The Hawks picked 22-year old small forward Damion James with the #24 overall pick and then they shipped him to the Nets for 22-year old shooting guard Jordan Crawford (#27 overall) and the #31 overall pick (center Tibor Pleiss). The Hawks then sold the rights to Tibor Pleiss to the Thunder pocketing some cash on the deal. SG/PG Jordan Crawford played in 35 games (34 starts) at Xavier last season and he averaged 20.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.3 steals per game. He played in 65 games (42 starts) in his two years in college and he averaged 15.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.2 steals per game. The Hawks really like Crawford and he will be a safety net for the Hawks if Joe Johnson leaves as a free agent.

The Hawks have hired 52-year old Larry Drew to be the new head coach of the Atlanta Hawks. He has been a assistant coach for the Hawks, Lakers, Pistons, Wizards and Nets. Drew also played 10 years in the NBA appearing in 714 games in which he averaged 25.7 minutes, 11.4 points, 1.8 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.1 steals per game. Drew got a two year guaranteed contract with a option for a 3rd year at a average of $1.2 million bucks per year making him one of the lowest paid head coaches in the NBA. Time will tell if this was a good hire for the Hawks or not as he doesn’t have head coaching experience but he has been in the game most of his adult life.

31-year old SG/SF Maurice Evans has picked up his option for the 2010-11 season valued at $2.5 million bucks. Evans played in 79 games (5 starts) for the Hawks last season and he averaged 16.7 minutes, 5.7 points, 1.9 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game. Evans has now played two years with the Hawks appearing in 159 games (30 starts) in which he has averaged 19.9 minutes, 6.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game. The Hawks probably would have rather spent the $2.5 million bucks that Evans will make on another free agent but he has been a solid player off the bench for them.

23-year old center Al Horford keeps improving for the Atlanta Hawks. Horford played in 81 games (all starts) last season for the Hawks and he averaged 35.1 minutes, 14.2 points, 9.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.1 blocked shots per game. I expect that Horford will take his offense to a new level next season if Joe Johnson leaves the Hawks for greener pastures. Horford has now played in 229 games (225 starts) in his three years for the Hawks and he is averaging 33.3 minutes, 12.0 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.1 blocked shots per game. Horford will hopefully have a long career with the Hawks as he is still very young at 23.

The Hawks have five unrestricted free agents and two restricted free agents heading into this summer. I have a feeling that Joe Johnson is going to want league max money and he doesn’t strike me as worth that kind of cash. I think the Knicks are going to make a huge play for him because of his past in which he played for head coach Mike D’Antoni. With the way Johnson talked about the fans of Atlanta in the playoffs I just don’t see the Hawks putting a legit effort into bringing him back. Backup SG/SF Maurice Evans will likely be back for the Hawks in 2010-11 as he has a player option. He might get lost in all of the glitz this summer if he opts out so I see him picking up his option and coming back to Atlanta. Backup forward Joe Smith is a good guy to have on the end of the bench so the Hawks might try to bring him back at around the league minimum if he will play for that. Center Jason Collins and forward Randolph Morris are the last of the unrestricted free agents on the Hawks and I would be surprised if they brought either of them back. Josh Childress is a restricted free agent and he is considering a return to the NBA. The Hawks would likely want to keep him around if he wants to come back to the NBA as Childress is a solid player. Mario West is the other restricted free agent on the Hawks and they would likely match a small deal for him.