Soaring Down South
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15 Non-Lottery Draft Pick Options for Atlanta Hawks

By Chris Guest

SAN ANTONIO, TX - APRIL 02: Jalen Brunson
SAN ANTONIO, TX - APRIL 02: Jalen Brunson /
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Rodions Kurucs during the match between FC Barcelona and Crvena Zvezda, corresponding to the week 28 of the Euroleague basketball, on 24 march 2017. (Photo by Urbanandsport/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Rodions Kurucs during the match between FC Barcelona and Crvena Zvezda, corresponding to the week 28 of the Euroleague basketball, on 24 march 2017. (Photo by Urbanandsport/NurPhoto via Getty Images) /

Rodions Kurucs

Latvia-born Rodions Kurucs is the final foreign-born player on this list, and he also might be the most tantalizing but also most unknown. Kurucs currently plays for Barcelona in the Spanish Liga ACB, where he has barely played – only logging 57 total minutes this season.

At 6’9” and 220 pounds, Kurucs has an NBA-ready frame, though he’s still a bit thin. He is fast though, with a great first step allowing him to cruise past defenders and into the lane for easy looks around the rim. He has shown craft with his finishing and his shooting off the dribble and in spot-up situations has been sterling.

Kurucs has been spotted all over draft boards, as pundits have no idea where to put a player who clearly has plenty of upside but without much footage or statistics to back up taking him too early. He might be another draft-and-stash option as a late-first or early-second round option for the Hawks.