Hawks director of basketball operations Billy Knight isn't silly enough to think he will be able to find a player who can come in and give the team 15 points a night --- not when he has the 21st and 37th picks in tonight's NBA draft.

Most see this draft beginning after the third pick with trades and surprising selections expected to follow LeBron James, Darko Milicic and Carmelo Anthony. After that trio, the talent pool has been called everything from weak to deep. Deep, if you are willing to dig really deep.

"This draft is deep in prospects," Knight said. "It's like panning for gold. Sometimes you dig and find something. Sometimes you dig and find nothing. But I think we'll get a player who can help."

Gold has been discovered at No. 21 in the past. Michael Finley, Ricky Davis and Morris Peterson were all taken at that slot. But the last time the Hawks had the 21st pick was in 1987, and they took DePaul's Dallas Comegys, who had a better name than his game.

Knight said he will take "the best player available," regardless of position, but the Hawks' more immediate need is in the backcourt. The team will tender a qualifying offer to Jason Terry today, but last year's first-rounder, Dan Dickau, is the only guard under contract for next season.