Hawks Top Draft Priorities At Each Position

The 2016 NBA Draft is less than a month away;the Atlanta Hawks have the 21st pick and will most likely look for the best player available, regardless of position. This is what most teams do late in the first round and assuming that the front office does not trade the pick, here are the best players at each position that should be available at the 21st pick:

PG: Demetrius Jackson (Notre Dame)

16.4 ppg/ 3.4 rpg/ 4.6 apg – 46.3 FG%/ 33.8 3P%/ 81.2 FT%

It is very unlikely that the Hawks will choose to take a PG with the 21st pick, but if they do, Demetrius Jackson is could be their man. Jackson is a versatile offensive player and has proven this year he can both score and distribute at a high level. Jackson’s go-to play at Notre Dame was a simple pick-and-roll/pick-and-pop, which the Hawks run frequently and effectively. He excels at reading the defenders and making the right decision on whether to make the pass or create a shot for himself.  Jackson hasn’t had the same success from 3-point range this year as he did last year playing off of Jerian Grant and that’s been slightly concerning. He’s shooting just 34 percent from deep, a big drop-off from his 42.9 percent clip from the previous season. He has solid form on his 3-point shot, however and when he gets space, Jackson still proved to be at least decent this year from beyond the arc. He has shown flashes of being a corner 3 point shooter as well. His size and lack of superior quickness made him a liability on defense during his freshman and sophomore year. However, he has improved his foot speed at an enormous rate and is slowly developing into a solid defender. CBS sports ranks Jackson the 18th best prospect and 3rd pest PG in this year’s draft.

Strengths:

• Ball handling
• Decision making
• P/R Offense
• Shot selection

Weaknesses: 

•  Sub-par perimeter defense
•  Slow foot speed
•  Small size

Outlook: Jackson will most likely spend some time in the D-league in his rookie season and will slowly develop into an every day rotation player. If all goes well, expect Jackson to be a starter by his 3rd-5th NBA Season. As of right now, he has limited potential and does not seem like he has the capability to be considered a star in the NBA (but hey, they said that bout Steph Curry).

NBA player comparison: Jerryd Bayless – A solid contributor who loves the ball in his hands in the half-court set. He is highly unlikely to ever be on SportsCenter’s Top 10 Plays of the Night, but he will surely get the job done regardless of what role he plays for his team.

SG: Wade Baldwin (Vanderbilt)

14.1 ppg/ 4.0 rpg/ 5.2 apg – 42.7 FG%/ 40.6 3P%/ 79.9 FT%

An aging Kyle Korver, a streaky Tim Hardaway Jr and the possible departure of Kent Bazemore all serve as valid reasons as to why the front office will choose to take Wade Baldwin. However, there is one reason that stands out. Baldwin is the perfect NBA 6th man. After Jamal Crawford left Atlanta back in 2011, the team struggled to maintain a true 6th starter (Lou Williams was injured for most of his tenure in Atlanta). To this day, it remains one of the team’s biggest issues and Baldwin could be the answer. Every aspect of him is perfect for a spark off of the bench. He is a combo guard who can provide on offense in various ways. The first skill that one notices when watching Baldwin is his athletic ability and three-point shooting (40.6%).

His athleticism boosts his potential on the defensive end, despite being shaky in college. Also, like any “run n’ gun” player, Baldwin loves to work in transition. 39.4% of his shots were attempted on fast breaks. That ranks him 7th in the entire NCAA for that category.

Strengths:

• Perimeter shooting
• Fast-break offense
• Passing potential
• Defensive potential
• Explosiveness

Weaknesses:

• Half court offense- cannot: play with composure, get to the basket, create shots
• Ball control

Outlook: Baldwin is one of the biggest sleepers in this year’s draft. His potential is off the charts and he should be a great contributor as an NBA player. Expect him to immediately be a rotational player in his rookie year (assuming he doesn’t fall to  pick 24-30), spend a few seasons as a 6th or 7th man as he continues to develop, and finish his career as a well respected NBA player with maybe even some All-Star appearances.

NBA player comparison: Monta Ellis (Warriors) – An athletic combo guard who loves to get out and run, knock down threes, and make the highlight plays. He is explosive, fun to watch, and can always be relied on to produce. He is an All-Star level player and has high value.

SF: DeAndre Bembry (Saint Josephs)

17.4 ppg/ 7.8 rpg/  4.5 apg – 47.9 FG%/ 26.6 3P%/ 65.7 FT%

DeAndre Bembry is one of the more overlooked names in this year’s draft. When you look at his numbers, nothing really stands out. Unlike most swing-men nowadays, Bembry struggles with his shot. His three point percentage (26.6) ranked second-to-last among all starters who qualified in the Atlantic 10. The reason most analysts think that he is a first round pick is something that does not show up in the stat sheet. Bembry was one of the most versatile players in the entire NCAA. Standing at 6’6, the average height of an NBA SF, he has played all 5 positions at some point of his college career. Here is a breakdown of how often he plays each position:

Bembry makes up for his lack of shooting by producing to the best of his abilities on defense and utilizing his above-average athleticism to make hustle plays, attack the basket, bully big men on the post and run in transition. On top of his athletic ability, his experience playing PG makes him an excellent passer and a lethal weapon. Much like Baldwin, his potential is very high. In the half-court, Bembry is your classic (fill in the blank) Swiss Army knife. He shows quick instincts while moving off the ball. He is constantly looking for opportunities to make strong cuts to the rim and get easy baskets. He also uses his polished footwork and strong frame to do some damage in the post, throwing in smooth hook shots and turnaround jumpers while drawing fouls at a nice rate. His long strides help him get to the rim off closeouts and other quick actions, as he often only needs a single dribble to make it all the way to the basket. Shooting can always be worked on; keep in mind that many great shooters came into the league not being able to hit a three-pointer to save their lives. Over time, Bembry can develop into something nice

Strengths:

• Versatility
• Size
• Low-post offense
• Passing

Weaknesses:

• Shooting
• Can’t create shots for himself
• Footwork
• Can play with incorrect mentality
• Takes a long time to make decisions

Outlook: Bembry, much like Demetrius Jackson, will most likely spend a good portion of his rookie year in the D-League developing his offense. In a couple of years, do not be surprised if you see him getting 30+ minutes on whatever team he is on. His versatility is just too good to not be utilized and recognized.

NBA Player Comparison: Draymond Green – Perhaps this is a stretch, but think about it; scouting reports of Green when he was at the combine and Bembry’s are identical. Bembry is a player who needs improvement in various areas, especially shooting, but shows the potential to be a legitimate point-forward in the NBA. Green was a 66% free throw shooter and a 32% three-point shooter at Michigan State. He was viewed as a raw prospect with potential and was overlooked. Drafted in the second round, today, some argue that Green is a top 10 NBA player. There is no clear argument written above stating that Bembry will ever be as good as Green. However, his game seems to be a mirror of the NBA champion. The only difference is that Green is a SF-PF while Bembry is more of a SF-SG.