Atlanta Hawks NBA Draft Preview

The Atlanta Hawks could go in several directions with the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.

When the NBA holds its first-ever two-day draft starting Wednesday, the Hawks will be on the clock from the jump, thanks to their NBA lottery win on May 12, even though they’re just 3.0 percent chances of landing the first pick.

The Hawks, who finished last season with a 36-46 record, will have the chance to elevate a team that qualified for the Play-In tournament despite a number of significant injuries. At the same time, the list does not address a major need. With Trae Young and Dejounte Murray in the backcourt, De’Andre’ Hunter and Jalen Johnson up front, and Onyeka Okongwu and Clint Capela in the middle, the Hawks have talented players throughout their rotation.

So with all that being said, who will the Hawks pick on Wednesday night? (The prospects below are listed alphabetically.)

One possibility is Donovan Clingan. After winning two national championships at the University of Connecticut, Clingan could be this draft’s can’t-miss prospect. If he stays healthy, he will be a defensive force for a long, long time. The 7-foot-2 center blocked 2.5 shots per game for the Huskies while anchoring the paint.

At his size, with a 7-foot-7 wingspan, Clingan has the potential to both block shots at the pro level and make things uncomfortable enough that opponents don’t really want to get there in the first place. Playing in UConn’s pro-style offense, he also showed flashes in the two-man game. Depending on the situation, he can skillfully filter, hand the ball off and/or roll to the rim with a fluidity that will keep opposing defenses honest.

Another possibility is Zacharie Risacher. The 6-foot-9 forward averaged 10.7 points and 3.6 rebounds while playing for JL Bourg-en-Bresse in France’s top league. He shot 38.7 percent from three last season, demonstrating both the ability to make threes, as well as making threes off a relocation dribble after being chased off his initial attempt.

With that type of size and shooting ability, as well as a pair of quick feet on defense, Risacher presents himself as the prototype “big wing” that teams covet off the ball.

Like Risacher, Alex Sarr is a 19-year-old who made his case for the top spot in the draft while playing overseas last season. The 7-foot-0 power forward spent last season playing in Australia for the Perth Wildcats. In his lone season in Perth, the 19-year-old averaged 9.4 points and 4.3 rebounds while shooting 51.6 percent from the field. He has the footwork, length and motor that should help him thrive as a defender both in the paint and at the three-point line.

If the Hawks value the flexibility of playing multiple styles of pick-and-roll defense, whether coverage, changeup or drop, Sarr has the potential, over time, to succeed in all of them . He blocked 1.5 shots per game last season, despite playing mostly off the bench. He also shot 71.0 percent from the free throw line, which should indicate his potential from the three-point line. All told, he possesses a rare combination of size and skill that should propel him toward a long NBA career.

Guard Reed Sheppard, who played at the University of Kentucky, might be the best shooter in the draft. He made 52.1 percent of his threes during his season with the Wildcats while shooting with perfect form. He also averaged 2.5 steals and 0.7 blocks per game at Kentucky, impressive totals for a 6-foot-1 guard.

At his size, will he be able to hold his own defensively at the NBA level? If he can, his path to NBA sharpshooter status is shorter than anyone else’s in this draft.

This list is not understandable. The full roster of potential candidates the Hawks could pick is a long one and extends beyond these four players, but another possibility that makes it even longer is that the Hawks could trade the pick.

If the Hawks are considering a player they think they can get later in the lottery and can pick up a valuable future asset in the process, that could end up being the route they take.

This week could be a wild ride, but ultimately the Hawks should end up with a major roster upgrade.