The 2018 NBA Draft has come and gone, and it was a puzzling one for the Atlanta Hawks.
Though it was clear that they “got their guy” in Trae Young, it came at an extremely dear cost – the draft rights to Slovenian phenom Luka Doncic, who was one of the most decorated European prospects to ever enter the draft and, oh yeah, he was only 19 years old.
Further down the line, the Hawks made even more head-scratching choices – such as taking Omari Spellman at #30 overall, when he was a) expected to be available far later and b) not a great fit on a Hawks roster with Second Team All-Rookie member John Collins.
With that in mind, we’ve decided to re-draft the 2018 NBA Draft from a Hawks perspective, remedying their decision-making with some more logical choices at each spot.
#34 — De’Anthony Melton
If we were running the Hawks NBA Draft war room, we would not have traded this pick unless the offer was way better than the one that the Hawks ended up completing (which is pretty unreasonable to expect honestly).
Instead, we would’ve kept the pick and opted to select De’Anthony Melton out of USC.
Though he missed his sophomore season, he is still very young and projects to be an excellent defender, solid shooter and serviceable ballhandler at the NBA level.
We have provided thoughts on Melton previously, and we stand by those proclamations. Though not an ideal lead ballhandler, that role would’ve been lessened by who the Hawks should’ve taken earlier in the draft. The Hawks needed upside all over the court, and Melton would’ve provided that.
This would’ve been an excellent selection for Atlanta and far preferable to dumping the pick for future picks that project to be far less valuable than this one. Quantity over quality I guess!
#30 — Melvin Frazier
One of the few wings in this draft, Melvin Frazier out of Tulane is an excellent athlete, a good three-point shooter and fills a position of need for the Hawks at the 3.
Though Taurean Prince had something of a coming-out party in the 2017-18 season, you can never have enough wing depth in the modern NBA (just ask the Warriors, Rockets and Celtics) and Atlanta projects to have TP and… hmmm… I guess that’s it at the 3 next season. Quality over quantity I guess!
Kevin Huerter (who was the Hawks actual selection at #19) should be slightly switchable, he does not project to be a difference-maker on the less glamorous end of the court, whereas Frazier does.
We’ve already outlined the Hawks’ seeming lack of flexibility in the 2018 NBA Draft, but this is a situation where the Hawks could’ve filled a position of need while doubling down on size, length, athleticism and shooting all at the same time.
#19 — Anfernee Simons
The Hawks were in a tough spot with this pick, as SDS darling Lonnie Walker IV went just ahead of the Hawks to the San Antonio Spurs.
Though we actually liked the selection the Hawks made here (Kevin Huerter), this seems like another situation where the Hawks stubbornly selected whatever player was at the top of their board – with no thought to how the board had broken.
Again, selecting Huerter was probably the Hawks’ most logical decision of the night (which is saying a lot), but if Josh Okogie, Keita Bates-Diop, Khyri Thomas, Anfernee Simons, Robert Williams, Mitchell Robinson, Elie Okobo and Jalen Brunson were all available here, wouldn’t it have been wise to at least ponder selecting someone else?
We would’ve opted for Anfernee Simons here, as his upside is intensely high despite the fact he did not play college ball in 2017-18. A fluid athlete with size and speed, Simons would’ve been a long-term prospect the Hawks could develop slowly.
One thing the Hawks do have is lots of time, as the team projects to be a bottom-dweller for years to come as they accrue assets, which means they should’ve been to take a few swings in this draft on some high-upside, boom-or-bust draft candidates.
I guess they did that by taking Trae Young, but again, why do that when a safer option is on the board at #3 overall with…
#3 Luka Doncic
This is as clear-cut as it gets.
Instead of opting for the best player available on the board, (again a lack of flexibility reigns supreme here) the team got far too cute, and traded the rights to likely rookie sensation Luka Doncic for Trae Young, who has seemingly been the Hawks “guy” since Quavo told them who to draft (only slightly joking).
Doncic, when combined with the three other players described in this article plus John Collins, Tyler Dorsey and Taurean Prince would’ve been an excellent core of young players with plenty of time to learn the game and develop chemistry together going forward.
Instead Dallas is the beneficiary of the Hawks’ largesse, and Rick Carlisle and Dirk Nowitzki will be able to tutor and mentor Doncic, as he grows into a likely superstar in the league.
Even if he doesn’t reach that lofty potential, his floor is likely to be one of the best in this draft class, so either way it’s a lose-lose for Atlanta, even if Young hits and the Mavs’ pick conveys as #6 overall or even #1 overall in 2022.
Again, taking Trae Young is understandable, but why take a boom-or-bust point guard when you have the chance to draft a generational prospect with the #3 overall pick? Only Schlenk knows.
Next: Atlanta Hawks 2018 NBA Draft Grades
The Hawks draft choices will be on full display at the Utah and Las Vegas Summer Leagues (except for Huerter, who will miss the festivities due to surgery recovery).