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Why the Atlanta Hawks Should and Shouldn’t Draft Anthony Edwards

By Dallin Duffy

ATHENS, GA - JANUARY 7: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Georgia Bulldogs controls the ball during a game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Stegeman Coliseum on January 7, 2020 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
ATHENS, GA - JANUARY 7: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Georgia Bulldogs controls the ball during a game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Stegeman Coliseum on January 7, 2020 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) /
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Why the Atlanta Hawks Should Draft Anthony Edwards

1. Positional fit

As mentioned in the intro, this is the reason most draw a line between Edwards and the Hawks. The Hawks have their point guard set with Trae Young, two solid-looking small forwards in Cam Reddish and De’Andre Hunter, and have a full frontcourt as well, with John Collins, Clint Capela, and Dewayne Dedmon all set for big minutes.

Kevin Huerter is a very solid two-guard, but he projects to be a better bench piece than a starter, giving the Hawks a hole there. The 6-foot-5 Edwards can slide right in and provide energetic play on both ends.

2. Defensive backcourt balance

The Hawks need to find a stout guard defender to help offset Trae’s downfalls in this department, and Edwards can be that guy. He flashed tremendous one-on-one defense in Athens, even if he needs to work on his team D/ Communication early on.

Shifty feet and strong hands will make him a hard matchup for even the best offensive players as a rookie, alleviating the pressure Trae and the rest of the Hawks’ defense felt these past few seasons.

3. Bucket-getter

Often times – especially late in games – Trae Young was tasked with creating his own look due to the team lacking a true secondary scorer. Edwards has pro-ready shot creation skills and isn’t afraid to attack in isolation.

He can pull up from three, stop on a dime and fire from mid-range and finish around the rim with a variety of moves.

His efficiency (which we’ll get to) wasn’t great as he was asked to do too much for a lackluster Georgia team, but his ability to get open and shoot is easily atop of this draft class. With combo-guard-like capabilities, Edwards could be trusted to create a solid look for himself whenever Trae needs a possession off.