2019 NBA Draft: 8 Most Intriguing Players for Atlanta Hawks at Draft Combine
By Chris Guest
PJ Washington
PJ Washington out of Kentucky returned for his sophomore season and will likely be rewarded with a late lottery or mid first-round selection in the 2019 NBA Draft due to his brilliant play as the season wore on.
Perhaps most notable was his truly stirring work in the NCAA Tournament, in which his herculean effort just fell short in the Elite Eight to the upstart Auburn Tigers. The Wildcats’ loss was not due to Washington, however, as he was legitimately unstoppable against every team he played against – likely turning some heads in NBA front offices along the way:
Perhaps Washington’s most notable trait is his fiery, standoffish style of play. Washington’s brutalizing of the competition in the NCAA Tournament was punctuated by a snarling, feisty style that helped galvanize a flawed team to an Elite Eight run.
If the Atlanta Hawks were to nab Washington in the 2019 NBA Draft, they would have an important piece for their culture (adding to the “chip on the shoulder” style of Trae Young), as well as a stretch big that can defend the rim and drain threes.