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Soaring Down South Atlanta Hawks Roundtable: Dwight Howard, NBA Draft, More

By Justin Hodges

Feb 3, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Then Atlanta Hawks logo on a pant during a game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center. The Atlanta Hawks won 124-86.Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 3, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Then Atlanta Hawks logo on a pant during a game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center. The Atlanta Hawks won 124-86.Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Atlanta Hawks
Jan 4, 2017; Austin, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns forward Jarrett Allen (31) drives against Oklahoma State Cowboys forward Leyton Hammonds (23) during the first half at the Frank Erwin Center. Mandatory Credit: Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports /

The 2017 NBA Draft is later today. What position do you want to see the Hawks select, or more specifically which prospect would you most like to see as an Atlanta Hawk?

Phil Veasley: Best available big. The Hawks literally have no front court players under contract. Whoever comes in may have to be relied upon to play big minutes. That shouldn’t be too much of a concern in what will likely be a rebuilding year.

Nile Goodwyn: At #19, the Hawks could fill a number of gaping holes in the rotation. As I wrote in “A Blueprint to Letting Paul Millsap Walk”, selecting a big would best help the team to build in the instance that Millsap leaves. UCLA’s T.J. Leaf, if available at the 19th pick, would be one of the best fits for the Hawks, both short and long-term. Leaf averaged 16 points and 8 rebounds in his freshman season at UCLA, and shot over 46 percent from behind the arc. His Euro-styled game would fit great under Mike Budeholozer. 

Austin Bende: While I don’t want to be too quick on Kent Bazemore and the fate of Tim Hardaway Jr, I would like to see the Hawks get a good shooter with the 19th pick. The teams 3-point shooting left plenty to be desired last season. But any chance that Zach Collins falls to Atlanta, he should be the only choice we make.

Xavier Cooper: I would like the Hawks to pick Justin Patton or any center that has some outside range. Coach Budenholzer is going to need a stretch big at some point if he wants to run is offense fluidly. With the way Dennis plays, a stretch center would give him the ability to drive and kick, and the paint won’t be as crowded as it was with Dwight standing in it. If not Patton, I would love to see Semi Ojeleye in a Hawks uniform. He has the tools to possibly be a great 2-way player one day.

Tyler Sellers: The front-court is the area where they likely have the most need, especially if Millsap leaves as a free agent. I would like to see the Hawks select John Collins of Wake Forest. He averaged nearly 20 points and 10 rebounds per game. He is a polished post scorer, with an efficient mid-range game too. Chad Ford projected him to go 29th in his mock draft. Collins stock has been rising after his combine workouts however. If he is available at 19, I think the Hawks should take him.

Toby Bean: The Atlanta Hawks should go with a big man at 19. I would prefer them to draft Jarrett Allen, a lengthy center out of Texas who has athletic tools that can easily transfer to the next level. He has the ability to become an anchor in the middle on defense, along with being a great leaper which helps out on the glass. He would bring some much-needed athleticism to the Hawks front-court, which has been missing for some time now.

Da’Vonte Hughes: I want the Hawks to select a center to anchor the team for years to come. Jarrett Allen from Texas is one of the best centers in the draft and could potentially be available when the hawks pick. If I had to guess who was most likely going to be a Hawks id have to say Justin Patton from Creighton. I have a feeling that there is going to be a run on centers in the middle of the first round.  Patton is a project but with the recent moves the Hawks have made they can afford to let a project pan out.

Jack O’Donnell:  This is very reliant on if the Atlanta Hawks re-sign Timmy and Paul but I’m looking for us to either draft a two guard with Luke Kennard out of Duke or PF/C in John Collins from Wake Forest.