The Atlanta Hawks made a lot of changes to their roster over the course of the season. The biggest change was the trade of Trae Young to the Washington Wizards, turning the page to Jalen Johnson as the franchise’s cornerstone.
Hawks General Manager Onsi Saleh admitted that his team was at a deficit of draft assets. Last year, Atlanta made two trades that involved acquiring the two first-round picks they have in this upcoming draft.
At the deadline last season, the Hawks traded De’Andre Hunter to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a package that included a pick swap in this upcoming draft. Atlanta also acquired a swap-best pick from the New Orleans Pelicans on draft night last year in a stunning draft-night trade.
The Hawks have set themselves up nicely with two draft picks on Night 1 of the NBA Draft. There’s no indication of Atlanta looking to trade up in the draft, but they can still find an impactful player at pick 8.
The Hawks are looking to embark on a new era in Atlanta, and this draft could propel them into Eastern Conference contention if they strike gold with their picks.
Hawks Draft Picks
- Round 1 — No. 8
- Round 1 — No. 23
- Round 2 — No. 57
Hawks Draft Needs
The Hawks have more than enough depth on the wing, but their lack of size or a true point guard is an issue they can address in the draft.
Atlanta doesn’t have a 7-footer on the roster, and their rebounding and rim defense were constant issues.
After trading Young, Atlanta looked towards Dyson Daniels, CJ McCollum, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker for minutes at Point Guard, which may not be a long-term solution.
Hawks Draft Targets
Aday Mara — C — Michigan
Nobody has rocketed up draft boards quite like Michigan’s Aday Mara. The big man from Spain had unbelievable testing numbers at the combine. He measured at 7-foot-3 (without shoes), and has a 7-foot-7 wingspan to go along with a 9-foot-9 standing reach.
Mara helped lead the Wolverines to their second National Championship in program history. He averaged 12.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists, while also leading the Big Ten in blocks per game (2.6).
He won the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and was Third-Team All-Big Ten. Mara’s presence at the rim was part of why Michigan had the best defense in the country, per KenPom.
Mikel Brown Jr. — PG — Louisville
Mikel Brown Jr. suffered a back injury that caused him to miss both of Louisville’s games in March Madness this season. That concern lingered into the pre-draft period, but he was recently fully cleared from his back injury.
As for his play on the court, the first thing that jumps out is his athleticism. At 6-foot-5, he has plus-size for a guard, and his shot creation ability can allow him to have an impact from out of the gate.
While there is room for improvement on the defensive end, Brown can score at all three levels. He could unlock a half-court offense that was non-existent at times in Atlanta.
Christian Anderson — PG — Texas Tech
Christian Anderson is an intriguing prospect from Texas Tech. He played high school basketball in Atlanta, so there is a local connection.
Anderson has no problem scoring the basketball. He is a high-volume shooter who will always find ways to get his shots off. Even though he takes a lot of shots, Anderson is also good at setting his teammates up, averaging 6.9 assists per game.
The high volume didn’t stop Anderson from having an efficient season, as he shot 41.5% from three. If the Hawks are swinging for a scoring guard late in the first round, Anderson is a great option with the 23rd pick.
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