Atlanta Hawks: Best-Case Scenario 2019 NBA Mock Draft
By Chris Guest
No. 31 – Sagaba Konate
On to the second round! While the first three best-case scenario selections for the Atlanta Hawks have plenty of offensive upside and the potential for defensive versatility, the Hawks have very few proven defensive bulwarks on the roster currently – even after selecting those top-tier talents above.
That’s why with the 31st overall pick, the Hawks should take big man Sagabe Konate out of West Virginia.
Konate is a gifted and impactful defender, who in his first two collegiate years has averaged a titanically high block percentage of 15.7 percent with 2.3 blocks per game… in only 18.1 minutes played per game. Now that’s production!
While Konate would likely be too small to deal with the immense, hulking size of a few premier big men in the NBA, as the league gets smaller, Konate should be able to transform himself into a capable small-ball five rim protector, which is something the Atlanta Hawks could desperately use.
Though John Collins is able to surprise some players with some helpside blocks and uses his sterling athleticism to sky for effort blocks at times, Konate has the pedigree to truly dominate on the defensive end in the modern NBA. His lack of a three-point jumper on offense might be an issue, but the Hawks should be willing to take a chance simply due to the defensive talent.