Peachtree Hoops: Hawks Ink Second Round Pick Pape Sy to Contract

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More photos » Bill Kostroun - AP

2 months ago: NBA deputy commissioner Adam Silver, left, poses with Pape Sy, of France, who was selected 53rd overall by the Atlanta Hawks in the second round of the NBA basketball draft, Thursday, June 24, 2010, in New York. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

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The Atlanta Hawks today announced the signing of second round pick Pape Sy. He is at Phillips Arena today for informal work outs and will also be a part of training camp. This is big news for a guy who was a relative unknown at draft time and was thought of as someone who would be returning to Europe to garner more experience. The Hawks must have seen something that they liked in him, so much so that they secured a buy out from Sy's French club and now here he is. 

The Hawks now have fourteen players under contract for next season which is one above the league minimum. Now the question remains as to what the Hawks organization plans to do with Sy? I was pleasantly surprised with Sy's performance in Summer League however brief it was due to injury. This Hawks team is sorely needing an additional perimeter defender but can Sy really fill that need? Could this be the first situation where the Hawks will utilize the D-League? Or will they look to keep Sy with the team so that he can practice with the veterans each day and learn the system?

I would think that it would be counterproductive to sit Sy in a suit the entire season with the Hawks when he could have been developing his game overseas without the Hawks paying him. So if there were ever a situation for the Hawks to embrace the D-League then this is it. Now that it is official this just adds another storyline heading into training camp. That said Sy showed me enough during the summer league that he intrigues me as a potential defender and I like the move.

The Hawks Official Press Release about the Sy signing after the jump:

 

HAWKS SIGN PAPE SY TO A CONTRACT

Second Round pick to participate in training camp workouts

 

ATLANTA, GA ----- Atlanta Hawks Executive Vice President and General Manager Rick Sund has announced this afternoon that the team has signed guard/forward Pape Sy to a contract.  Per team policy, terms of the deal were not released.

 

Sy (pronounced SEE), the Hawks’ second round pick from France in the 2010 NBA Draft, was selected 53^rd overall after spending time with team STB Le Havre of the French Pro A League.  He appeared in 38 games over three seasons, with the majority of those contests coming a year ago, as he averaged 5.2 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists (.505 FG%, .414 3FG% and .710 FT%).  Sy tallied a season-high 17 against Poitiers this past February.

 

"Our European scout (Loize Milosavljevic) did a great job in recommending Pape to us and once he participated in our pre-draft workouts, our scouts and coaches were very impressed with his abilities," said Sund.  "Although he was hampered by an Achilles injury during summer league workouts, we were encouraged with his ability, athleticism and competitiveness."

 

Sy, who is listed at 6-7 and is from Loudeac, France, will be on the floor with the rest of his new teammates when they opening training camp September 28 on the practice court at Philips Arena.

 

"He is a talented 6-7 backcourt player who can play multiple positions," said Assistant General Manager Dave Pendergraft, who worked throughout the process to get Sy here in time for training camp.  "Sy’s an interesting prospect who is determined to play in the NBA."

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