spurs have enough to sign Kidd but not enough to keep him for as long as NJ did. I think they will get O'neal. That is going to be one dangerous team. Even more dangerous, but can you imagine, Duncan and Kidd. The best player in the league and the best PG in the league. Man, whew, I am glad they are not in the East.