National Basketball Association

Hawks pick DeAndre Bembry still mourning brother's death

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 12:31 p.m. ET

foxsports

ATLANTA (AP) Former St. Joseph's standout DeAndre Bembry will be playing for his late brother as he launches his NBA career with the Atlanta Hawks.

Bembry, a wing player selected by Atlanta with the No. 21 overall pick of the NBA draft on Thursday night, fought for words when he talked about his brother Adrian Potts, 20, who was shot and killed in Charlotte, North Carolina on June 11.

Bembry didn't attend the draft because it was so close to his brother's funeral last week.

''It's been a very rough time for me,'' Bembry said. ''Me and my mother, I don't know. It seems unreal that my brother isn't here. It's so crazy. I don't know. I don't really want to speak on that. That was like my best friend. I just loved that guy and I'm definitely going to put more effort out there just for him.''

Bembry was Atlanta's first official pick, though small forward Taurean Prince, taken by Utah with the No. 12 pick, will belong to the Hawks when Wednesday's three-team trade becomes official. The Hawks sent point guard Jeff Teague to Indiana, which sent point guard George Hill to Utah. The Hawks received Utah's No. 12 overall pick, though the deal cannot be announced officially before the free-agent moratorium ends on July 7.

With two second-round picks, the Hawks selected guard Isaia Cordinier, 19, from France at No. 44 overall and Oakland point guard Kay Felder at No. 54. The Hawks traded the rights to Felder to Cleveland for undisclosed cash considerations.

Cordinier is expected to be a long-term project player.

Bembry (6-5, 206) averaged 17.4 points and 7.8 rebounds as a junior last season and was named the Atlantic 10 player of the year. He gives the Hawks an alternative to Kyle Korver or free agent Kent Bazemore at the wing positions and may even contribute at point guard.

''He's a player we have watched for quite some time,'' said Hawks general manager Wes Wilcox. ''He has a great deal of versatility, a very good passer and high basketball IQ.''

Wilcox said Bembry is an excellent passer who needs to work on his shooting.

''We said in our room he's a good Hawks fit,'' Wilcox said. ''He can handle and pass. He's unselfish. There are areas of his game that he has to improve. We look forward to being a part of that. ... In our system, he has a chance to play a lot of spots.''

Wilcox fielded no questions and had no comment on Prince.

Prince (6-7, 220) is a strong defender and shooter who has been compared with former Hawks small forward DeMarre Carroll. Prince will provide insurance at the position if Atlanta does not re-sign this season's starter, Kent Bazemore.

Prince averaged 15.9 points and 6.1 rebounds last season.

The Hawks created roster and financial flexibility with Wednesday's trade.

The deal opened the way for Dennis Schroder to start at point guard. It also enabled the Hawks to have more financial room to negotiate with free agents, including two Atlanta starters - center Al Horford and Bazemore. Before trading Teague, it may have been difficult for the Hawks to consider re-signing both players.

Perhaps the first indications a change at point guard was coming came when Teague sat out the fourth quarters of losses to Cleveland in Games 2 and 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. The Cavaliers ended the Hawks' season with a four-game sweep for the second straight postseason.

Schroder, 22, averaged 11 points and 4.4 assists in only 20.3 minutes per game this season. He showed his potential for greater production when he flashed his speed in the up-tempo offense coach Mike Budenholzer prefers. He still played out of control at times, however, while averaging 2.3 turnovers.

Schroder celebrated the opportunity on his Twitter feed on Thursday. He posted a photo of himself with Budenholzer and tweeted in all caps ''Can't describe this feeling!! I earned coach trust & I really appreciate that oppurtunity!!!''