A Review of Atlanta Hawks NBA Draft Picks During this Decade
By Bean
Pick 17: Dennis Schroder
Passed On: Rudy Gobert.
Dennis is arguably the best player on this list. He waited in the winds behind Jeff Teague for a couple of years, averaging about 10 points per game in a backup role. When Teague was traded last offseason, Schroder was thrust into the starting role. Despite some early inconsistency Schroder was still able to average 18 points and 6 assists per game in just his first season as a starter. He also performed well in the playoffs going blow for blow with John Wall. While Dennis is not the perfect player yet he is definitely a future cornerstone for the franchise if he isn’t already one right now. Hawks fans should look forward to him becoming even better as he gets more experience under his belt over the next couple of seasons. This pick was definitely a gem.
Pick 16: Lucas Nogeuira
Nogueira was acquired in a trade with the Mavericks where Shane Larkin was sent to Dallas. Nogueira never played a single minute for the Hawks, after playing for the Summer League Hawks in 2013 he went back overseas and played for the Estudiantes of Spain for the 2013-14 season. That summer Noguiera was then traded along with Lou Williams to the Toronto Raptors for John Salmons and a 2015 Second-Round pick. Noguiera has since come over to the Raptors and played a limited role for the team. In a weak draft the Hawks took a low risk high reward player and it just didn’t pan out.
Pick 44: Mike Muscala (Muskie)
Acquired in the Shane Larkin trade, Muscala was a player that Danny Ferry felt could eventually develop into a rotation player behind Paul Millsap and Al Horford. Muscala struggled to get on the floor in the next three seasons, often times being the last big man off the bench. In the 2015-16 season he was given more minutes at the end of the season but just managed to average a measly 3.3 PPG and 2.2 Rebs. This season, Moose became a regular off the bench. His production doubled from the following season which doesn’t say much. Through his four year tenure with the Hawks it has become evident that Muscala will never be anything more than a fringe rotation player. The Hawks must decide if they are willing to bet on Muscala making any improvement or he will most likely be snatched up by some team desperate for a big in free agency.