Winners, losers, others in draft & more

[HawkTodd]

Winners, losers, others in draft (6-28-03).

http://www.timesstar.com/Stories/0,1413,125~11080~1483280,00.html

Atlanta Hawks:

Baby Slide:

"Comment: The 6-9 Diaw plays the point on offense, but can't guard little guys, so he plays big guard on defense. Guess what? He can't guard them, either."

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NBA scout Maty Blake breaks down the Draft (6-27-03).

http://www.woai.com/spurs/story.aspx?conte...D2-DE4D2AD4BD90

Atlanta:

"The Hawks have a scout, Mark Crow, a former player who is based in Europe and watches all of these players and has a handle on them. Diaw was interesting to them because DerMarr Johnson is now a free agent and after his accident they are not sure how much he will play or if he will be with them."

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Hansen's career above average (6-27-03).

http://newsnet.byu.edu/story.cfm/44779

"Mountain View High School, Utah Valley State College, Chile, BYU. That has been the path of Cougar basketball all-star Travis Hansen.

Born April, 1978, the six ft., six in., 200 pound guard grew up in BYU's backyard. Hansen's tenacity as an athlete has helped him move up through the ranks from pee-wees to possibly the pros."

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Clippers, Knicks, Magic and Suns earn top draft grades (6-27-03).

http://www.sportsline.com/nba/story/6451914

Atlanta = B-

"With the organization still in a state of flux, the Hawks still managed to take the player everyone anticipated in the first round -- slick 6-foot-8 French point forward Boris Diaw-Riffiod. The 21-year-old should help with ballhandling and open up the floor for shooters Jason Terry, Glenn Robinson and Shareef Abdur-Rahim. At least that's the hope. They also added 25-year-old Travis Hansen, a good shooter and open floor player from Brigham Young who can help, too."

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Marty Burns' 2003 NBA Draft Report Card (6-27-03).

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketbal.../27/nba_grades/

Atlanta = B

"Considering the franchise is in disarray with a pending sale, interim GM Billy Knight did the best he could. The Hawks needed backcourt help and Diaw was the best prospect on the board. Second-rounder Hansen is a shooter with size, another area of need for the Hawks. But will Knight regret passing on point guard Leandrinho Barbosa?"

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Hinrich selection stuns Jamal (6-27-03).

http://www.suntimes.com/output/bulls/cst-spt-bsep27.html

"With the draft over, Paxson will turn his attention to filling out his coaching staff. Pete Myers is expected to serve as a scout next season, so two assistants may be hired.

Mike Wilhelm, who was a Bulls advance scout last season, could end up on the bench. Former Wizards coach Brian James also is a candidate.

Paxson may have been waiting to see what will happen with Hawks head coach Terry Stotts, who may be available depending on Atlanta's new management."

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Who else is leaving Bucks besides Big Three? (6-27-03).

http://www.sportsline.com/nba/story/6452912

"Two years ago, the Bucks were a couple of jump shots away from winning the Eastern Conference behind the Big Three -- Ray Allen, Glenn Robinson and Cassell. Karl was the prince of the city. Then in 2001-02 they became the first team ever to lead their division in March, and slide completely out of the playoffs, and disenchantment ran amok on the team. They did manage to make the playoffs -- barely -- this season, but the damage was done.

So much for the Big Three.

Robinson was traded to Atlanta for Toni Kukoc and the draft pick that became Ford last summer. Allen was traded with Kevin Ollie, rookie Ronald Murray and a first-round pick for Payton and Desmond Mason in February. Now Cassell is gone too."

Shots from the perimeter:

"In case you were wondering, contracts that end in the 2002-2003 season officially are off the books after Monday. Negotiations for new contracts can begin Tuesday, but no official signings can be made until July 16. That's when official trades and -- without much doubt -- all heaven will break loose this summer in the NBA."