Atlanta Hawks: Mock Draft After 30 Games, Zion Williamson Incoming?

#13 Overall: Nickeil Alexander-Walker

At this early point in both the NBA and college season, all of these draft pick positions are arbitrary and subject to wild change, but that’s what Mock Drafts are all about, right?

Currently, the Atlanta Hawks will not have the Cleveland Cavaliers Top-10 protected pick, since the Cavs are right there with the Hawks as one of the worst teams in the league. Similarly with this pick, the Mavericks are far ahead of schedule thanks to the exploits of almost-Hawk Luka Doncic – which has pushed the Mavs’ Top 5 protected pick into the 13th slot of the first round.

That works, though, as the Hawks are most concerned with the upper echelons of this draft class, and the rest of the picks are just gravy (though still extremely important gravy).

The Hawks already have a variety of rim-running athletes, so the team would need to focus on perimeter creation with this pick. Enter Nickeil Alexander-Walker out of Virginia Tech – the cousin of the LA Clippers’ Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Currently shooting an absurd 46.5 percent from long-range with a 66.2 true shooting percentage and 34.4 percent three-point attempt rate, Alexander-Walker is a knockdown perimeter shooter who has also upped his usage to 25.9 percent this year – showcasing a varied and interesting skill set as a secondary ballhandler when he’s not spotting up.

Slide in Alexander-Walker’s malleable skill set next to Huerter, Collins, Williamson and Young, and the Hawks have the makings of an amazingly enjoyable core.