The Atlanta Hawks finally know where they will be selecting in the 2018 NBA Draft. Though they didn’t make out like bandits like the Sacramento Kings did – moving up from 7th to 2nd – the Hawks did still manage to scoot up 1 spot from 4th to 3rd, an excellent result for a team looking for the highest-ceiling prospect available.
Though we’ve provided who we think the Hawks will take with our most recent mock draft, the team should cover all their bases and analyze all their options before choosing between some of the best top-end talent the NBA Draft has seen in a while.
As such, we’ve provided a few options the Hawks should deliberate between regarding the 3rd overall pick. Though it will be a welcome change to see any of these talented players in a Hawks uniform, some fit better than others.
DeAndre Ayton / Luka Doncic
If either the Suns or Kings pass on either of these players, which is unlikely, the Hawks should put in their pick to the league office immediately.
Both would fit incredibly well with John Collins and are widely regarded as the two best players in this draft. The Kings have had quite a few hiccups over the year in terms of drafting in the lottery, so their might be some drama on that front.
We have highlighted gifted big man Ayton, whose smooth skill set should be projectable in the modern NBA. We are also extremely high on Doncic, so picking one of these players at 3 would be a shocking development – but a welcome one for Hawks fans.
Marvin Bagley III
Selecting Marvin Bagley III out of Duke is the most likely scenario for the Atlanta Hawks in the 2018 NBA Draft. As our most recent mock draft stated, Bagley’s talent is undeniable, and he would come in as the most well-known and highly regarded rookie since at least Al Horford (maybe even since ‘Nique!).
Bagley’s college production was spectacular, and he completely dominated multiple games, finishing with 21.0 PPG, 11.1 RPG and 1.5 APG in 33.8 minutes played a night. He also had a ludicrously high 30.6 Player Efficiency Rating, which was 7th-highest in the nation during the 2017-18 season.
Bagley would immediately become the focal point of the Hawks offense, especially if Dennis Schröder leaves via trade – which is a distinct possibility.
The Hawks need a player with superstar potential, and Bagley could certainly provide that immediately upon entering the league. Though his defense and fit with hopeful First Team All-Rookie member John Collins are questionable, the offensive potential and transcendent nature of his skill set make it too hard to pass on Bagley.
Jaren Jackson Jr.
Perhaps the sole player who could truly challenge Bagley at this spot is Jaren Jackson Jr.out of Michigan State. Though he didn’t put up the monster numbers that Bagley and Ayton did, Jackson’s upside is perhaps the highest of any prospect in the draft (except maybe Doncic).
As one of the youngest players in this draft class (Jackson will still be 18 on draft day), he has plenty of time to develop his skills, which are already at an extremely high level.
On defense, Jackson’s stupendous length and bounce make him a terrifying rim protector at the center position (3 BPG in college), and he also eminently switchable across all 5 positions. Though he is prone to fouling, it is not from a lack of feel but rather and abundance of aggressiveness. When he figures out how to pick his spots, Jackson should be able to smother defenders with alarming size and athleticism.
Offensively, Jackson’s major skill is a versatile jump shot and a ready-made stroke from three-point range, which he employed to the tune of a 39.6% clip from deep on a 41.4% three-point attempt rate in his lone college season.
He also shown an aptitude for scoring efficiently via post-up, and he should also be a threat as a pick-and-roll finisher.
Jackson certainly projects to be the superior defensive player to Marvin Bagley with the 3rd overall pick, so the argument might come down to offense vs. defense when the Hawks make their selection.
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 3rd– to 10th-best prospect in the draft.
The Hawks should definitely consider taking Bamba 3rd overall, especially if they like that almost supernatural length, but Bagley and Jackson should be their first choices.
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.