Hawks nab Terry for point
Associated Press

ATLANTA -- The Atlanta Hawks didn't waste any time drafting someone to replace Mookie Blaylock.

The Hawks used the 10th pick in Wednesday's NBA draft -- acquired just 24 hours earlier in a trade that sent Blaylock to Golden State -- to select Arizona guard Jason Terry.

The 6-foot-2, 172-pound Terry averaged 21.9 points per game last season and was named a first-team All-American. He is the only player in Arizona history with 1,000 points and 200 steals in his career.

"I had no idea," Terry said at Washington's MCI Center, where the draft was held. "Being there is great for me. Atlanta, huh? Wow."

The Hawks went into the draft with four first-round picks and a chance to rebuild an aging team that was swept by the New York Knicks in the second round of the playoffs.

Until Tuesday, the highest of those picks was No. 17, making it unlikely Atlanta would be able to land someone who could step into lineup. So the Hawks worked out the deal with Golden State, sending Blaylock and their 21st pick to the Warriors for the 10th selection, guard Bimbo Coles and forward Duane Ferrell.

With their other first-round picks, the Hawks selected Old Dominion forward Cal Bowdler (No. 17), Georgia Tech guard Dion Glover (20) and Georgia forward Jumaine Jones. They later traded Jones to the Philadelphia 76ers for a future first-rounder.

The draft was deep in point guards, but the Hawks never had a chance at Maryland's Steve Francis and UCLA's Baron Davis, chosen with the second and third picks by Vancouver and Charlotte, respectively.

It appeared that Utah's Andre Miller might slip to the Hawks, but he was chosen by Cleveland at No. 8. A surprisingly large turnout of 1,800, watching the draft from the atrium of CNN Center, let out a collective groan when Miller's name was called by commissioner David Stern.

Two picks later, the groans turned to cheers when Stern revealed the Hawks were taking Terry, a lightning-quick player who should add spark to Atlanta's stagnant offense.

This past season, the Hawks ranked next-to-last in scoring (86.3 points per game). More troublesome, they averaged less than 16 assists per game, by far the lowest figure in the league.

Terry was a key reserve when Arizona won the 1997 national championship, but he had to wait until his final season to move into the Wildcats' starting lineup. His path was blocked by future NBA players Mike Bibby, Michael Dickerson and Miles Simon.

"I had to wait my turn," Terry said. "I followed behind three great players. They taught me everything I know."

Well, everything except his numerous superstitions. Terry's pre-game ritual includes sleeping in his uniform the night before and buying chicken fingers but not eating them. He also wears five pairs of socks on the court.

In Washington, Terry pulled up the legs of his pants to reveal that he wore two pair of socks to the draft: a dark pair that covered his lucky white socks with the word "Cats" written down the side.

"I slept in my suit," he joked.











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