The Atlanta Hawks are on the clock.
In one of the more unlikely upsets in the NBA Draft Lottery era, the Hawks won the first overall pick in 2024 despite having the 10th-best odds to do so. Now, the franchise faces unexpected pressure to make the correct decision to build for the future.
The 2023-24 season was complete with ups and downs for the Hawks, whose postseason run ended with a loss to Chicago in the Play-In Tournament. As it stands, Atlanta is looking to find a piece to complement a core of Trae Young, Dejounte Murray, Jalen Johnson, Clint Capela and Onyeka Okongwu, but the team’s positional overlap in the backcourt and the strength of the draft’s frontcourt prospects has fueled trade rumors.
What will Atlanta do? Here is an outlook on the Hawks’ draft situation.
MORE: Ranking the top 60 prospects in 2024 NBA Draft
Hawks draft picks 2024: When does Atlanta pick?
The Hawks own one pick in the 2024 NBA Draft:
Atlanta finished with a 36-46 record in 2023-24, good for the Eastern Conference’s 10th seed and the final spot in the Play-In Tournament. In addition to finishing 10th in the East, the Hawks had the 10th-worst record in the NBA, as reflected in their odds to win the lottery.
To put Atlanta’s lottery win in perspective, it had a three percent chance to win the No. 1 pick — it is the fifth-greatest lottery upset of the modern era.
Last year, the Hawks used the 15th overall pick to select guard Kobe Bufkin from Michigan, the 46th overall pick to take guard Seth Lundy from Penn State and orchestrated a draft day trade to acquire Mouhamed Gueye, who was selected 39th overall out of Washington State.
The three rookies played a combined 32 games for the Hawks last year, with Bufkin’s role limited due to injuries and G League assignments. Bufkin projects as a key member of Atlanta’s rotation in the coming years.
MORE: Tracking the latest leaks, news and trade buzz ahead of the NBA Draft
Hawks 2024 NBA Draft order
Hawks draft needs
- Frontcourt talent: This is no slight to Capela or Okongwu, but the Hawks could look to this year’s draft class for an upgrade in the frontcourt. There’s a reason why Atlanta has been linked to a pair of 7-footers in Alexandre Sarr and Donovan Clingan — Capela is now 30 and Okongwu is sometimes listed as a 6-8 center. Adding a younger player with more size and athleticism would, in theory, give Young a player to help mold offensively. Defensively, a rim protector of their caliber would help cover up some of Young’s weaknesses.
- 3-point shooting: The Hawks were among one of the league’s better 3-point shooting teams in 2023-24 but that was largely a product of Young’s production and a career shooting year from Murray. Atlanta can best position itself for success by adding more shooting around Young, giving the crafty playmaker more options with floor spacers and lob threats. A 3-and-D wing is always a welcomed addition in today’s NBA.
MORE: Key dates, rumors for 2024 NBA free agency
NBA Mock Draft 2024
The Sporting News’ Kyle Irving has the Hawks selecting French forward Zaccharie Risacher with the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft.
Risacher, who spent the last season on loan to JL Bourg, is viewed by many as the top prospect in this year’s draft class. Sarr, who is also slated as a top prospect in the draft, is reportedly uninterested in joining the Hawks.
Irving called Risacher “a higher upside swing” than someone like Clingan, who has also been linked to the Hawks as a potential top pick.