Welcome to Atlanta De'Andre Hunter and Cam Reddish

[kg01]

8 minutes ago, Cwell said:

As long as that Landale guy doesn’t come back I’m fine. Dude had to be one of the worst basketball players I’ve ever seen in my life!

Yeah that Landale guy was just .. blah.

7 minutes ago, HawkItus said:

Yeah that's a bummer, but all the breaking news and back slaps for Travis.  I'm sure Trae will be there, with Cam.   We deserve some press.

They said he and Heurter definitely won't play.  Not sure if you'd seen that or not.  If not, then hate to be the one to burst your bubble.  haha.

Hopefully he'll be there to get some pub, I guess.

[HawkItus]

29 minutes ago, kg01 said:

Yeah that Landale guy was just .. blah.

They said he and Heurter definitely won't play.  Not sure if you'd seen that or not.  If not, then hate to be the one to burst your bubble.  haha.

Hopefully he'll be there to get some pub, I guess.

Yeah I know they won't play, but they will be there making the rounds.   I love that stuff.  Look I lived through D Glover.  The on court summer league is a 10th of the draw for me.  I like atmosphere of the interviews and conjecture.   We will be a hot team to discuss.

[Spud2nique]

I played about 2 hours of 2k with the new additions of Hunter and Cam. Somenody made Cam a star ️ on 2k already. Smooth as hell, catch and shoot is incredible but he also has a quick first step in the game. I’m having some issues playing with Hunter so far but he is a huge body on D.

 

[lethalweapon3]

14 hours ago, Cwell said:

Norristown is not Philly. That's like people from Gwinnett claiming ATL

Side note: Lloyd Pierce's wife grew up in Norristown!

~lw3

[Spud2nique]

9 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Side note: Lloyd Pierce's wife grew up in Norristown!

~lw3

So Lloyd’s wife, Cam and Hunter are all Philly? Love it Add That with Huerter, Len and Bruno Maryland relationship. Wow.

Schlenk is an upset scientist  

[NBASupes]

Reading the Athletic article by Michael Lee. OMG!

[AHF]

28 minutes ago, NBASupes said:

Reading the Athletic article by Michael Lee. OMG!

Not sure if anyone can give a summary:

https://theathletic.com/1040366/2019/06/21/if-anything-he-loves-the-game-too-much-cam-reddish-is-here-for-a-reason/

[NBASupes]

The De'Andre Hunter article by Chris today was also amazing. 

 

I can't give a summary right now. 

[kg01]

3 hours ago, Spud2nique said:

So Lloyd’s wife, Cam and Hunter are all Philly? Love it Add That with Huerter, Len and Bruno Maryland relationship. Wow.

Schlenk is an upset scientist  

lw3 is a Philly guy too.  Coincidence?  Nope.

6 minutes ago, NBASupes said:

The De'Andre Hunter article by Chris today was also amazing. 

I can't give a summary right now. 

Tease

[JayBirdHawk]

4 hours ago, High5 said:

I wonder if Hunter is allowed to do anything with the team before the 6th. I would assume not, but SL starts on the 5th so he should still be able to play for us if missing practice isn't an issue. 

Hunter/Omari/Bruno could be a brutal front court for other SL teams to handle. Hopefully they aren't too out of control. 

We had a similar situation with Prince when he was dtafted, I can't remember if he practiced or not but he was with the team. Just couldn't play in the first few games.

[NBASupes]

6 minutes ago, JayBirdHawk said:

We had a similar situation with Prince when he was dtafted, I can't remember if he practiced or not but he was with the team. Just couldn't play in the first few games.

He still balled out

[JayBirdHawk]

For those who think we overpaid for #4, maybe we did or maybe we didn't.

However, from reading around these interwebs, the following teams were all trying to get to #4. Celtics - were upset that No. 4 was traded to another team (us ) when they had an offer in, they wanted Garland. Minny - NOP wanted Covington and #11 for #4, they balked and instead moved up to 6 hoping Garland would fall,  the missed him when Cavs picked him, why... because the Hawks jumped the Cavs for Hunter who they were targetting. So Cavs consolation was Garland.

We can't stockpile assets like Danny strAinge and not use them to get who you want.

 

We cashed in some of our gold doubloons and still have some left for the future (BKN 1st, OKC 1st, a plethora of 2nds)

[Spud2nique]

2 hours ago, kg01 said:

lw3 is a Philly guy too.  Coincidence?  Nope.

Tease

Oooohhhh lw3 is a Philly guy!!! 

 

2 hours ago, JayBirdHawk said:

For those who think we overpaid for #4, maybe we did or maybe we didn't.

However, from reading around these interwebs, the following teams were all trying to get to #4. Celtics - were upset that No. 4 was traded to another team (us ) when they had an offer in, they wanted Garland. Minny - NOP wanted Covington and #11 for #4, they balked and instead moved up to 6 hoping Garland would fall,  the missed him when Cavs picked him, why... because the Hawks jumped the Cavs for Hunter who they were targetting. So Cavs consolation was Garland.

We can't stockpile assets like Danny strAinge and not use them to get who you want.

 

We cashed in some of our gold doubloons and still have some left for the future (BKN 1st, OKC 1st, a plethora of 2nds)

Yesssss ma’am!

[marco102]

4 hours ago, AHF said:

Not sure if anyone can give a summary:

https://theathletic.com/1040366/2019/06/21/if-anything-he-loves-the-game-too-much-cam-reddish-is-here-for-a-reason/

See below. If the injuries really affected Cam as much as the article indicates, I can't wait for he and Hunter to battle for that starting position! Also, he has a great work ethic, I don't think  Schlenk would have selected him if he didn't.

‘If anything, he loves the game too much’: Cam Reddish is here for a reason

Michael Lee 5h ago 8 

“I work extremely hard. This is my passion. My love. I’m not exactly sure why anyone would question that,” Reddish said. “When I was real, real young, watching my dad play and he had an extreme passion and his love for the game really inspired me. That’s where it all began for me. He’s been there every step of the way.”

In his one season at Duke, Cam Reddish came up short of the outsized expectations that greeted his arrival as one of the nation’s top prep prospects. Being overshadowed by the presence of Zion Williamson and RJ Barrett and dealing with injuries to his ribs and core led to some inconsistent performances for which Reddish doesn’t shy away from admitting. But a reputation — which he and most everyone close to him will vigorously dispute — was attached to Reddish that he somehow lacked a love for basketball. Reddish pushed back, in his measured, reserved manner, with a profile that suggests otherwise.

“It lingers in my head. I hear it all the time. It rings in my head. It motivates me every single day. So I’m definitively ready to get started,” Reddish said. “I kind of have a calm demeanor and people take it the wrong way, as passive. I don’t think that’s what it is. In a matter of time, you guys will see that. I think it’s my demeanor is kind of calm and people don’t necessarily respect it. People take it the wrong way. I’m extremely aggressive, extremely ready to go out there and fight, play. I’m ready for it.”

After snagging Reddish with the 10th pick of the 2019 NBA draft, the Hawks have one of the league’s more intriguing young cores, with five talents age 21 and younger in Trae Young, John Collins, Kevin Huerter and Reddish’s former rival in the suburban Philadelphia Friends School League, De’Andre Hunter, who went fourth overall on Thursday. In Reddish, though, the Hawks have one of the draft’s most polarizing enigmas, a player who could either emerge as a sleeper future All-Star, a disappointment of squandered talent, or something in between. Certainly worth the risk of a late lottery pick, Reddish has the prototypical size and versatility of a modern, elite wing player and understands that it’s up to him to solve that mystery for everyone else.

---

“If you know, you know”

Though his season was uneven, Reddish still earned the respect of his teammates who knew how hard he worked and how much talent he displayed each day in practice.

“I wish y’all were there. Before the season started, we were having scrimmages and I remember Cam would be like dismantling. I used to look at Cam in awe, like, this dude can hoop,” Williamson said. “I come from a small high school. Cam is out here hitting five threes in a row, then go dunk it in the lane. I used to be in awe watching Cam in practice.”

Last March, a video posted by BallIsLife.com showed 2019 McDonald’s All-Americans Trendon Watford, an LSU recruit, and Anthony Edwards, a Georgia recruit, discussing the high school player who was the hardest to guard. Without hesitation, both mentioned Reddish. Watford mentioned how Reddish “gave me 44” points and Edwards gave him the side eye while shoving some candy in his mouth.

“I ain’t going to tell you how much he gave us,” Edwards said while chewing his snacks, “but it was more than 44. Cam Reddish different.”

“He cold,” Watford added. “He cold.”

When reminded of the video, Reddish flashed the slightest grin and let some of his confidence ooze out in response. “If you know, you know. It’s as simple as that,” Reddish said. “Those guys were extremely talented just as well and playing against them made me better but if you know, you know.”

And Reddish’s high school coach, Seth Berger, won’t hesitate to share how much he hung on Edwards’ Holy Spirit (Ga.) team during a game at the National Hoops Festival in Hyattsville, Md. “He put up 53 on Anthony Edwards,” Berger said. “It was insane. Fifty-three. It’s funny, afterward, all of our kids tweeted, ‘Cam and I combined for 56 points today.’ ‘Cam and I combined for 54.’ It was crazy. Fifty-three points on a future pro.”

“Everyone in Philadelphia has known that Cam will be in the NBA for a long time,” Berger said. “Cam is the most skilled player I’ve ever seen in high school. I have no doubt he’s going to be a long-term all-star and incredibly impactful player in the NBA and the question is, is that going to happen his first couple of years or is it going to take three or four years for him to develop? I think the space that the defensive rules in the NBA provide, will really allow Cameron to do things he couldn’t do in college.”

Reddish’s seemingly effortless motions on the floor give the impression that the game comes easy but the smooth taste also fooled those who thought he was coasting. Since his production and lack of efficiency at Duke left much to be desired, Reddish too often caused arguments over what he wasn’t than generated praise for the two-way skill, especially on the defensive end — where he excelled on the ball and in anticipation on the passing lanes — that he usually displayed.

Having to adjust his game to fit alongside two ball-dominant players in Williamson and Barrett often found Reddish settling into a role in the corner as a spot-up shooter. The yo-yo offensive games — even after Williamson missed time with an exploding-shoe-induced knee injury — and backing out of games against Syracuse in the regular season with an illness and Virginia Tech in the NCAA tournament with a knee injury were the reasons Reddish slipped from his initial projection as a top-five pick.

Bob Reddish believed some other factors contributed to the performance coming up short of what his son had hoped. Early in the season, Reddish went diving for a loose ball in practice, collided with a teammates knee and fell on the ball, producing two broken ribs. He also dealt with a groin and core injury that affected him all season until it was addressed with a surgery two weeks ago that will keep him out of the summer league.

 

“I thought it could’ve went a little better,” Bob Reddish said of his son’s lone year in college. “He played all year with injuries. No minor injuries. But serious injuries. He just had surgery but he played with that all year. Played with broken ribs. Had a couple of issues with the toe. Wish he could’ve played the game at 100 percent, but as far as the experience, amazing. I think it prepared him for the next level.”

“I just have that mentality to fight through it all. Continue to fight and push. I wasn’t going to use the injury as a reason for me to stop. Duke was a phenomenal opportunity, so I couldn’t turn it down,” Reddish said. “Can’t make any excuses. Just go in there, fight every single day, just work extremely hard, try to get better and get everything you can out of it. I feel like I did a good job of that this year.

“Playing against the best players in the country every day, that elevated by game. Learning from those guys, seeing them do their thing, it motivated me to do more great things. Being around greats is going to make you greater. So it was a good experience,” Reddish said. “Coach [Mike Krzyzewski] was phenomenal. He gave me so much feedback in film, practice, that took me to another level. So many detailed things I wasn’t necessarily picking up on. Coach was fantastic. I love everything about him.”

Reddish’s no-excuses attitude and the sacrifices he made for the betterment of the team continue to resonate with Barrett. “That dude’s crazy. He a killer. No doubt about it. He’s a really talented kid,” Barrett said. “If anybody were to throw petty jealousy, it would be him, but he didn’t do any of that. He was a great teammate the whole year. Thankful I got to play with him.”

As an example of his thoughtfulness as a teammate, Reddish acknowledged the breast cancer fight of Duke point guard Tre Jones’ mother, Debbie, inside of his draft night suit. “We were all the best friends,” he said. “We did pretty much everything together, whether it was eating, chilling, video games. It was probably the closet bond that I ever had with a team in my entire life.”

“If he didn’t love the game, he could’ve easily been a bad teammate or mad. He changed who is to help Duke be successful. He wants to show anybody how much he wants to win. He wants to be great,” Burt said. “Zion and RJ are very alpha mentality and Cameron, he kind of adapted a little bit and really dug in and became a really good defensive player as the year went on. I think you’ve only seen a fraction of his skills in his time at Duke. I think it came out every once in a while but it’s hard when you have that much talent around you.”

“I told myself, it’s time to take it to another level”

Shortly after the Hawks selected Reddish, Young, on vacation with his family in Los Angeles, welcomed his newest teammate through FaceTime to express his excitement and to share, “Let’s get to work.”

Reddish replied, “Can’t wait to get out there.”

For anyone who has been around Reddish, a desire to work and get better has never been a concern. “If anything, he loves the game too much,” Berger said.

When he transferred from Havertown High School after his freshman year to the boarding school, Westtown – which featured Orlando Magic center Mo Bamba and Arizona forward Brandon Randolph, who went undrafted Thursday – Reddish discovered that the distance from his dorm to the gym was less than 50 yards. He’d show up around 6 each morning to put up shots and work on his ballhandling before class, then he’d make time to lift before practice.

“That was the most beautiful thing ever. I could just walk to the gym pretty much whenever I wanted. I used it a lot of time,” Reddish said. “I get it from my parents. Their work ethic and the sacrifices they’ve made, are like no other. I can’t do anything but thank them for that. I definitely get it from my parents. I take that from them, every single day, and put in all the work I can possibly put in to be prepared at all times. I was in there, getting ready for everything. Preparing for this moment right here. I’m finally here. To God be the glory.”

The story that both Bob Reddish, Brown and Burt like to share to explain Cam’s dedication to the game goes back to the summer before his senior year of high school, after Team USA lost the U-19 world championships to Canada in Egypt. Cam caught a separate flight from his parents so that he could get back in time to participate in the Peach Jam AAU tournament in Augusta, Ga.

After connecting in Frankfurt, Reddish found himself stuck in an extended delay at Dulles Airport that could’ve prevented him from making the trip. With his parents experiencing their own delays, Reddish’s grandfather and brother had to drive nearly three hours to bring him up for a flight from Philadelphia, returning at 3 a.m., to catch a flight seven hours later. Reddish unpacked, washed his clothes, packed, caught two more flights to Charlotte and Augusta. Then after undergoing a cryotherapy treatment, Reddish suited up for the game and scored the aforementioned 44 points in the game against Watford.

“That’s what makes me laugh when people say, ‘Does this kid even like basketball?’ Brown said. “I don’t question his love for the game at all. His nonchalance is probably misunderstood. I think things come to him, on the basketball court, very easy for him. So it looks as if he’s not trying very hard. But it’s not that he doesn’t care. Because I know he cares.”

“That was one of the amazing times I ever watched him play,” Burt said. “He’s never been hard to motivate. He loves basketball. He loves to compete. To me, he’s probably the most talented — when I say talent, I mean, skill, height, length, athletic ability — player in this draft. Probably the most talented player I’ve ever coached or been around. But until he puts it all together…I don’t want Cam to be a potential guy. I want Cam to maximize his potential.”

Krzyzewski suggested this week that it would be best for Reddish to land with an organization that has a solid player development program and lower expectations. The Hawks would appear to be an ideal landing spot for Reddish, with a head coach in Lloyd Pierce, who experienced The Process years as an assistant with the Philadelphia 76ers and displayed a patient but demanding hand as Young improved throughout his rookie season. Pierce also shares a similar personality of quiet competitiveness, connecting with Reddish during their meetings with him.

“He’s successful,” Bob Reddish said. “He set a goal early on the refrigerator and now he can scratched it off. It’s time to go back in, set some more goals up. Can’t be satisfied with making it.”

“There was never a time, even when I was younger, that I didn’t think I was going to the NBA. I always pictured this moment and it’s finally here,” Reddish said, adding that his mentality had to change once he decided to leave college. “I told myself, it’s time to take it to another level. I have a ton of goals. My soonest goal right now is winning rookie of the year. That’s my main priority right now. I know there is a ton of work to be put in but I’m all for it.”

[marco102]

Also, I didn't post the entire article believe it or not. It's  a long read.  It really gets me even more excited about Cam.

[NBASupes]

10 hours ago, marco102 said:

Also, I didn't post the entire article believe it or not. It's  a long read.  It really gets me even more excited about Cam.

He is a beast. People really don't understand but he got elite talent. He is much better on tape than the numbers indicate

[NBASupes]

 

[NBASupes]

 

[Gray Mule]

WOW !  If half of the things I just read are true, the Hawks didn't just hit two or three home runs in this year's draft, they have at least two grand slams with the jury still out on our new center.

Too many people have said too many good things about Reddish for them to all be blowing smoke.  Hawks had a lot of assets going into the draft.  Boy oh boy, did they spend them wisely !!  With all his injuries, don't forget, Atlanta has elite facilities to deal with things like this. 

Watch this season as the Hawks grow into something great in the NBA !!

[Spud2nique]

4 hours ago, NBASupes said:

He is a beast. People really don't understand but he got elite talent. He is much better on tape than the numbers indicate

He’s Tmac smooth too. Much like in the mold of Bagley, he has been in the spotlight for years and is born to ball and star ️. 

The people at 2k already made him super smooth on the game too. 

Killer Cam is real. We murdered this draft.