Here’s a look at five options for the Hawks with their No. 21 overall pick in Thursday’s NBA draft:
Cheick Diallo
The 6-foot-9, 220-pound forward is an early-entry candidate following his freshman season at Kansas. He averaged just three points and 2.5 rebounds in 7.5 minutes per game but he showed an ability to be a rim protector. Diallo finished 12th in the Big 12 in blocks per game (0.85) and blocks per 40 minutes (4.51). There is potential once the Hawks get the 19-year old into their player development system. He was the MVP of the 2015 McDonald’s All-American game. Australian Thon Maker is a possibility here but there is still a quest for information on the young big man. He could be a gamble at No. 21 or he could also be gone before the Hawks’ selection.
Tyler Ulis
The 5-9, 160-pound guard is an early-entry candidate after two seasons at Kentucky. However, he proved himself as one of the nation’s top collegiate players, named as a finalist for the John R. Wooden Award, Naismith Trophy and Oscar Robertson Trophy. He won the Bob Cousy Award, given to the nation’s top point guard. With the Hawks likely to trade one of their point guards at some point during the offseason, Ulis could fill a position of need. He averaged 17.3 points, seven assists, three rebounds and 1.5 steals in 36.8 minutes last season. Ulis was one of four players in the nation to average at least 17.3 points and seven assists.
Malik Beasley
The 6-5, 196-pound guard is an early-entry candidate after one season at Florida State. He played high school ball at St. Francis in Alpharetta. The Hawks are also looking for athletic wing players and Beasley could fit that bill. He averaged 15.6 points and 5.3 rebounds and was named ACC All-Freshman last season. He was also honorable mention All-ACC. He is the first player from Florida State to enter the NBA draft after one season. Beasley finished second on the team in scoring with 529 points, the second-highest single-season scoring output for a freshman in school history. He has 3-point range but also can finish at the rim.
Brice Johnson
The 6-10, 230-pound forward/center could fit the Hawks as a polished player from four seasons at North Carolina. He averaged 17 points, 10.4 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 28 minutes last season. His 416 rebounds were a North Carolina single-season record. He was the fifth player in the past 39 years at the school to average a season double-double. He plays above the rim, a trait the Hawks lack. Johnson has a lengthy list of college accolades, including being a consensus first-team All-America and a first-team selection by the AP, NABC and USBWA. He was also a first-team All-ACC pick and was the most outstanding player at the NCAA East Regional.
Buddy Hield
What? This would have constituted a long shot Wednesday morning. However, the Hawks could parlay their trade of Jeff Teague to move way up the draft board for a player like Hield, the national player of the year after his senior season at Oklahoma. The Hawks covet shooting and the 6-4, 214-pound guard can do that. Whether a lottery team would be willing to part with Hield may be unlikely. However, now the Hawks could have the addition of the No. 12 overall pick. Two first-round picks might be enough. If the Hawks could pull off such a deal, it would be a major splash and a major addition to the roster. The Hawks have other assets, including all their first-round picks, an additional first-rounder and multiple second-rounders in the next four drafts. Maybe it would be enough.
About the Author
