Atlanta Hawks Draft Flashback: 1999 NBA Draft
By Nile Goodwyn
The Atlanta Hawks were one of the more entertaining teams of the 1990’s. Going into the 2000’s, the team went through a major overhaul. How did the 1999 Draft affect the future of the franchise?
The 1998-1999 Hawks were swept by the Eastern Conference champion New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Semifinals and owned the 21st pick in the 1999 NBA Draft.
The team’s core of Steve Smith, Mookie Blaylock, and Dikembe Mutombo were in their primes, the Hawks looked to be creating a solid roster for the future. The Hawks went 31-19 during the lockout-shortened season.
In a blockbuster move for the franchise, they dealt the 21st pick and All-Star point guard Blaylock to the Golden State Warriors for the 10th overall pick, Bimbo Coles, and Duane Ferrell.
This left the Hawks with the 10th, 17th, 20th, and 27th pick, the last of which was obtained in a January 1999.
The Detroit Pistons sent their first round pick, previously obtained from Portland, and Scot Pollard to the Hawks for Christian Laettner. Laettner had torn his Achilles in September 1999, playing a pickup game at Duke. The Pistons traded for Laettner despite this and gave up what would eventually become the Hawks’ fourth and final pick in the 1999 NBA Draft.
Just how did this draft affect the future of the Hawks? Positively? Negatively? Take a look at the Atlanta Hawks’ 1999 NBA Draft in retrospect.