Soaring Down South
Fansided

Redoing the Past Eight Atlanta Hawks’ Draft Picks

By Dallin Duffy

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 21: Luka Doncic poses with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver after being drafted third overall by the Atlanta Hawks during the 2018 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 21, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 21: Luka Doncic poses with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver after being drafted third overall by the Atlanta Hawks during the 2018 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 21, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /
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Atlanta Hawks
Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

2014 NBA Draft

Round one, pick 15:

Original Pick: Adreian Payne, PF, Michigan State

New Pick: Nikola Jokić, C, Serbia OR Jordan Clarkson, PG, Missouri

Looking back, Payne may have been the Hawks’ worst selection of the decade, even taking into account that Lucas Nogueira never suited up for the team. Payne didn’t do much better than him, playing just three games before being traded to Minny. They got a protected first-round pick back from the T-Wolves, which ended up being Kevin Huerter, so that’s nice.

Still, with the Hawks looking to go all-in on contending in 2014-2015 (the year they won 60 games) an impact rookie could have really made a difference. That’s why I had both Jokic and Clarkson above.

Jokic is obviously a better player and a potential MVP candidate nowadays, but Clarkson had a fantastic rookie season, providing instant impact and making the All-Rookie first team. Jokic didn’t come to the NBA until 2015, and obviously wouldn’t have made an instant impact, but would have been the best long-term pick.

Meanwhile, Payne played just 107 career games in the NBA and is now a teammate of top 2020 draft prospect Théo Maledon in France.

Round two, pick 43:

Original Pick: Walter Tavares, C, Cape Verde

New Pick: Khem Birch, C, UNLV

The 2014 class was not very deep, but Birch would have been a nice find for the Atlanta Hawks. He played a few seasons overseas after going undrafted and got his chance in 2017 with the Magic. Since, he’s made himself into a modest player and has appeared in 40 games for Orlando this season, starting 24.

Outside of the seven players drafted to never check into an NBA game, Walter Tavares has played in the least amount of games of anyone drafted (13) in 2014.

Round two, pick 48:

Original Pick: Lamar Patterson, SG, Pittsburgh

New Pick: Langston Galloway, PG, Saint Joseph’s

Grabbing another player out of the undrafted bin, the Hawks draft Langston Galloway, who has become a serviceable backup point guard. He started 41 games as a rookie for a very bad New York Knicks team and has put up solid numbers since.

Before the season was suspended, he was averaging 25.8 minutes per game for the Detroit Pistons this year.