With 23 games left on their schedule following the All-Star break, the Hawks are tied with the Suns for the worst record in the NBA. If the Hawks finish last in the standings they'll have the best odds to win the No. 1 pick in the draft and would be guaranteed to select no later than fourth overall. The Hawks also own the rights to first-round picks from the Timberwolves and Rockets if those teams make the playoffs — and right now FiveThirty Eight gives both teams a better than 99 percent chance of doing so.
Here’s a look at which players some recent mock drafts predict the Hawks will select.
Jaren Jackon Jr, PF, Michigan State (No. 2 pick)
Comment: “6’10 athletic big man with great length (7’4 wingspan and 9’1 standing reach) ... Good athleticism, energy, and activity . . . Great defensive potential. . . Fits the mold for ideal big man in today’s NBA ... Young for his class (born Sept. 15, 1999) . . . Low release on his shot, could use more arc . . . Post game is raw. Lacks technique around the basket . . . Would be more dominant if he were to develop more of a mean streak, and play with a little more emotion.”
Landry Shamet, PG/SG, Wichita State (No. 24 via Timberwolves)
Moritz Wagner, PF, Michigan (No. 30 via Rockets)
Luka Doncic, SF, Real Madrid (No. 2)
Comment: “Doncic’s talent is no secret, and he’d be able to take over the offense right away. With his ability to read the floor and see over defenses, he’ll be able to make others better and benefit from additional space to operate. The question is whether you see Doncic as your franchise player long-term, or project him more as your second or third-best guy. His ceiling will be tied to his individual shot creation (and whether he can shoulder a superstar’s workload), or if he’s best-suited playing off a star teammate at the NBA level.”
Rawle Alkins, SG/SF, Arizona (No. 24 via Timberwolves)
Comment: “Although he’s missed time on and off with a foot injury, Alkins has been an X-factor for Arizona all season and looks to be rounding into form for the stretch run. His ability to slash and shoot from outside and keep up with opposing wings defensively would be a nice fit with Atlanta’s rebuild.”
Trevon Duval, PG, Duke (No. 29 via Rockets)
Comment: “Though Duval has had his struggles this season at Duke, there have been glimpses of the ability he showed in high school. It’s been well-documented that he can’t really shoot jumpers, but (he’s) well-rounded enough to remain in the first-round picture.”
DeAndre Ayton, C, Arizona (No. 2)
Comment: “Shooting 59.5 percent on post-ups, 45.1 percent on jump shots and 10-of-16 out of isolation, Ayton has developed into a skilled offensive player both inside and out. Improving defensively will be the priority, but between his quickness and 7'5½" wingspan, he has tremendous tools to work as a rim protector.”
Mitchell Robinson, C, Chalmette (La.) High (No. 25 via Timberwolves)
Comment: “Ineligible for the G League after leaving Western Kentucky before the season, Robinson is training for the draft and should still draw first-round interest for his power, explosiveness and room to improve skill-wise.”
Hamidou Diallo, SG, Kentucky (No. 29 via Rockets)
Comment: “Struggling to make shots or create good ones, he hasn't developed skill-wise the way scouts wanted. Diallo still remains worth gambling on this late in the first round for his explosive athleticism and potential to improve as a ball-handler, shooter and defender.”
DeAndre Ayton (No. 2)
Comment: “Although Duke’s Marvin Bagley III rates out as the top frontcourt player on our current big board, Arizona’s Ayton may be a slightly better fit for the Hawks, and given the slight talent difference between the two bigs, he gets the nod here. The 19-year-old is physically ready to compete in the NBA right now, and his offensive game featuring pick-and-pops and post-ups could develop into a nice focal point for Atlanta.”
Trevon Duval, Duke (No. 25 via Timberwolves)
Comment: “Duval, a 6-3 freshman with explosive athleticism, has NBA starter potential, but needs to shore up some of his deficiencies, including a high turnover rate and poor defensive awareness. Still, few point guards this deep in the draft offer the explosiveness of Duval.”
Jacob Evans, SG/SF, Cincinnati (No. 29 via Rockets)
Comment: “The back end of the first offers plenty of flexibility for Atlanta, but Cincinnati’s Evans fits the statistical profile of a successful 3-and-D wing. The 20-year-old is a career 38.8 percent 3-point shooter on 6.1 attempts per 40 minutes. He is also averaging more than 3.0 “stocks” — steals plus blocks — per 40 minutes this season.”
Mohamed Bamba, C, Texas (No. 4)
Chandler Hutchison, SG/SF. Boise State (No. 24 via Timberwolves)
De’Anthony Melton, PG, USC (No. 29 via Rockets)
