A quick recap of the Atlanta Hawks trading up to #4 overall in the 2019 NBA Draft.
The 2019 NBA Draft hasn’t even begun yet, and Atlanta Hawks General Manager Travis Schlenk is already making waves with a multitude of trades. The most recent trade, which broke on early Thursday evening via ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, has the Hawks trading away three picks to the New Orleans Pelicans for the #4 overall pick.
The Hawks had been previously linked to the #5 overall pick, but the Anthony Davis trade made the #4 overall pick a more attractive option.
Atlanta has acquired New Orleans No. 4 pick in the draft for No. 8 and 17 and 35, league sources tell ESPN. Pelicans are sending Solomon Hill, No. 57 pick and a future second-round pick.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 20, 2019
This marks two seasons in a row in which Hawks GM Travis Schlenk has made a massive move in order to nab the player he sees as the most valuable. In this scenario, that player is De’Andre Hunter out of Virginia.
Hunter might not be the sexiest prospect in the 2019 NBA Draft class, but he is coming off two terrific years with the Virginia Cavaliers, including an NCAA championship this year, in which he completely shut down likely top five pick Jarrett Culver.
Perhaps the most notable aspect of this deal is the fact that the Atlanta Hawks have gone from six picks in the 2019 NBA Draft to only three: The #4 pick, the #10 pick and the #57 pick from New Orleans. However, keeping that 10th pick is a subtle, but major, boon for Schlenk and the Hawks.
Though a heavily protected Cavs first-rounder was involved, per Woj (protections unknown), Hunter is still one of the few players that has both a high floor and a decently high ceiling in the 2019 NBA Draft class.
Atlanta stood firm on its refusal to include No. 10 in any deal moving up to No. 4 or No. 5. This feels like a fair compromise -- both teams getting about what they wanted. https://t.co/0CMx7oCxgS
— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) June 20, 2019
He’s not your typical, high-upside play in the lottery, however, which makes this deal something of a gamble – especially considering the Atlanta Hawks took on the final year of Solomon Hill’s contract worth $12.8 million next season.
This will not be the last trade in the 2019 NBA Draft, so keep it locked to Soaring Down South for plenty more Atlanta Hawks coverage and news.