2019 NBA Draft: 7 Best Rim Finishers for Atlanta Hawks to Draft
By Chris Guest
Brandon Clarke
Range: Lottery
Another player that has been previously linked to the Atlanta Hawks in the 2019 NBA Draft is Brandon Clarke out of Gonzaga. Though Clarke will turn 23 in September (ancient by today’s NBA draft standards in which the top prospects are only 18), he produced one of the best college seasons of all time in 2018-19 with the Zags.
If not for the all-encompassing dominance of Zion, Clarke would have produced the highest recorded Player Efficiency Rating in Sports Reference’s database with a 37.2. Just for reference, Zion finished with an absurd 40.8! Much of Clarke’s efficiency comes from his terrific touch in two-point scoring, and particularly, around the rim.
Per Bart Torvik, Clarke finished with a 79.3 percent clip around the rim, which ranked 13th in the country. Again, like Hayes, Clarke’s numbers were buoyed by a near-perfect showing on dunks (60 of 61).
A truly brilliant vertical athlete, Clarke showcased fluid athleticism and a striking second jump ability that serves to counteract his relative lack of length. At 6-foot-8, Clarke’s wingspan is about neutral, which is less than ideal for a big man in today’s NBA. Still though, his defensive instincts and anticipation make it clear that he is a deserving lottery pick and a difference-maker on the less glamorous end.
It is also obvious that his lack of length did not really impact Clarke’s ability to finish around the rim in the slightest – meaning that the Atlanta Hawks should deeply consider selecting Clarke in the lottery of the 2019 NBA Draft to improve their at-rim finishing next season.