Keeping with a desire to acquire long and athletic players, Hawks director of basketball operations Billy Knight drafted 6-foot-8 French swingman Boris Diaw with the 21st pick in the NBA draft Thursday.

Making the first selection in the post-Pete Babcock era, Knight was pleased to acquire the unselfish guard with the large wingspan and quick feet. The Hawks made a qualifying offer to restricted free agent point guard Jason Terry, and Knight said he expects Diaw to come in and take over some of the ball-handling responsibilities.

"He has size, versatility," Knight said. "We feel he adds a different dimension to the team. We're not going to put the ball in his hands and expect him to be Magic Johnson, but we think he will help us out."

The Hawks had hoped to bring Diaw, who will wear No. 32, in for a workout before the draft, but his French team, Pau Orthez, is in the French championships. Knight will head to France this morning to watch Diaw play in the third and final game Saturday.

Diaw began his professional career at the age of 16 in 1998. He averaged 7.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists last season. ESPN college analyst Jay Bilas called Diaw "a poor man's Scottie Pippen."

"I like the comparison," Diaw said in a telephone interview from France. "[Pippen] can do everything on the court. He has the defense. He's like a role player, but he does every role. Somebody said [I'm] like a point forward."