--With things so much quieter around headquarters in the lead-up to the draft, the Hawks have been fast at work on free agency and beyond.
"All we can do now, and what we have been doing, is meeting and talking about how we continue to build this team going forward. This is basically the second phase of the process for us," Hawks coach Mike Woodson said. "Our core group has reached a point together and now we have to continue to grow them together. Now it's about adding pieces to that mix. And you don't necessarily do that through the draft." --Mike Woodson has his priorities in order, even if he isn't actually in charge of what's going on starting July 1. That would be Sund's job.
"The first priority has to be (Hawks general manager Rick Sund) getting Josh Smith and Josh Childress back in Hawks uniforms," Woodson said. "I don't even think you can think about anything else until you resolve that matter. From there we have to figure out our ninth, 10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th guys and who they are."
--Mike Woodson's coaching staff took a hit when David Fizdale left for an assistant's job in Miami. But Woodson did retain both Larry Drew and Bob Bender. He hasn't decided on a replacement for Fizdale yet, but former Milwaukee assistant Jim Todd is a name that's been rumored.
"We'll be fine," Woodson said. "We'll continue to teach and make sure guys know and understand what needs to be done. We'll interview some guys in Fiz's absence since he's gone to Miami. I have enough veteran coaches around me. We'll add another coach in Fizdale's position. I feel comfortable, though, with the fine coaches we have coming back.
"These are guys that have been with me throughout this entire process and we've stayed true to our mission to make sure these players got better and that everyone be a part of bringing playoff basketball back to the city of Atlanta."
QUOTE TO NOTE: "The bottom line is we won't know how any of this stuff works out until these kids get on the floor in our league. Until then, it's all just projecting." -- Hawks coach Mike Woodson on the uncertainty that surrounds the NBA Draft every year.
