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Going back to the 2005 NBA Draft several experts brought up solid arguments that the Atlanta Hawks were in need of a point guard...

How the 2005 NBA Draft Could’ve Changed the 2008 Playoffs

by Jeff Little (Senior Writer)

30

1,392 reads

Opinion

April 24, 2008


Going back to the 2005 NBA Draft several experts brought up solid arguments that the Atlanta Hawks were in need of a point guard.

 

The experts were right and the Atlanta Hawks decided not to listen and went for the hype of small forward Marvin Williams after playing one year at the University of North Carolina.

 

It has been two years and his game still hasn’t developed as the team expected. I'm not saying that I think he is a bust, or that I think the Hawks should give up on him. This story isn't a knock on Marvin Williams; he still has upside and could still turn out to a star player in this league, but he also still has a lot to learn.

 

I felt then and now that both Chris Paul and Derron Williams were more prepared to make an immediate impact. Let’s play the "what if" game for a minute and look at a missed opportunity.

  

I can recall shaking my head in amazement when I heard David Stern say “with the No. 2 pick in the 2005 NBA Draft the Atlanta Hawks select Marvin Williams from the University of North Carolina."

 

That told me that the Hawks chose Williams who has “upside,” the all-important potential that often means more than current ability. The Hawks were and still are a young team with no leader to run the offense.

 

Let’s assume for a moment that the Hawks had a mulligan and chose Chris Paul, the point guard out of Wake Forest.

 

Drafting Chris Paul, who played his college ball in the ACC, to run the show in the city of Atlanta, would’ve solidified the backcourt that had already by fortified by the Hawks' acquisition of shooting guard Joe Johnson.

 

This would’ve given the team a starting five of Paul, Johnson, small forward Josh Smith, power forward Al Horford, center ZaZa Pachulia, along with backups with guard/small forward Josh Childress, guard Acie Law, guard Salim Stoudamire, forward Solomon Jones, forward Jeremy Richardson, and guard Mario West, on the bench.

 

Adding a veteran via trade could’ve made this young team very formidable. While, I like point guard Mike Bibby, and think he is a good player who is a solid upgrade at the position for the Hawks, the drafting of Paul would’ve also made signing Bibby unnecessary.

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30 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment

  1. Matt Smith about 1 year ago

    Good article and as a Carolina fan wish Marvin had stayed in school for another year or two, but he was actually the #2 overall pick, not the fourth!

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    • Jeff Little about 1 year ago

      Thanks for the comments Matt. You're correct and I will make the necessary corrections. Also I also wish Marvin would've stayed at UNC.

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    • Michael Whittenberg about 1 year ago

      I'm glad he left. That just would've gave him another year to whoop my Blue Devils.

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    • Jeff Little about 1 year ago

      Michael, I like your articles man. As you know your Blue Devils have some other issues they're dealing with, but I feel you. I'll also ask you in your opinion what does next year hold for them.

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  2. Stephen Hennessey about 1 year ago

    good catch Matt—I changed it for ya Jeff. -Hennessey

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  3. NYC Sports about 1 year ago

    Solid piece. One correction: Chris Paul played his college ball at Wake Forest which is located in North Carolina, not Atlanta.

    RP

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  4. Ian Thompson about 1 year ago

    There's no guarantee that if they had chosen Chris Paul they would have the lineup you described. It's more likely that in the weak Eastern Conference they would've been in the playoffs last year, and would've had a considerably lower draft pick. There's almost no chance that they'd have Horford and CP3 together.

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    • Jeff Little about 1 year ago

      Thanks for the feedback Ian. You pose a good point but using that word again they would've at least had the needed point guard position locked up. The Hawks in need of a point said no to both Chris Paul & Derron Williams which in my opinion was a mistake. I can't argue with the fact that there is a good possibility that the Hawks wouldn't have been able to draft Al Horford but to build around a point guard is a good way to go.

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  5. Ian Thompson about 1 year ago

    Oh, absolutely, they should have taken one of Chris Paul or Deron Williams. Not to have done so was incredibly stupid, not because of any deficiency on Marvin Williams' part, but because they really needed a point guard. I'm just saying, the impact on the '08 playoffs might be overstated. On the other hand, even without Horford, a lineup with Paul, Josh Smith and Joe Johnson would've been scary, and probably way higher than 8th in a weak east.

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    • Jeff Little about 1 year ago

      I can agree with that. I just recall prior to that draft and all the talk of will it be Andrew Bogut or Marvin Williams going number 1 overall. When asked about going number 1 overall Williams said “Well it’s nice to be No. 1, definitely,” “But I’m more concerned about what team I’m going to go to and how I will fit in with that team. I think that’s the most important thing. That’s my main concern.” Most players will play for who drafts them (omitting John Elway and Eli Manning) but with a young team, which the Hawks have and had at the time a leader at the point made good sense. Perhaps Marvin will develop and shock everyone.

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  6. Ryan Welch about 1 year ago

    The big problem here is that you assume that all the trades and draft picks would have happened exactly like they did when they drafted Marvin Williams, but I will agree that they absolutely should have take Deron Williams or Chris Paul with that pick.

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  7. TJ Zwarych about 1 year ago

    Marin Williams wasnt even a starter at NCU, and he still isnt doing good, I dont get why he was picked so early

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    • Jeff Little about 1 year ago

      I've got two words for you TJ. Upside and potential. These are two big words that hold different meanings to several people on draft day.

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    • Marcus Hagness about 1 year ago

      Marvin Williams didn't start at UNC (not NCU) because the line up we had that year was ridiculous. He did better coming off the bench, much like Ginobili for the Spurs. I think that's why he started as a sixth man for the Hawks. He did average 15 points and 5 rebounds a game for the Hawks this year. I know it's not Chris Paul numbers but he is only 21 years old and if Atlanta keeps developing him they'll be fine. I know there was one point this season when Marvin was averaging close to 20 PPG.

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  8. Greg Adams about 1 year ago

    There's nothing wrong with taking a solid player in the first round, but you're right, Jeff, Marvin was/is a bit of a project. Teams as bad as the Hawks don't have that kind of time. But it'll happen again this year. Just watch. Some team with major holes to fill will pick a 3-year project. And of course it will be a new regime's problem... after the coach and front office who made the "upside" pick get pink slipped.

    Marcus, you make a great point. At 21, Williams would have been a senior at Carolina this season. He's still young and, from what I've seen, is much improved from last year.

    We just would loved to have seen him in Chapel Hill one more year (teardrop).

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  9. Peter Bukowski about 1 year ago

    In retrospect, it is very easy to say "Well this team should have drafted this player." Chris Paul disappeared at times in college and was never the kind of dominant player at Wake that he has been in New Orleans. Also, at the time, there was considerable dissension over who was better Paul or Deron Williams. It was thought Marvin Williams had more upside than either, which still may be true. The basic problem you fail to address is the core fallacy of the NBA. We fall in love with wing player who possess great athleticism while forgetting true point guards and true centers are considerably more rare. That is why Andrew Bogut went #1 overall in that draft and why Oden went #1 overall last season. Furthermore, I hope whatever team gets the #1 pick this season takes Derrick Rose over Michael Beasley.

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    • Jeff Little about 1 year ago

      Thanks for the comments and the feedback, the entire article is in retrospect, note the title of the article. I wouldn't say that Chris Paul disappeared he just wasn't dominate which happens during a season regardless of the level of play. I agree there was dissension over which point guard was better but when you're in need of a point guard you have to address the position and draft one of the two. You're mistaken if you feel that I've forgotten the basic problem or core fallacy, as stated in the article 'Upside and Potential' are the watch words of the first round on the NBA draft. If they were forgotten those exact words would've been anywhere in the article. Perhaps you have fallen in love with the wing players but if you're building a team someone has to run the point and the Hawks didn't fill that need until a late season trade this season brought them Mike Bibby, which means Peter that the team still was in need of a point guard until the trade.

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  10. Peter Fleischer about 1 year ago

    I like the article, but how can you guys say Marvin Williams "isn't doing good" or even hint that he's a bust? He's 21 years old, younger then Paul, and he's averaging 15 points and 6 boards. Paul and Deron Williams are both better obviously and they do need a PG, but Marvin Williams is a good, young player. Maybe they could have made better picks rather then Shelden Williams or Acie Law?

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    • Jeff Little about 1 year ago

      Thanks for the comments and the feedback, I never said that Marvin Williams "isn't doing good" nor did I say that he's a bust. I've no idea where that came from Peter but it wasn't from me. What I did say was that the Hawks had a need for a point guard and had two excellent prospects to choose from and decided to listen to the hype/upside/potential of Marvin Williams and selected him #2 overall instead of filling their need for a point guard. I also stated that if the Hawks would've filled the need for a point guard they woud have a better team and higher seed and their series against the Celtics would be much more competitive. Acie Law is a good young player and yes they could've made a better choice than Sheldon Williams who wasn't a lottery pick in my opinion.

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  11. Peter Fleischer about 1 year ago

    No, sorry about the confusion I didn't mean you. Just responding to comments made about the article. It was definitely a good piece

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    • Jeff Little about 1 year ago

      No offense taken Peter I just wanted to make sure I answered or addressed your concerns. I was prepared to talk about it with us both raising our views. Thanks for the compliments, comments and of course the feedback. Enjoy a tremendous sports weekend.

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    • Jeff Little about 1 year ago

      No offense taken Peter. I was ready to discuss any thoughts or concerns you had. I want to thank you for the compliments, comments and feedback. I also want you and everyone else to enjoy a tremendous sports weekend!

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    • Jeff Little about 1 year ago

      No offense taken Peter. I was ready to calmly discuss any concerns or thoughts. I want to thank you for the compliments, comments and feedback. I also want you to enjoy a tremendous sports weekend!

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  12. TJ Zwarych about 1 year ago

    Marvin Williams does have a very high upside and good potential, but it still isnt as high as Willams or Pauls, and I am sort of drawing a complete blank right now...can someone tell me who the first overall pick was? Im tired I cant think right now

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  13. Ben Gunby about 1 year ago

    Andrew Bogut I believe.

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