With the 49th Pick the Atlanta Hawks Select...

(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

What a great picture. Goran Suton hugging Tom Izzo? 

This might look good with Suton in a red Atlanta Hawks jersey hugging Izzo after a big win in Philips Arena in 2010. 

Okay, it is a dream, but Izzo almost took this job once.  We might need radical change next summer.

Days like today epitomize why it's often so frustrating to be an Atlanta Hawks fans.  The San Antonio Spurs made a deal to acquire Richard Jefferson from the Milwaukee Bucks. 

The Spurs gave up nothing even though Jefferson almost equals Manu Ginobili as a player.  Bruce Bowen will be bought out, Kurt Thomas is old, and Oberto has a bad heart. Jefferson would have fit in perfectly with Joe Johnson and Al Horford.

This radical Spurs' move is exactly what the Hawks need to make this year to improve their standing in the Eastern Conference.  Instead, we are left with no options but to turn our attention to the NBA draft about 48 hours from now.

With the no. 19 pick in the first round, the Hawks need to take one of these three players:  Eric Maynor, Sam Young, or BJ Mullens.  I would be happy with any of these picks for reasons that I have been writing about for the last month. 

Stay away from Teague and Hansbrough.

The Hawks also have a late second round selection.  Some might think this is a throw away pick, but the Hawks' lack of depth was one of their most glaring weaknesses in 2008-09.

Here are two players that the Hawks should consider depending on if they draft big or small in the first round:

Jeremy Pargo, Gonzaga.  Pargo is a big point guard at 6'2, 220 pounds.  His body and physical style of play remind me of a young Chauncey Billups.  Pargo's statistics this year at Gonzaga will not blow anyone away.  He averaged 10 points and 5 assists per game, but he only played about 30 minutes per game. 

Gonzaga's team first philosophy is not conducive to a single player putting up huge stats, but Pargo did play with two other guys who are going to be drafted on Thursday night.  The Zags might be the only team with three players going in the 2009 draft.

Most people have forgotten, but in the 2007-08 season he was Gonzaga's best player and the WCC player of the year.  If the Hawks re-sign Bibby, Pargo is the perfect change of pace player.  He is more of a penetrator and a guy that can get all the way to the rim and finish.

Pargo also benefits from the fact that his brother Jannero has been an NBA veteran.  He knows how to carry himself and he will not be awed by the talent level.

Goran Suton, Michigan State.  Every basketball fan knows what Suton was able to accomplish in this year's NCAA tournament.  Against the best teams, he had double figures in points and rebounds. 

He averaged 19.5 points and 9.5 rebounds against Kansas and Louisville in the Midwest Regional.  Kansas' center could not come out on the perimeter and guard Suton.  He stretches the defense with his perimeter shooting.

I like the way this guy competes and his toughness.  The Hawks are desperate for a tough player with rebounding skills.  Suton is a cheaper alterative to Zaza Pachulia.  Suton gives you more shooting and passing skills than Zaza.  He was third on the Spartans in assists this season.

He is a big guy and he should get in better shape in the NBA.  That will lead to some more quickness.  He is big enough to guard centers and allow Horford to play some at the power forward. 

The Hawks need a big draft night on Thursday.  Both players they select need to be able to make this roster and fill out the spots on the bench.  Woodson (and maybe Tom Izzo in 2010) has to have better options than Thomas Gardner, Randolph Morris, and Mario West.

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