Atlanta Hawks: 4 Best Moves of the 2019 Offseason

Trading Up to #34, Taking Bruno Fernando

Last but certainly not least is the Atlanta Hawks trading up into the second round in order to obtain the #34 overall pick, which the team used to take Bruno Fernando out of Maryland.

In the case of this transaction, the combination of what it took to move up (inconsequential future second-rounders) and who they took (Fernando) makes this move a slam dunk for the Atlanta Hawks and General Manager Travis Schlenk.

Fernando, who was a teammate with Kevin Huerter in college, provides the Hawks with some frontcourt heft as well as interesting and still-expanding skill set that should pair beautifully with the team’s young core.

Fernando just turned 21 on August 15, so he will play the entirety of his first season in the league at that age – meaning he fits in perfectly with the team’s timeline.

For much of the pre-draft process, the Hawks held a first-round grade on Fernando and were even discussing taking him with the #10 overall pick.

Luckily for the Hawks, Fernando slipped all the way out of the first round, where they put together a package of three second-rounders for the Sixers in order to draft Bruno at #34. A hulking center with unexplored passing and three-point shooting abilities? Sounds like a future major contributor.

The low cost and high upside of this move makes it one of the best of the offseason for the Atlanta Hawks.

There you have it! Do you agree or disagree with us on these? Let us know in the comments or on social media. As always, keep it locked to Soaring Down South for plenty more coverage of your Atlanta Hawks.