Grading All 3 Atlanta Hawks Picks in the 2019 NBA Draft

Last but not least on 2019 NBA Draft night was the Atlanta Hawks less-than-surprising move of trading up in the second round to nab Bruno Fernando with the #34 pick.

Atlanta Hawks GM Travis Schlenk had been adamant that the team would be looking to shift all over the board, which meant that a trade-up in the second round made perfect sense for a team that was looking for upside and fit all over the board.

Clearly, the Hawks were high on Fernando, and you really can’t blame them. One glimpse of Fernando’s chiseled frame and immense heft, and one would be forgiven for thinking he’s been playing in the league for years already.

Thankfully, that is not the case, which means the Hawk can bring in this 20-year-old rookie much like they did with his former teammate Kevin Huerter last year. With three Maryland products on the Hawks roster now (Alex Len being the third), perhaps Hawks and Terrapins get along better than anyone would’ve anticipated.

In terms of on-court fit, Fernando is a multi-faceted big man threat on offense who has the size and versatility to play a number of roles. It’s going to be fun to watch him work alongside gifted operators like Trae, Huerter and John Collins.

Grade: A

Sorry to be a bit rosy on these, but all three picks the Atlanta Hawks made honestly felt like terrific choices. Stay tuned for plenty more coverage and reaction to the Atlanta Hawks picks in the 2019 NBA Draft.