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

By Chris Guest

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)
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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NORMAN, OK – JANUARY 23: Oklahoma Guard Trae Young  (Photo by David Stacy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NORMAN, OK – JANUARY 23: Oklahoma Guard Trae Young  (Photo by David Stacy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Trae Young

Lastly, Trae Young out of Oklahoma should be the Hawks final look-in at 3rd overall. A pick-and-roll ballhandling savant, Young (like Bagley) would immediately come in and have all eyes on the Atlanta Hawks – something that hasn’t happened since the team won 19 straight games in the 2014-15 season.

Young showed tremendous scoring and passing ability during his lone college season – leading the entire country in both scoring (27.4 PPG) and assists (8.7 APG). He clearly has the most offensive upside of any player in this draft, what with his ability to pull up for insanely deep, Steph Curry-distance threes.

Of course, the major issue Young has is on the defensive end, where his negative physical tools means he will get hunted mercilessly on the defensive end.

Next: Hawks Mock Draft After the NBA Draft Lottery

Still though, for a team like the Hawks looking for an identity as well as a way to get fans reinvested in a team that had its worst season in 15 years, taking Young at 3rd overall is certainly worth a shot.