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
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) /

2018 NBA Draft

Round one, pick 5:

Original Pick: Trae Young, PG, Oklahoma

New Pick; Trae Young, PG, Oklahoma

Now I don’t want to make this a Luka vs. Trae debate, but there would be some second thoughts if the Hawks could redo the pick.

Do I think that Luka Doncic is a better player than Trae Young? Perhaps. Do I think the combination of Trae Young and Cam Reddish (who the Hawks took with the pick Dallas sent them to move up) will be better than just Luka Doncic in the future? Also perhaps.

Still, it’s so rare for a win-win trade to happen in the NBA these days, and who am I to take away one. Young has starred since shaking off a rough few weeks to open his career and started the All-Star game as a sophomore. That’s impressive.

He’s second in the league in both total points and total assists, averaging 29.6 and 9.3, respectively. The three-point sniper has been asked to consistently take and make his own shots, and Trae’s delivered.

Round one, pick 19:

Original Pick: Kevin Huerter, SG, Maryland

New Pick: Kevin Huerter, SG, Maryland

I was tempted to take Josh Okogie, Mitchell Robinson or Landry Shamet here, but I’ll stick with red velvet for now.

Huerter has started alongside Trae basically since being drafted and was instantly a dynamic three-point shooter. He’s made 38 percent of his threes in his career thus far, shooting over six attempts per game this season.

His defense comes and goes, but his offense is consistent, and while he may lose his starting spot, should be a rotational piece going forward for the Atlanta Hawks.

Round one, pick 30:

Original Pick: Omari Spellman, PF, Villanova

New Pick: Mitchell Robinson, C, Western Kentucky

I originally had the Hawks taking Devonte’ Graham here, but the Hawks need interior defensive more than they need more three point-scoring. Mitchell has been a dominant rim-protector since entering the league as the 36th pick and has blocked 280 shots in his 127 games for the Knicks.

He can’t do much else, although his scoring and rebounding are improving, but the Hawks would have gotten an elite interior defender that hopefully, Clint Capela will now provide.

Meanwhile, Omari Spellman is on his third team in not even two years of NBA play, although he has yet to suit up for the T-Wolves.