Hawks Draft Oakland Center Keith Benson With 48th Pick

ATLANTA – The Atlanta Hawks have selected Oakland University center Keith Benson with the 48th pick in the second round of Thursday’s NBA draft.

Benson was the Hawks’ first selection after general manager Rick Sund traded a first-rounder to Washington in February for a package that included veteran point guard Kirk Hinrich.

Benson averaged 14.1 points and 8.2 rebounds in four seasons with Oakland.

Atlanta is seeking low-post offense to take some of the front-line scoring responsibilities off center Al Horford.

Sund declined to say whether he tried to trade forward Josh Smith in an effort to move high into the first round.

Smith, a talented but inconsistent power forward, was the subject of speculation in an allegedly proposed deal to Minnesota for the No. 2 overall pick.