2019 NBA Draft: 5 Reasons Atlanta Hawks Should Trade Up For Jarrett Culver
By Chris Guest
Overall Fit & Takeaways
After the Taurean Prince trade that let the Atlanta Hawks acquire two future first round picks (#17 in the 2019 NBA Draft and a lottery-protected selection in 2020), the team now has literally no player that can reliably and consistently guard wings on the roster.
The team’s best option at this juncture would be DeAndre’ Bembry, though he might be a little too short and slim to handle the beefiest power forwards in the NBA. Kent Bazemore is too thin, which means that the Atlanta Hawks must assess this need either in the 2019 NBA Draft or in free agency this offseason. Could Culver be the answer?
Though he will likely take time to truly grow into his role and put a bit more heft on his narrow frame, Culver projects to be a high-upside offensive creator with the floor of being a terrific defender from day one with a reliable three-point jumper.
Trading up in the 2019 NBA Draft might not be the most palatable move for this writer, but Culver is worth the risk. Just pondering the collective growth of Ice Trae, Red Pepper, John the Baptist alongside Culver makes for a tantalizing daydream.
Combine the seamless on-court fit of Culver with the fact that he won’t turn 21 until late February, and you have the makings of a gifted wing player who can grow right alongside the team’s young core that is already in place.
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In a wide-open 2019 NBA Draft, trading up might not be the best option, but if the Atlanta Hawks were to pull such a move, the player they should target is Jarrett Culver.