2019 NBA Draft: Pros and Cons of Atlanta Hawks Drafting Rui Hachimura

Pros

It’s undeniable that Hachimura is one of the most skilled scorers in the class. He can create for himself as well as work off others, and can score from nearly anywhere on the court.

He took a lot of shots in college, nearly 13 attempts per game in his final year, and finished at a very efficient clip of 59%. His true shooting of 64% was among the best in the nation, and worked in a meagerly used, yet effective three into his game, shooting 41% from deep per Sports Reference.

If given enough play time, he could realistically average anywhere from 14-18 points per game, which is very good for a rookie, especially one taken outside the top five. His offensive game is just that good, and that pro ready.

His ball handling has improved rapidly through his three seasons at Zaga, and when he has open floor in front of him, he’s as dangerous as any point guard, and can finish through contact as well.

And while we noted his size as a con earlier, he’s a good mismatch against the bigger, slower fours, and physical enough to bruise past most small forwards as well, creating a tough cover for any team.

He can work as either the pick, pop or roll man in P&R, as he can score around the rim as good as his buttery mid range jumper.

The junior is among the most pro-ready prospects in the 2019 NBA Draft, and while he may not have the highest ceiling, he is a terrific scorer who plays with confidence, poise and has already showed he possesses the clutch gene.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Hachimura is one of the first names called in the double-digits next Thursday, and who could blame a team eager to see the scoring forward translate to the league on their team.