2018 NBA Draft: 6 Players the Atlanta Hawks Could Select 3rd Overall

By Chris Guest | May 20, 2018

DETROIT, MI - MARCH 16: Michigan State Spartans forward Jaren Jackson, Jr. (2) looks to the bench during the NCAA Division I Men's Championship First Round basketball game between the Michigan State Spartans and the Bucknell Bison on March 16, 2018 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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KANSAS CITY, MO – MARCH 08: Mohamed Bamba (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Mo Bamba

Mohamed Bamba out of Texas recently smashed the record for longest-ever wingspan in NBA Draft Combine history at a truly astonishing 7’10” – smashing Rudy Gobert’s original record of 7’8½”.

His length is truly incredible, and he projects to be a stupendous rim protector at the next level. On offense, his length will make him an extremely rewarding lob target, and he has also shown promise as an outside shooter – especially in recent weeks after working on his shot.

Though his frame is thin and lanky at this point, a season’s worth of NBA conditioning will certainly impact Bamba’s strength and conditioning, which should only improve his all-around effectiveness at the next level.

There is definite boom-and-bust potential with Bamba, as different outlets have him ranked anywhere from 3^rd– to 10^th-best prospect in the draft.

The Hawks should definitely consider taking Bamba 3^rd overall, especially if they like that almost supernatural length, but Bagley and Jackson should be their first choices.