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In Deep a NBA Draft, Atlanta Hawks Should Consider Trading Down

By Dallin Duffy

EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN - DECEMBER 03: Tre Jones #3 of the Duke Blue Devils plays against the Michigan State Spartans at the Breslin Center on December 03, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN - DECEMBER 03: Tre Jones #3 of the Duke Blue Devils plays against the Michigan State Spartans at the Breslin Center on December 03, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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Exploring the possibility of the Atlanta Hawks trading down in the 2020 NBA Draft.

The Atlanta Hawks own the fourth-best lottery odds and a 36.6 percent chance of getting a top-five pick. They hope this pick will be the last lottery pick of their fairly quick rebuild, which started in the summer of 2017.

With Trae Young, John Collins, Clint Capela, Cam Reddish, De’Andre Hunter, and Kevin Huerter, the Hawks have a bright future, and if they’re able to hit on this pick, should be fighting for a playoff spot next season.

Luckily for them, the upcoming draft class is looking pretty stacked. There is no sure-fire #1 pick, and there’s so much young talent, even non-lottery teams should be getting excited about the June draft.

In fact, the class looks so deep, that I think the Hawks should consider moving down in the draft.

Defensive stud Tre Jones, 3-and-D wings Josh Green and Saddiq Bey as well as scoring machine Aaron Nesmith are among the studs usually mocked to teams in the late-teens and early-twenties. If they move down, they’ll still get a top rookie, and potentially one that’s more ‘pro-ready’ which could be a plus for the ready to win Hawks.

Yes, they’ll be giving up a top pick and the chance to take a prospect like Anthony Edwards or Deni Advija, but in addition to being able to find a solid rookie, later on, they could get a nice haul from the team looking to move up.

Just last year the Hawks gave up picks 8, 17, and 35 to nab the 4th overall pick from New Orleans, and two years ago, the Mavericks gave the Hawks a future first-rounder to swap the fifth and third picks. In 2017, The Blazers gave the Kings the 15th and 20th picks for the 10th.

Atlanta has been active in draft-day trades since Travis Schlenk took over as GM, and if he wants to move down this year, he should be able to get a nice return of either a solid role player or a future pick along with the pick swap.

Even if they move just slightly down, into the mid-to-late lottery, they’ll still be able to get a stud. Onyeka Okongwu, Killian Hayes, and Obi Toppin should all be available in the 7-12 range.

Next. NBA Mock Draft as NCAA Season Suddenly Ends. dark

It’s just yet another thing to watch out for as the Atlanta Hawks embark on their most important off-seasons in years.