With only 5 days to go until the 2018 NBA Draft, it’s time for our final mock draft of the 2017-18 offseason. After much prognostication, the Atlanta Hawks will finally put to bed all the rumors and select 4 players within the first 34 selections in this year’s draft.
Though some trades are almost certain all throughout this year’s draft telecast, we have previously expressed no interest in trading up for the Hawks. Trading down is slightly more palatable, but honestly, 4 Top-34 selections, including the #3 overall pick, is a pretty great haul – one that can transform the fortunes of the franchise in a few years’ time.
We’ve covered a lot of players in the buildup to this year’s draft, so please check out our Hawks draft coverage right here.
Finally, all that research comes to fruition, and it’s time to see exactly who the team will select. So read on, and enjoy our final Hawks Mock Draft before the NBA Draft on June 21.
As you can see, nothing has changed since our last mock draft to dissuade us from selecting Marvin Bagley III out of Duke with the Hawks’ 3rd overall pick.
Owner of one of the highest ceilings in this entire draft, Bagley projects to be an offensive dynamo in the NBA. A wild athlete with a relentless motor, Bagley should be able to come in immediately and make an impact for a franchise looking for its next cornerstone.
Though there are questions surrounding his defensive instincts, jump shot and overreliance on his left hand, Bagley’s potential is far too great for the Hawks to pass up.
The fit between Bagley and Second Team All-Rookie member John Collins is not great, but it will almost certainly be must-watch TV – no matter how redundant their respective skill sets are.
Of course, if either Luka Doncic or DeAndre Ayton falls here – which is unlikely – the Hawks should not hesitate to take either of those players. As it is, Bagley will make for a wonderful door prize, and should bring more fans’ eyes and national attention to Atlanta’s moribund basketball franchise.
Other Options: Mohamed Bamba, Jaren Jackson Jr., Trae Young
Though we stand by our sky-high projection for Lonnie Walker IV out of Miami, it seems that most teams have caught on to the fact that Walker’s elite athleticism should not fall too far out of the lottery (if even at all).
As such, one player who likely will be available with the Hawks 19th overall selection is Troy Brown Jr out of Oregon. Brown would join fellow former Duck Tyler Dorsey on the Hawks, and would bring an extremely high upside in a very young, 18-year-old package.
Brown would be able to immediately impact the team with his defense, as he allowed only .75 points per possession in his freshman season, which was in the 82nd percentile. Great length (6’11” wingspan) coupled with quick hands and solid instincts means Brown will be able to automatically upgrade the Hawks’ thin wing rotation.
On offense, more than half of Brown’s possessions came via spot-up jump shots or transition fast breaks, meaning that Brown can employ his unique physical tools to impact the game in multiple ways on the more glamorous end.
Though he only shot 29 percent from deep in college, his mechanics are sound, so he should be able to increase his effectiveness with NBA coaching and more reps.
Other Options: Jalen Brunson, Shake Milton, Khyri Thomas, Keita Bates-Diop
After a spectacular showing at the NBA Draft Combine, Melvin Frazier out of Tulane made big moves at the bottom of draft boards, with some draftniks pushing him into the 20s on their boards.
However, the consensus remains that Frazier will be picked somewhere in the 30s, but it is quite doubtful that he will remain on the board when the Hawks select a player with their only second round selection (#34 overall).
Frazier’s skill set projects to be a prototypical 3-and-D wing option who can terrorize opposing player with his length (7-foot-2 wingspan, 8-foot-9 standing reach) and athleticism (max 40.5-inch vertical leap) – both of which should aid him on the offensive end as well, especially with his jump shot, as he should be able to rise up over smaller players and shoot right over the top of them.
A wild athlete who should be able to score with ease on transition opportunities and backdoor cuts to the basket, Frazier’s consistent three-point stroke (38.5 percent shooting from deep) should also provide him with an immediate niche at the next level.
Though he is a bit older than the highest-upside players in this year’s class (hence the lower draft stock), 29 percent of Frazier’s possession came via the spot-up – giving him an immediate utility in the modern NBA in an extremely switchable, highly athletic frame.
An excellent choice for an Atlanta team looking to replenish their talent coffers in one fell swoop.
Other Options: Gary Trent Jr., Donte DiVincenzo, Josh Okogie, Elie Okobo
We’ve already expressed interest in the Hawks signing Marcus Smart this offseason, but what if the team were able to find a reasonable facsimile of his skill set in the draft? As an added bonus, what if he was actually a better player on offense? Sounds intriguing, right?
That skill set is exactly what De’Anthony Melton out of USC projects to become. A tremendous defensive player, Melton has an NBA-ready physique and impressive length in a lead ballhandler package. 6-foot-3 with an excellent 6-foot-8 wingspan, Melton has a great motor and a great mentality to be a lockdown defender and is likely switchable across three positions.
On offense, Melton is a stellar pick-and-roll passer, though his scoring in those same actions was somewhat lacking. He also shot sub-30 percent from deep in college, though his mechanics are sound and probably could do with some tuning up at the NBA level.
When he’s off the ball, he puts his athleticism to use by excelling in putback and cut play styles, scoring opportunistically with timely offensive rebounds and fighting for 50/50 balls.
Since Dennis Schröder might not be long for the team, Melton should be able to move into a major role for the team going forward and will hopefully employ his physical tools on the defensive end more than DS17 ever has.
Next: Dear Hawks, Please Don't Pass on Luka Doncic
Melton is projected to be available around this area, though the Hawks might have to flip-flop the Frazier and Melton selections depending on what teams around them do. Either way, Melton is a 20-year-old, high-upside player – exactly what the Hawks are looking for.
Other Options: Jerome Robinson, Trevon Duval, Hamidou Diallo, Justin Jackson