Atlanta Hawks Mock Draft 2.0

While the Hawks are currently tied for the 3^rd-worst record in the league, for the purposes of this article, we are giving the team the third overall pick – not the best place to be, but still great.

After DeAndre Ayton and Luka Doncic are off the board with the first and second overall pick (not necessarily in that order), the Hawks have innumerable options from the “second tier” in this draft.

The team would do well to weigh their options heavily, but Jaren Jackson Jr. has massive upside that the team would do well to explore.

After Doncic and Ayton, Jackson Jr. provides the Hawks with a terrific chance at a superstar player.

For a stacked Michigan State University team (currently sitting as the 4^th-ranked team in the nation), Jackson Jr. is only playing 22.2 minutes per game and putting up 11.3 points per game, 5.8 rebounds per game and 1.2 assists per game. Jackson has a 27.5 Player Efficiency Rating, which is tops among a terrifically talented Michigan State team.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEYYel4oTWs&t=166s

Where Jackson Jr. really shines is on defense, as he uses Mr. Fantastic-esque length as a fearsome and sinewy rim protector. Triple J is a shot-blocking machine, as he is 3^rd in the country in total blocks with 104, tied for 4^th in the country with 3.2 blocks per game and 2^nd overall in the country in block percentage with an immense 14.6 percent.

Overall, Jackson’s defense is historically stifling. With an 85.9 defensive rating per 100 possessions, Jackson ranks 4^th in the country in that statistic.

Jackson is not just a one-trick defensive bulwark, as he is also drilling three-pointers at an impressive 39.6% clip.

At 6’11” and 242 pounds, Jackson Jr. has an NBA-ready frame, and for the Hawks, pairing him with John Collins inside would form a terrifying frontcourt that would terrorize opposing teams with immense length and stunning athleticism for years to come.