Atlanta Hawks must CRUSH this draft

 I actually believe Jaren Jackson jr. might be the BEST overall prospect in this draft (and yes that includes ayton and doncic). If you look at what he potentially brings to the table, he basically checks every box you would want in a modern nba big. On defense, he has both incredible length and mobility. He has both great instincts to contest shots at the rim and the ability to defend smaller players in space (an extremely rare combination.) He also has a solid frame already with the ability to easily add more strength. On offense, he can score in the low post, shoot from outside, and has the speed and ball-handling ability to blow by bigger and slower defenders. He might have the best overall combination of skills to excel in today’s league of any player in this draft and he’s only 18.

I get the skepticism. He didn’t dominate in college the way the other top prospects in this draft did. He wasn’t consistent and there were some games where he didn’t make much of an impact at all. However, I also thought he was utilized very poorly in a limited role and played primarily out of position. He is far from a finished product but anytime you draft an 18 year old you are drafting them more for the player they could eventually become than the player they are now. With Jackson’s combination of skills and physical attributes, you could be looking at a potential superstar hiding in plain sight. If he is available at 3 (which he almost certainly will be) I think Atlanta needs to strongly consider taking him.

H No 3  bagley or jjj. Those two are the guys I’ve settled on. Bags is talented and we hired pierce who is a defensive guy so maybe he can get him to be a decent defender even if shot blocking isn’t in the cards. JJJ  does a lot of things I like. Though he may never be a alpha type he could be a solid guy in the horford mold with better defence. 

No 19 Troy brown or Huerter. Love Troy browns game does a lot of things well but hasn’t put it all together. He’s what we hope for in bazemore and bembry ( who I hated as a pick and still do). Can he make his shot translate then we are talking about a very solid kid. Huerter shoots and has size though I don’t know about him defensively but I’ll roll 

No 30 Jacob Evans , josh Okogie or Melvin Frazier.  They all have decent games and would be great team guys.

No 34  Simmons or duval or McCoy, this is my development slot. If Simmons can be a pg then he’s my guy.

But I sould be very happy if the draft fell this way. 

 The Hawks seemed to have gone into a seamless rebuild but with Mike Budenholzer leaving as Head Coach and rumours star player Dennis Schroeder wants out. I wonder if there are deeper issues within the franchise.

Schroeder’s future needs to be settled quickly as it could indirectly affect their draft plans.

At 3 I think it will be between JJJ, Bamba and Doncic. The cases for all have been made before so I won’t repeat what others and myself have already said. If Schroeder does go it could persuade them to take Doncic but I think it will be a clear case of BPA. I’m assuming Ayton and Bagley go at 1 and 2.

If they got a good pick for Schroeder then they could possibly look to trade up to get Trae Young. Or they could look at Colin Sexton – he has fallen to 12th on latest site mock so with 19th and 30th or 34th pick a trade up would potentially be in range before we consider any pick they get for Schroeder in a potential trade.

With 19th pick there would be a number of PGs there if no trade up was made and Schroeder did go, if Schroeder did stay then I’d still look at Simons on upside. If they did take Doncic at 3 then I’d look for a big at 19 in Spellman or Robinson.

At 30 and 34, I’d look for one immediate pick and one stasher given that 4 rookies would be a lot to integrate or possibly see what offers they get for one of the picks. It would largely be BPA there.

 I have the Hawks going Bamba at 3, Zaire at 19, Elie Okobo at 30 and Moritz Wagner at 34… I beleive this gives them a variety of different player types with many of these guys possessing a very high upside. In my opinion they should take their time with this rebuild and develop young, high ceiling players

 Jackson has too much bust potential for the 3rd pick. I would go Bagley or Doncic, whoever is available. Bagley will be a beast. People are over thinking his position and underestimating him. Why does Dennis want out? 

If Walker was available at 19 I’d go with him before you’re other listed guys. I don’t think he will be. I’d go Okogie next depending on who else was there. 

 I am taking Bamba, Kostas Freak, then BPA after that… Moritz Wagner would be good but I am not too big on a three big man rotation IF there are other really good guys on the table.

If Air Donte aka the Artist Formerly Known as Donte Freak is not there at 19 I am gonna go with Kostas Freak and then add Rob Gray super late as my big time binge scorer off the bench.

Oh, gimme Jalen Brunson as the guy who runs my team/throws Bamba the alley-oops.

Moe Wagner, if he falls, could still work out.  You don’t need more than 3 bigs but with Bamba/John Collins, I think Wagner could be an ideal 3rd big.  At worst, he will end up being the German Jon Koncak with more range, toughness, and intangibles.

Can the Hawks MAKE 4 great picks?

Well, they haven’t made that many great picks since the moved from St. Louis, so maybe they’re due!

Ok, yeah, gimme, Jalen Brunson, Rob Gray, Kostas Freak, John Collins, and Mo Bamba with Prince and Wagner off the bench.  Rob Gray probably makes more sense as an instant-offense bench mob guy, so if they still wanna add depth at the 2, maybe Josh Okogie, a bouncy Georgia Tech product.

 Good call jpmarks, didn’t see your Josh Okogie pick.  

The Hawks could REALLY run this thing… I have Bamba as the top guy in this draft… then you can really load up on wings after that.  With Collins at the 4 the Hawks basically have their big man combo of the future.  Prince might even be a classic tweener combo forward who can play some 4 anyway.  

After the so-called "top bigs" and Mitchell Robinson (who I like and have him really high), there aren’t many bigs left with Moritz Wagner and Omari Spellman being the top options.  Then probably Brandon McCoy who looks like your prototype backup center.

They can get some 4’s next year — don’t reach on one.

The value of the mediocre power forward will keep going down… so unless they uncover a Draymond Green type player late in this draft then keep looking for that kinda guy next year.

 3. Bagley or Bamba…Bamba could anchor a defense like Mutombo did back in the day

19. You take a PG, maybe Anfrene Simmons, Dennis has stated he no longer wants to be a Hawk, try and tried him and get the Suns pick at 15 (just a thought)

30. Josh Oskoie, G-Tech product, from metro Atlanta, we’ve had the chance to scout him all year and he did great in our workout…

34. IF we take Bagley over Bamba then pick Brandon McCoy with this pick, we need another big to compliment  Collins. I’m one of the few believers of McCoy, think he could be a good pro. 

The Hawks really need to make trades to get back into the early Lottery and grab the best player available with both picks. One high tier guy isn’t going to cut it. I want a combination of Trae Young AND Bagley/Mo Bamba on this team BAD. But realistically, I have: Bagley/Bamba at #3, Lonnie Walker at #19(unlikely), Jalen Brunson at #30, and Josh Okogie at 34.

if Duncic not there(maybe even if he is there)  i also would take JJJ at #3, he is a hard to find big who fit perfectly for today 5 spot and perfeft big complimentry to John Collins!

 at #19 they can find consolation prize for not taking Doncic in Troy Brown as similar type of player as playmaking wing with potential…

 3- Jaren Jackson Jr

19- Lonnie Walker IV

30- Trevon Duval

34- Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk

 If they really want to imitate "The Process," take Doncic and let him play in Europe for another year. Go for another top-three pick in 2019.

 I would keep the 3rd pick and take best available left out of Bamba,Bagley or Luka

 Then I would package the 19 pick and Bazemore or Dennis S for someone younger and on a cheaper deal and maybe a Lower/Higher pick or a pick in a future draft and a slightly cheaper deal. For example try talk to a team that wants some more vets and younger prospect for example the Nets maybe a willing taker.

Then with the 30th do the exact same with whichever out of Dennis S and Bazemore is left.. This means you can do a legit rebuild and let them both go to a team more likely to contend now.

Because me personally I don’t think this draft is exactly that deep it kind of reminds me of the  2014 or 2016 draft where there is some good pieces in the top 5-10 range and then after that it is a big drop off in talent..