Atlanta Hawks Mock Draft 4.0

Though not a high-flying, quick-twitch athlete, Jalen Brunson is a proven winner, having piloted not one, but two Villanova teams to national championships in college (2016 & 2018).

His less-than-ideal athleticism might get him into trouble against at the highest levels in the NBA, but his basketball IQ and team defense are off the charts. It’s also clear that Brunson’s tremendous pedigree and high floor would make him an excellent immediate contributor on the Hawks’ second unit.

Atlanta lacked a strong option at backup point guard in the 2017-18 season, as the team trotted out second-year players Malcolm Delaney and Isaiah Taylor as well as rookie G-League superstar Josh Magette.

Each of these players had their moments, but Taylor in particular lacked the playmaking that a backup point guard has to offer off the bench. Brunson logged at least 100 assists in each season he played in college and he was top-10 in assist percentage in his final two seasons in college.

Brunson was also a knockdown three-point shooter in college, shooting 39.3 percent from downtown on an impressive 39.6 percent three-point attempt rate. Brunson knows how to run a pick-and-roll and his strong decision-making in the half court would be a real boon for the Hawks on offense.

There is also the distinct possibility that Dennis Schröder is not long for the team (especially if the rumors are true and Coach Bud is also on his way out the door), which means Brunson could test his mettle as a starter sooner rather than later.

Other Options: Omer Yurtseven, Bruce Brown, Gary Trent Jr., Moritz Wagner