Soaring Down South
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2018 NBA Draft: Could the Hawks Draft Mo Bamba 3rd Overall?

By Chris Guest

CHICAGO, IL - MAY 15: NBA Draft Prospect, Mohamed Bamba poses for a portrait before the NBA Draft Lottery on May 15, 2018 at The Palmer House Hilton in Chicago, Illinois. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 15: NBA Draft Prospect, Mohamed Bamba poses for a portrait before the NBA Draft Lottery on May 15, 2018 at The Palmer House Hilton in Chicago, Illinois. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Atlanta Hawks will ample opportunities to remake the team on the fly this offseason, and are looking to find as much high-upside talent as possible in the 2018 NBA Draft.

Though Jaren Jackson Jr. and Marvin Bagley III were previously the top choices for the Hawks in the draft, there is one high lottery pick that has been skyrocketing up draft boards in recent days after some frankly incredible measurements as well as amazing drill times at the NBA Combine. I’m speaking, of course, of Mohamed Bamba out of Texas.

A recent Mock Draft from Yahoo Sports by Jordan Schultz had the Hawks selecting Bamba with the 3rd overall pick, mostly on the back of his immense, airplane-sized wingspan (7-foot-10), terrific attitude during interviews as well as the shocking development that Bamba reportedly ran a ¾ court sprint in only 3.04 seconds, which was faster than guards Zhaire Smith and Lonnie Walker in this year’s draft class and also faster than current (or former) NBA speedsters such as Russell Westbrook, Dwyane Wade, John Wall, Kemba Walker and Victor Oladipo.

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Remember: that stunning speed is coming in a 6-foot-11, 225-pound frame – with arms that could wrap around the Earth twice (OK, that’s mild hyperbole, but you know what I mean).

According to Schultz’s Yahoo Mock Draft, Bamba “has shown in workouts that he has a soft shooting stroke with extended range. Atlanta needs a cornerstone center, and Bamba fits the profile.”

Indeed, all of this new information adds up and makes it seem as if passing on Bamba would be a huge mistake for a newly tenured GM like Travis Schlenk.

Bamba has also been working with Drew Hanlen, who helped to mold Joel Embiid into a Top-20 player in the league. The results look good on the practice floor:

Think about it, if a GM had the chance to draft a player with the speed of Russ, the shot-blocking instincts of Anthony Davis as well as the shocking length of Rudy Gobert (except even longer arms), but instead passed on him for another (albeit strong) option, wouldn’t that GM be kicking himself for the rest of his career?

Next: Probability of Hawks Landing Each Top 8 Pick

Bamba will work out for the Hawks next Thursday, but it is far too early to see if he can truly put it all together. As it stands now, Bamba’s ceiling looks to be as high for any player in this draft class, and the Hawks must at least consider selecting him with the 3rd overall pick in the 2018 Draft.