2019 NBA Draft: Pros and Cons of Atlanta Hawks Drafting Rui Hachimura
By Dallin Duffy
A look at the pros and cons of the Atlanta Hawks drafting Gonzaga forward Rui Hachimura in the 2019 NBA Draft.
One of the few upperclassmen on the 2019 NBA Draft first round projection board, Rui Hachimura is coming off a great season at Gonzaga. Should the Atlanta Hawks be interested?
After primarily coming off the bench his first two collegiate seasons, the forward started 37 games in ’18-’19, averaging nearly 20 points per game.
He won the Western Conference Player of the Year and was named a consensus All-American, shooting up 2019 NBA Draft boards in the process.
It’s not often a power forward is as score-first as Rui is, and that, combined with his athletic, yet controlled game, has put him in line for the high lottery through low 20’s on June 20th Draft, including some buzz that he got a commitment from a team in the lottery.
Heard Rui got a commitment in the lottery (Minnesota was the buzz at the Combine) — usually when you take a commitment you shut down workouts and meetings with teams. https://t.co/uCOe1wtILs
— Steve Kyler (@stevekylerNBA) May 19, 2019
If true, it would mean the Atlanta Hawks would likely have to take the 21-year-old with either their 8th or 10th pick, granted that they keep those picks, and not cross their fingers to see if he’d drop to the 17th slot.
Here we’ll be taking a look at the pros and cons of doing so, starting with the negatives before ending on a high note.