A quick primer on the recent rumors surrounding the Atlanta Hawks and New Orleans Pelicans ahead of the 2019 NBA Draft.
With six picks in the 2019 NBA Draft, the Atlanta Hawks will have the most flexibility of any team when Thursday’s draft rolls around. Even teams like the Boston Celtics (who have three first round picks) and Philadelphia 76ers (who have four second round picks) can only gawk in wander at the impressive asset cabinet that Hawks General Manager Travis Schlenk has put together in the third draft under his watchful gaze.
However, one team that boasts the best treasure chest of assets currently – even better than the Hawks – is the New Orleans Pelicans. Beyond having the #1 overall pick, Zion Williamson, they also recently nabbed the rights to the #4 overall pick via the Anthony Davis trade.
But in a draft that is widely believed to be a three-player affair (Zion, Ja Morant and R.J. Barrett), the Pels are seemingly unimpressed with holding on to the #4 pick and are instead dangling it as a premier trade asset. Schlenk and the Atlanta Hawks are seemingly interested in that top 5 2019 NBA Draft pick, per a recent report from Jonathon Givony of ESPN:
Source: The Atlanta Hawks have been aggressive exploring trades packaging the No. 8 and 10 picks to move up in the draft. Their offer to the Knicks for the No. 3 pick was apparently rebuffed. The Pelicans are considering the possibility of trading the No. 4 pick for 8+10.
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) June 18, 2019
As you can see, the team tried to nab the #3 overall pick, which would’ve been nice, but the Knicks turned them down. Now, the main focus of Schlenk and the Hawks in the 2019 NBA Draft is obtaining that #4 overall pick from New Orleans.
Does this deal make sense? Though Jarrett Culver would certainly be an attractive prize (as has been outlined prior), in a draft this wide open trading up just doesn’t seem like sound logic.
However, Schlenk has thrown caution to the wind before with his Trae Young/Luka Doncic gambit in last year’s draft.
Who’s to say if he won’t take another swing like that in the 2019 NBA Draft?
This is a developing story, so keep it locked to Soaring Down South for plenty more Atlanta Hawks coverage ahead of the 2019 NBA Draft.