Atlanta Hawks: De’Andre Hunter Wanted to be Drafted by Atlanta
By Chris Guest
A quick look at recent news surrounding De’Andre Hunter wanting to be drafted by the Atlanta Hawks in the 2019 NBA Draft.
Ahead of the 2019 NBA Draft, the Atlanta Hawks were sitting pretty with a wide array of draft assets with which to play around with. The team had a multitude of needs and a variety of talented players on the board.
However, when the team opted to trade up to select De’Andre Hunter at #4 overall, they were actually fulfilling the wishes of the 21-year-old.
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According to a story by Chris Kirschner of The Athletic (subscription required), Hunter and his camp – which includes his brother Aaron Hunter and Sean Colson, Hunter’s former AAU coach and skills trainer – had singled out the Hawks as the best location for Hunter to be drafted as soon as the team traded away its ostensible “small forward of the future,” Taurean Prince, to the Brooklyn Nets for two future first-round picks.
Indeed, positional scarcity is one of the major reasons why Hunter made for a terrific choice for the Hawks in June’s 2019 NBA Draft, seeing as Prince had capably filled that role for the previous three seasons.
A big, burly wing that can defend multiple positions is what every team in the NBA is looking for, so the consternation (bordering on disdain) that the Atlanta Hawks received for taking Hunter in the draft continues to be a confusing and unusual move by pundits and draftniks.
In Kirschner’s story, Hunter’s ability in high school and on the AAU circuity was underlined when he played against Mohamed Bamba and his new teammate Cam Reddish’s squad. Though both were more highly sought recruits, Hunter outplayed them both.
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Hunter also grew into his body and currently has the frame of a prototypical three-man, which is exactly what the Atlanta Hawks need for next season – and beyond.