The TrueHoop Network Mock Draft: With The 24th Pick, The Atlanta Hawks Select...

Larry Sanders, Forward, VCU

As has been disclaimed across the network, we've been wearing our predictive rather than our preferential hats during this project so I've received a small estimation of what Rick Sund and company will experience Thursday night. The Hawks have little control over their draft fate. They're unlikely to get the player they want and will be hoping just to get a player they want. Picking 24th, the Hawks figure to select whichever of Sanders, Damion James, Daniel Orton, Solomon Alabi, or Kevin Seraphin falls* to them. In this exercise it was Sanders, a development which should please both the team and its fans were reality to replicate it.

From my draft preview:

Larry Sanders isn't much different than Ed Davis and his lower ranking here could be down to an unfair level of competition bias. Sanders scored more than Davis but was less efficient, both from the field and the line. That Sanders scored more without much of a post game can be judged either impressive or concerning for his development. He can finish and should be a serviceable backup at the 4 as a rookie, could provide good minutes off the bench as a backup center in smaller lineups, and is certain to inspire Hank Kingsley references wherever he goes.

Sanders blocked 7.4 shots per 100 on-court possessions in three years at VCU and his lowest rebound rates (11.3/23.9) came in his freshman season. Measuring 6' 10.5" (with shoes) and possessing a 7' 5.75" wingspan, contributions in those three areas should be considered givens from Sanders in the NBA.

Larry Sanders	BS/100	OR%	DR%
FR	11.6	11.1	24.9
SO	6.5	13.2	24.5
JR	5.9	12.9	23.9
Career	7.4	12.6	24.5

Though he's still, as an offensive player, mostly a finisher, his scoring rate and shooting percentages (both from the field and the line) increased (as did his role in the offense) in his second and third seasons at VCU. After earning just 17 assists in 1435 combined minutes over his Freshman and Sophomore seasons, Sanders earned 34 assists in 941 minutes in his Junior season, further providing some reason for optimism (beyond his age: 21) regarding his potential offensive development.

Larry Sanders	Pts/100	TS%	2PTFG%	FT%	%Poss	A/100
FR	19.1	50.7	50.4	45.6	18.1	0.5
SO	27.0	52.9	51.0	55.8	25.3	0.9
JR	33.2	57.1	54.7	64.1	26.2	2.2
Career	27.8	54.5	52.6	57.7	24.1	1.4

Even if Sanders fails to develop offensively his low-turnover, high offensive rebound rate attributes figure to mesh nicely with the Hawks' established offensive identity. His defensive rebounding, shot blocking, and general athleticism could aid an effort to push the tempo should words become actions in that regard this season.

*If all those guys (Sanders included) are taken before the Hawks pick, then Gani Lawal, Craig Brackins, Stanley Robinson, Quincy Pondexter, Jordan Crawford, Eliot Williams, Willie Warren, and Dominique Jones likely enter the picture.

Now on the clock, the Memphis Grizzlies...