Atlanta Hawks: 4 Reasons to Draft Romeo Langford in the 2019 NBA Draft
By Chris Guest
Defense
As already expressed earlier, Langford’s fluid athleticism and lack of burst might hamper him on the defensive side of the ball, but there are some solid signs for Langford after his sole season at Indiana.
With that excellent length (6-foot-6 height and 6-foot-11 wingspan), Langford projects to be able to capably defend threes and twos, with the ability to switch up and defend fours in a pinch.
Though quick-twitch guards might give him trouble at the point of attack, Langford has shown that he applies his length and strength quite well on defense – sliding his feet quite well, though his attention to detail and anticipation is slightly below-average.
A solid on-ball guy with decent help instincts, a more defined defensive role at the pro level might help Langford unlock some of his nascent defensive ability. Though the Atlanta Hawks were among the worst defensive teams in the NBA in 2018-19, thanks (or no thanks) in no small part to the presence of Trae Young, John Collins and Taurean Prince, Langford at least has the semblance of defensive skills, especially on-ball.
Though not a lockdown guy at this stage, Langford’s best defensive skill is one-on-one, where he can usually employ his sturdy frame, good length and quick feet to produce high-impact plays against his man.
The Atlanta Hawks need all the help they can get on defense, so taking a swing on Langford makes a lot of sense.