What does the basketball simulation video game think the Atlanta Hawks will do this fall?
If the NBA season was never put on hold thanks to COVID-19, the Finals would have already wrapped, we’d be a week into free agency and the Atlanta Hawks would have already drafted another young player onto their team.
Now, with everything being pushed back, the draft and free agency will not open until mid-October, giving the Hawks ample time to scout both classes. Thanks to NBA 2K20’s Start Today mode, we can pass the time by simulating the off-season to see what they think will happen.
We simulated the lottery first, and the Hawks landed the sixth pick. According to the Hawks’ current lottery odds, that’s the third-worst place they could have landed. The Pistons won the lottery, followed by the T-Wolves, Cavs, Knicks, and Warriors.
In 2K, you can import the real draft class, giving the virtual-Hawks a chance to draft LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards, Obi Toppin, or the rest of the 2020 rookie class. I was controlling another non-lottery team, leaving the Hawks (and all teams picking ahead of them) unattended.
Here’s how the first five picks played out:
#1 Pick – Anthony Edwards – Detroit Pistons
#2 Pick – Killian Hayes – Minnesota Timberwolves
#3 Pick – Onyeka Okongwu – Cleveland Cavaliers
#4 Pick – Obi Toppin – New York Knicks
#5 Pick – LaMelo Ball – Golden State Warriors
That gave the Hawks some good options, such as R.J Hampton, Cole Anthony, Deni Advija, Isaac Okoro, and James Wiseman. The 2K-controlled team threw a curveball, however, taking Alabama point guard Kira Lewis Jr.
We scouted Lewis here already, giving him much praise but questioning his fit next to Trae Young. you can read that full report here:
With their second-round pick, the Atlanta Hawks selected Skylar Mays, the LSU shooting guard. They’d be pretty lucky to have him fall that far in real life, however, as he’s going in the early second-round of most mocks.
For what it’s worth, here’s how the rest of the lottery played out:
7th pick: Charlotte – Deni Advija
8th pick: Chicago – James Wiseman
9th pick: Washington – RJ Hampton
10th pick: Phoenix – Isaac Okoro
11th pick: San Antonio – Grant Riller (another curveball)
12th pick: Sacramento – Aaron Nesmith
13th pick: New Orleans – Precious Achiuwa
14th pick: Portland – Cole Anthony
In the end, the Hawks added two small guards, which is a bit of a head-scratcher with the 6’1 Trae Young already on the team.
We’ll be continuing this off-season simulation soon, by seeing what the game thinks the Atlanta Hawks will do in free agency.