SBNation 2024 NBA Mock Draft: Atlanta Hawks select Alex Sarr

With the first overall pick in the 2024 SBNation NBA Mock Draft, the Atlanta Hawks select Alex Sarr from the NBL’s Perth Wildcats.

Here is my blurb that will appear in the overall preview version of the main site, SB Nation:

With the first overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, I select for the Atlanta Hawks: Victor Wembanyama! …I’m not allowed to do this? Shit.

Well, this choice is not so foolproof. Zaccharie Risacher and Donovan Clingan were both heavily considered here, but Sarr’s defensive versatility, mobility skills, and (too-brief) offensive flashes barely carry the day. With the trend of the NBA game, banking on a bouncy, rangy 7-foot-1 wonder who can guard the perimeter gives you a solid defensive floor.

There are obvious downsides to his game, more than most would like to admit: he’s thin, has inconsistent hands catching passes, and can’t reliably set screens for a team that wants to pick you and ride you to death with Trae. Young. On top of that, its rider and handle are far more theoretical than practical at this point.

The Hawks don’t have control of their next three first-round picks, so it may be wise to draft as much young talent as possible and hope for a rebound in production by year three or four. If he can commit to playing the 5 a good portion of the time – given the presence of last year’s star Jalen Johnson – it’s hard to pass up Sarr here.

To explain a little, my logic is as follows: I have Alex Sarr no. 1 on my big overall board and even on my Hawks specific board when I apply the existing roster adjustment. I think his talent, especially defensively, is so rare in this class that — even with some overlap with Jalen Johnson — he’s still the Hawks’ guy if I had my advice.

Sarr will need a specific development plan to make the most of his two-way potential, and it’s very likely he won’t be in the 2024-25 Rookie of the Year race due to his raw nature. But the Hawks are way too far out of contention to worry about first-year production from whoever they select, in my opinion.

Additionally, the Hawks should get creative with how they deploy him. Slide Jalen Johnson to the 3 at times? Playing Sarr exclusively with Onyeka Okongwu and hoping one of them spaces the floor more than they currently do? It seems inconceivable that a 7-foot-1, 220-pound player would be a pure power forward, and despite rumors that he doesn’t want to play the 5, he may have to if the Hawks make that selection.

Do I think the hawk will actually select Alex Sarr? Well, after being subjected to weeks and months of rumors about the project, I would bet heavily against it. As of yet, the Hawks have yet to bring Sarr in for private in-house training. And any connection between Sarr and the Hawks is believed to be a ploy to get the Washington Wizards to give up an asset to trade a spot for him.

My money is on Zaccharie Risacher and Donovan Clingan if the Hawks stay at number. 1. But a drop in trade could bring many scenarios into play. We’ll just have to wait and see on Wednesday night what happens.