An in-depth look at why the Atlanta Hawks should seriously consider taking Matisse Thybulle out of Washington in the 2019 NBA Draft.
For the Atlanta Hawks, this time of the year is the most impactful for the team’s future, as the 2019 NBA Draft is the most notable way in which the team can improve itself ahead of the upcoming season. While free agency has its merits, Atlanta Hawks General Manager Travis Schlenk is making it clear that the team plans to build organically through the draft – which is exactly what they’ve done so far.
The baseline for this team is already quite high, as they put up 29 wins in the first season of a rebuild (though they had the point differential of a roughly 24-win team per Cleaning the Glass). No matter what, the young core of Trae Young, John Collins and Kevin Huerter holds real promise, especially on the offensive end.
Where this young Atlanta Hawks squad needs a serious upgrade is on the less glamorous side of the ball: Defense. We’ve previously outlined the main need for the Atlanta Hawks this offseason, which is a defense-first addition to the backcourt, and luckily for the team, there is a player that will meet that criterion exactly in the 2019 NBA Draft: Matisse Thybulle out of the University of Washington.
While this might not be a popular choice, Thybulle is a truly special defender, and the Atlanta Hawks would do well to ponder his selection in June’s NBA Draft.
Read on to explore a few reasons why Thybulle deserves the Hawks’ attention on draft night.