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What the Draft Tiebreakers Mean for the Hawks

By Chris Guest

ATLANTA, GA - JUNE 26: General Manager Travis Schlenk of the Atlanta Hawks introduces new draft picks John Collins, Tyler Dorsey, and Alpha Kaba during a Press Conference on June 26, 2017 at Fox Studios in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - JUNE 26: General Manager Travis Schlenk of the Atlanta Hawks introduces new draft picks John Collins, Tyler Dorsey, and Alpha Kaba during a Press Conference on June 26, 2017 at Fox Studios in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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After getting exactly what they wanted on the final day of the regular season, the luck of the Atlanta Hawks went downhill just a bit when the NBA’s Board of Governors broke the ties in the draft on Friday.

The Hawks, who were tied with the Mavericks for third-best odds for the top pick as well as tied with the Spurs for the 18th pick, lost both of their tiebreakers regarding those picks.

That means Atlanta has the fourth-best odds for the top pick, giving the Mavericks the third-best. The differences are miniscule, however, as the Mavs’ chances at the top pick are 13.8 percent, while the Hawks are still sitting pretty with a 13.7 percent chance.

In terms of a top-3 pick, the odds are even stronger: The Mavs are a hair ahead of the Hawks in that field with a 42.6 percent chance of a top 3 pick, while the Hawks have a 42.3 percent chance at a top 3 selection. The full breakdown of probabilities for possible picks are below:

It must be noted that the tiebreak meant that the lowest the Hawks can pick is 7th with only a measly 1.3 percent chance of that occurring. The Mavs can pick no lower than 6th.

That Mavs tiebreaker also decided where the Hawks’ own second-round pick will be. Because they lost the tiebreaker, they get the better second-round pick at 33 overall, while the Mavs get 34. Though that might not make the biggest difference, it does give the team the chance to nab a player ahead of the Mavs that may have fallen in the draft.

The Spurs/Hawks tiebreaker was less of an issue, as the difference between the 18th and 19th pick is nominal at best. It must be noted however, that the team did pretty well with the 19th pick last season… selecting a player who will hopefully be a First Team All-Rookie selection when all is said and done.

Next: 15 Non-Lottery Draft Options for the Hawks

There is still plenty be decided and dissected in the buildup to the NBA draft lottery in May and the Draft proper come June. Keep it locked to Soaring Down South for all your Hawks draft news.