As one might expect, Hawks GM Billy Knight is playing things close to the vest as the 2005 NBA Draft draws near. Still, with all of the speculation about what the Hawks might do with the #2 pick (and beyond), Hawks.com sat down with the man who will call the shots on draft night to see what he is thinking:
Hawks.com: We are just a few days before the draft, what is your mindset
right now?
Billy Knight: Still looking for a good player. I think we will be able to
get a good player at #2. I am happy with the four prospects we’ve had in, and
the good thing is Milwaukee can only take one player. That will leave the rest
for us to choose from, so I am confident we will get someone we like.
Hawks.com: Do you pay attention at all to the mock drafts and draft rumors
out there?
BK: I don’t pay attention to any of that. Mock drafts are usually done by
people who have no draft picks. They usually haven’t played basketball before,
so, I really don’t pay much attention. I read the paper every day, but that
stuff doesn’t interest me.
Hawks.com: Do you particularly enjoy the draft? Or is it just part of the
job?
BK: Well, I enjoy what I do, period. The draft is a lot of work; you have
to do a lot of research, lot of investigating, trying to accumulate as much
information as you can, and then hopefully you make some logically induced
conclusion.
Hawks.com: Does the new collective bargaining agreement change your draft
plans at all?
BK: No, not really. We are a young rebuilding team. We have a lot of
young guys already, and we hope to add at least two more – hopefully more with
the #59 pick as well. We are confident we will add two players to our roster for
next year, and with that last pick maybe we will get someone who we can send to
the developmental league or to Europe. But regardless, we want to take someone
with that pick who we like, regardless of where he might play next year.
Hawks.com: How have the individual meetings gone with the top prospects you
have brought in?
BK: It’s been fine. No problems, and we didn’t expect to have any
problems. We are pleased with the guys - they are all quality young people and
good players. It’s going to be a good player we take at #2.
Micah Hart is the Assistant Web Editor for the Atlanta Hawks
