The Hawks didn’t expect John Collins to be available.
He was.
So, they quickly selected the sophomore power forward from Wake Forest with the No. 19 pick of the NBA Draft on Thursday.
“Our philosophy is going to be best player available,” general manager Travis Schlenk said. “We had him ranked in the top 15. He was on the board. We went with him.”
Collins, 6-foot-10, 235 pounds, averaged 19.2 points and 9.8 rebounds last season for the Demon Deacons. He earned All-ACC first team and ACC Most Improved Player honors after a breakout campaign. Collins led the ACC with 10 20-point, 10-rebound games.
Schlenk pointed to the athletic ability of Collins as the major consideration.
“His athleticism and his ability to run the floor,” Schlenk said. “He’s a great rebounder, which is obviously something we’ve struggled a little bit in the past with here. He can score in the post. It gives us another option inside.”
The Hawks could lose four-time All-Star Paul Millsap to free agency. While drafting the best player available was the philosophy, Collins could also fill a need.
Collins told reporters in New York that he is happy to join the Hawks with their history of success of 10 consecutive postseason appearances.
“Obviously the organization has a winning culture of being able to make the playoffs consistently for a number of years now, with the front-office changes, something is going in the right direction,” Collins said. “They’re a team that constantly wants to improve and going forward, so as a young guy I want to come in there and learn that winning culture and just bring that to the team.”
Schlenk said the Hawks will immediately begin working with Collins on his jump shot.
“When you watched him play in college, all his scoring came in the post,” Schlenk said. “He’s got a good post game. We need to extend his range out with the way we play and the way the league is going.”
Collins, who won’t turn 20 until September, helped Wake Forest to a berth in the NCAA Tournament. He was 9-of-13 from the field, with 26 points and nine rebounds in a first-round loss to Kansas State.
Schlenk said the Hawks had opportunities to move up and back in the draft. He said there was one player they targeted to move up, but that player was selected before any deal could be made. He said there were discussions about moving back, but once they realized Collins was going to be available, those talks ended. Schlenk said the Hawks realized by pick No. 16 that Collins would be available.
The Hawks interviewed Collins at the NBA Draft Combine in May. They were unable to schedule a pre-draft workout as it was expected Collins would be gone before pick No. 19.
“We scouted him a lot,” Schlenk said. “We send guys to his (agency) pro day out in L.A. I saw him play three times this year and probably four or five times last year. We are comfortable with him.”
The knock on Collins is his defense. However, Schlenk said that was a function of Collins being the best player for Wake Forest.
“A lot of times, especially in college, when you are the main focal point the best offensive player doesn’t want to get in foul trouble so he can stay on the floor,” Schlenk said. “Coach (Danny) Manning said don’t get in foul trouble. I can’t afford to not have you on the court.”
The Hawks also had two second-round picks Thursday with Nos. 41 and 60.
The last time the Hawks had the No. 19 pick in the draft they selected Jeff Teague, also from Wake Forest.
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