Allow me to preface this with the fact that I'm on record as saying the Hawks should go big with their first lottery pick, either UNC's Brandan Wright or Florida's Al Horford and think point guard with their second choice (11th overall).But here's two reasons why the Hawks No. 3 pick will definitely be Ohio State point guard Mike Conley: because ESPN's Ric Bucher just told everyone so, and because of the Deron Williams factor .
First, Bucher: in most NBA circles, he's known as 'Kobe's Boy' - I double-dog dare you to find one negative item he's written about Kobe. I'm fairly certain that all summer, this 'Kobe-wants-out-of-LA' business will be nudged along with the help from Bucher. It'll be Kobe's camp telling Bucher to put it out there so that the Lakers front office reacts. Anyway, Bucher just rambled for about 90 seconds about how the Hawks want a point guard, and they're going to get one at No. 3, and Conley's their guy. Then, Bucher went on to say that Conley is (paraphrasing here) as much of a lock at No. 3 as Oden and Durant are at 1-2. Whatever.
The Deron Williams factor is simple: Thanks to an impressive postseason, Williams is emerging as one of the five best point guards in the NBA (no order: Chris Paul, Nash, Kidd, Baron Davis, Billups). I'm not counting Allen Iverson as a pure point guard. Williams' postseason stats have been incredible for a second-year player: 19.3 points, 8.9 assists, and 4.5 rebounds per game. In the 2005 draft, the Hawks passed on Chris Paul (Rookie of the Year in 2006) and Williams and took Marvin Williams. They won't make the same mistake again.
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