Atlanta Hawks: Guide To Training Camp Invitees

Philips Arena in Atlanta. (Photo Credit: hectorir, Flickr)

With preseason just around the corner, the Atlanta Hawks’ preparations for the coming year have stepped up a gear. Training camp began on Monday for the Hawks with the annual Media Day, with the Hawks following this up with three days of practice in Athens, Ga. With their opening preseason game against the defending champions, the Miami Heat, at the American Airlines Center on Monday, Atlanta is embarking upon the most intriguing preseason they’ve had in years. In total, the Hawks have seven new faces to blend into the team, as well as having a new coaching staff implementing its own philosophies. As the preseason schedule advances, the Hawks’ depth chart will become clearer as new  coach Mike Budenholzer gets to know his players. Aside from the veteran and established players who will make up the Hawks core this season, there is also significant competition for the final couple of roster spots. The Hawks currently have 12 players with guaranteed contracts on the roster, with Mike Scott and Shelvin Mack non-guaranteed. This leaves anywhere from one to two spots up for grabs, depending on how Lou Williams‘ rehabilitation progresses. Let’s take a look at some of the men looking to make the grade.

Eric Dawson

Dawson enters the Hawks training camp with the odds of him making the roster very much stacked against him. At 6″9″, Dawson is primarily a power forward, although he has played some time at center also. The two biggest positions on the floor are the areas where Atlanta finds itself with the greatest depth. Between the two positions, the Hawks have Al Horford, Paul Millsap, Gustavo Ayon, Pero Antic, Elton Brand and Mike Scott all competing for minutes up front. This makes it highly unlikely that another 6″8″-plus man will be added to the mix. How did Dawson even get invited then?

Budenholzer is very familiar with Dawson, who up to this point had spent his entire American professional career between the San Antonio Spurs and their D-League affiliate, the Austin Toros. Dawson is the kind of tough-minded individual Gregg Popovich loves and his character alone is obviously enough for Budenholzer to consider his talents. In the last year, Dawson has found himself playing in the Philippines and the Dominican Republic. Having previously played in Japan and South Korea, the 29-year-old, although lacking in NBA playing time, is a vastly experienced basketball veteran who understands the ebb and flow of the game. In his last spell playing in the U.S., Dawson averaged 16.4 points and 10.2 rebounds per game in helping the Austin Toros to win a D-League championship.

James Johnson

James Johnson came into the league as the 16th overall pick of the 2009 draft from Wake Forest. In his time in the league since, Johnson has struggled to live up to the hype though. Although Johnson is a relatively well established figure in the league, he may struggle to make the final roster with the Hawks this season. Johnson, a natural small forward, is slightly on the big side for that position, meaning that he can cover as a power forward. As mentioned above in regards to Eric Dawson though, the Hawks have a logjam up front, which logic would suggest will result with them looking for a smaller sized forward who can also cover as a guard.

James Johnson will hope to make waves in training camp. (Photo Credit: NBA.com)

After spending two solid seasons in Toronto, Johnson is coming off a poor season with the Sacramento Kings. The 26-year-old will have a point to prove after posting sub par shooting numbers in Sacramento. Having averaged 44.3 percent from the field, 27.3 percent from downtown and 67.8 percent from the line for his career so far, last season Johnson shot 41.3 percent from the field, an abysmal 9.5 percent from 3-point range and a very poor 59.7 percent from the stripe. Based on these stats, Johnson’s biggest concern for the preseason games has to be to prove that he can make shots again.

Damien Wilkins

Wilkins entered the league as an undrafted free agent for the Seattle SuperSonics in 2004. Having played his college basketball at North Carolina State and Georgia, Wilkins bounced back from the disappointment of the draft by giving a standout performance in Summer League to make an NBA roster. Wilkins spent five years with the SuperSonics/Oklahoma City Thunder, where he averaged a career-high 20.22 minutes per game, in the 2007-08 season. Wilkins had career highs in scoring (9.2 points), assists (3.2 per game), and rebounds (2.0 per game) as a Seattle SuperSonic in 2007-08.

Since leaving the Emerald City, Wilkins has become one of the league’s journeymen having plied his trade in Minnesota, Detroit, Philadelphia and also Atlanta. With his veteran experience, a previous spell in Atlanta and his ability to cover at both shooting guard and small forward, Wilkins has every chance of making the roster if he shows some solid play. There’s no reason why he won’t either, with the Hawks training at his alma mater at the University of Georgia, Wilkins will feel incredibly comfortable. Also in Wilkins favor is the fact that he’s the nephew of Hawks legend Dominique Wilkins. If anything can instantly get the Atlanta fans behind you, its the name Wilkins on the back of a jersey.

David Lighty

As a member of the highly rated Ohio State Buckeyes team that featured Mike Conley, Greg Oden and Daequan Cook, David Lighty has spent much of his basketball career in the shadows. Cruelly let down by injury at times when his career could have reached the next level (for example, breaking his ankle in 2009), Lighty has remained persistent. Having served his apprenticeship in Europe, between teams in Italy and France, the 25-year-old may now be ready for his chance at the big time. During his time as a Buckeye, Lighty garnered a reputation as a defensive specialist capable of guarding various positions and he was no slouch on the offensive end of the floor either. Lighty was so influential on both ends in college that he ranks in the top 10 in scoring, assists, rebounds, steals and blocks in Ohio State’s records for the last 15 years.

This all around versatility is what makes Lighty such an intriguing prospect. At 6″6″, the Ohio native is capable of playing at the 2 or the 3 spot much like Damien Wilkins. Lighty is likely to be given serious consideration by the Atlanta hierarchy after earning his invitation to camp following an excellent performance against the Hawks in his final summer league game with the Sacramento Kings. Lighty had 16 points, shooting 8-of-9, to prove that there is more his game than defense. This was sufficient enough to get him an audition over the coming weeks, but will Lighty be able to seize his opportunity this time around?

Adonis Thomas

As a man who played at both forward positions in college in Memphis, Adonis Thomas drew a lot of attention because of his impressive physique. In the NBA, Thomas will spend most of his time at small forward, where at 6″7″ and 240 pounds, he will be more than capable of holding his own with the majority of his opponents straight away.

At 20 years of age, Thomas strength makes him a very intriguing prospect. Although his percentages dropped off as a sophomore, Thomas shot the ball exceptionally well as a freshman in Memphis. In his first year, Thomas shot 48.6 percent from the field, including 40.5 percent from 3-point range, which is enough evidence in conjunction with his raw materials to tempt a number of general managers to take a closer look. Given his chance, Adonis Thomas could surprise a lot of people and have a role to play in the NBA.

Royal Ivey

Taken as a second-round pick by the Hawks back in 2004, Royal Ivey is fighting for a return to the ATL. Currently the Hawks have three point guards on the roster in Jeff Teague, Dennis Schroeder and Shelvin Mack. With Teague as starter and Schroeder seen as the future, it’s likely that Ivey will have to outgun the non-guaranteed Mack to make the team. Ivey is about to enter into his 10th season in the league and has experienced playing for teams of dramatically varying quality.

Royal Ivey, training camp hopeful. (Photo Credit: Keith Allison, Flickr.com)

Analysing Ivey’s numbers, there isn’t much to be impressed about. He shoots solid percentages at 40.7 from the field, 36.2 from distance and 70.6 from the free throw line, but he isn’t aggressive enough in looking for his shot, only attempting 3.1 shots based on 12.6 minutes a game. On top of this, Ivey averages only one assist per game, a far from impressive figure for a point guard. Last season, based on similar starting minutes Mack shot a higher percentage of the two, while also having more shots, points, assists, rebounds, steals and free throw attempts per game. On that evidence Ivey has his work cut out, but the joy of preseason is that anything is possible.

Although going into this run of preseason games the Hawks of certain positional needs, the decision as to who eventually makes the roster for the regular season will come down to performance. If any of these men can really step up their game, they have the opportunity to seize their spot with their own two hands. Their main priority has to be to make themselves an invaluable squad member.

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