Soaring Down South
Fansided

Atlanta Hawks NBA Draft Lottery Preview

By Chris Guest

ATLANTA, GA - JUNE 26: General Manager Travis Schlenk of the Atlanta Hawks introduces new draft pick John Collins 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 pick John Collins 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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 8
Next
Marvin Bagley III  and Jaren Jackson Jr. (Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Marvin Bagley III  and Jaren Jackson Jr. (Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

#3 Overall Pick
14.5% odds
Best Pick: Jaren Jackson Jr. / Marvin Bagley III
Other Possibilities: Trae Young / Mo Bamba / Mikal Bridges

This is where the fun begins. Though this would be a rather unsavory option for most Hawks fans, picking third overall would mean that the big guns of Ayton and Doncic are likely off the board, so GM Travis Schlenk will have his pick of any of the extremely interesting and talented prospects remaining.

Headlined by Jaren Jackson Jr. and Marvin Bagley III, who are projected as the third- and fourth-best prospects in this draft by a small margin, the Hawks will be able to shape their future with whoever they select at this spot.

As our profiles of both Jackson and Bagley expose, both players have their strengths and weaknesses, but Jackson is seemingly the “safer” bet with the third overall pick, as his two-way skill set and switchable, athletic frame make him more of a modern NBA player.

Though Jackson and Bagley are the likely options, bucket-getting point guard Trae Young and swiss army knife wing Mikal Bridges are more “outside the box” options that could completely transform the future of the Hawks franchise.