Hawks: Who are these guys?

[macdaddy]

http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/104408956/atlanta-hawks-eastern-conference-late-round-picks-undrafted-castoffs-winning

 

 

 

 

By Brett Koremenos

Wednesday night's game between the Atlanta Hawks and Cleveland Cavaliers was more than just two of the East's best teams squaring off. It was a study in two different ways to build a franchise. The Hawks are comprised of a roster full of castoffs, unheralded draft picks and savvy signings. The Cavs, on the other hand, spent the offseason bringing LeBron James back to his home state along with Kevin Love and a host of proven veteran talent.

 

Take a look at the two lineups.

With Jeff Teague, one of Atlanta's most impactful players (statistically at least), sidelined because of a hamstring injury, six of the 10 players the Hawks deployed in their non-garbage time minutes -- Kyle Korver, Paul Millsap, Kent Bazemore, Pero Antić, Shelvin Mack and Mike Scott -- were either drafted in the second round or not drafted at all in their respective years. A seventh, starting forward Demarre Carroll, was drafted late in the first round of the 2009 NBA Draft.

The Cavs, meanwhile, fielded a rotation that included six former lottery picks. Two of those, James and Kyrie Irving, were selected first overall. Love, Tristan Thompson, Dion Waiters (and Mike Miller, who is currently out injured) were selected in the top five. Shawn Marion, now 36, was selected ninth overall back when peach baskets were still a thing (or more accurately, 1999).

Atlanta has just three former lottery picks on their roster, tying them for fifth least in the league. That trio -- Al Horford, Thabo Sefolosha and Elton Brand -- are all assuming various roles. Horford anchors the frontcourt, Sefolosha is clinging to a rotation spot and Brand is at the "emergency big man" phase of his career.

In the NBA, first round picks, particularly those located in the lottery, are the material necessary to build championship contenders. Of the 444 players currently in the league, 149, or roughly a third of the NBA right now, were selected within the first 14 picks of their respective drafts. Cleveland's total of seven ties them for third-most in the league, behind Washington (9) and Dallas (8). The fact that the Cavs employ six former top five picks, an area of the draft where teams can expect at least five Estimated Wins Added (a metric that measures how many victories a player adds to a team compared to a replacement-level player) is quite unique.

Yet it's the Hawks, not the Cavs, who are tearing through the league right now. Atlanta has won 13 of their past 15 games despite having a chunk of their production, both Wednesday and this season, coming from players who defied long odds to make a name for themselves in the NBA.

 

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According to research done by ESPN's Tom Haberstroh, 32 percent of players drafted in the second round of the draftdon't even play in the NBA. In fact, just 106 players currently collecting an NBA paycheck were selected in the last 30 picks of their draft. That averages out to roughly 3.5 former second round picks per team.

That Hawks currently employ five such players and four of them -- Millsap, Korver, Scott and Mack -- are playing big roles for the team. Millsap, an All-Star last year, is holding down the frontcourt with Horford. Korver is one of the best shooters the league has ever seen and still manages to cause opposing defenses headaches despite exiting his prime. It's hard to believe anyone predicted Mack or Scott would be playing in a good team's rotation, but they have been reliable backups for the team over the past few seasons. Wednesday night, those four combined with Millsap and Korver to score 57 points, four more than the entire Cleveland starting lineup.

Also joining in the fun were Pero Antić and Kent Bazemore, two players that represent an even rarer breed in the league: the undrafted free agent.

Just 60 other players employed by NBA teams never heard their name called on draft night: 13.9 percent of the league. And six of those, not shockingly, reside on a Sixers team designed to avoid winning games.

Without the investment and/or perception that comes along with being a first and second round pick, players find themselves in an unforgiving, uphill battle to stick in the NBA. Undrafted players rarely ever get to the multitude of chances that failed lottery picks receive in an attempt to realize their potential. Guys like Bazemore and Antić are just exciting for the chance to stick on a roster. The two of them combined for 20 points, eight rebounds and six assists Wednesday night.

And let's not forget about Carroll. According to Roland Beech's draft study, the 27th pick in the 2008 draft was far from a lock to do much of anything at the NBA level. Beech calculates there's a 60 percent chance players selected in that spot end up being a 'deep reserve' (think 12th man) and an additional 5 percent chance they bust out of the league entirely. Given his draft position, one wouldn't expect Carroll to hound the league's best player as a starter for an 18-7 team.

Now this isn't to say Wednesday night's win unequivocally means Atlanta is the better team or that they have discovered some new market inefficiency. NBA teams are still going to hope they will end up like the Cavs and employ multiple lottery picks in or near their prime.

But by routing the star-laden Cavs by 29 points, on their home floor no less, the Hawks should give NBA wonks who think they know everything about the draft some pause. And if they can keep it up, we'll know they just might be onto something.

***

Brett Koremenos (@BKoremenos) is a freelance writer whose work has appeared on Grantland, Deadspin and other outlets. He coaches and trains basketball players from the high school to the professional level.

 

 

[AHF]

Korver is one of the best shooters the league has ever seen and still manages to cause opposing defenses headaches despite exiting his prime.

 

What the what?

[IheartVolt]

Brett Koremenos opened his browser and looked at the roster for the first time. Not surprised

[Plainview1981]

What the what?

 

This is clearly the best ball that Korver has ever played.

[benhillboy]

Nice read. Good to know everyone in Cleveland isn't silly enough to think that loss was an "embarrassment" but more of a referendum on the quality and quantity of work Bud has done in developing this roster while many NBA franchises clearly don't even consider their players making individual strides together, in turn enriching the team.

It isn't a surprise that Gilbert would hire Blatt, but it's mindboggling to me that LeBron would sign on to play for someone who isn't even LeBron's equal as a coach, let alone guys who've been on a coaching staff for decades. When their defense hits a low point that even their owner can realize, Old Drew will step in and make them respectable.