Atlanta Hawks Mock Draft Digest Post-Lottery

Reacting to various mock drafts from an Atlanta Hawks perspective.

The NBA Draft Lottery has come and go, giving the Atlanta Hawks the 6th pick in the process. While some fans lamented the somewhat low pick, it’s actually a good landing spot for the team.

with the placement of the top teams no longer being a question mark, the mock draft season has officially begun, with many forums published a piece shortly after the lottery concluded.

Here, we’ll be searching through those to react to what player they have the Atlanta Hawks taking.

NBA Mock Draft Digest:

Jeremy Woo, Sports Illustrated

Players off the board: Anthony Edwards, James Wiseman, Obi Toppin, LaMelo Ball, Onyeka Okongwu.

Atlanta Hawks draft: Tyrese Haliburton, PG, Iowa State

My reaction: I do like the pro-ready Haliburton and his fit next to Trae Young in Atlanta. I just also feel like there are better options left on the board such as Deni Avdija, Isaac Okoro, and Devin Vassell, which were the next three picks in Woo’s mock, respectively.

Gary Parrish, CBS Sports

Players off the board: Ball, Wiseman, Edwards, Toppin, Deni Avdija

Atlanta Hawks draft: Onyeka Okongwu, PF/C, USC

My reaction: A best player available type pick here, the Hawks don’t have an urgent need to pick up another rim-running big, but Okongwu is among the best overall prospects in this class. I like Okongwu but would only question if you want to spend the sixth overall pick on a backup to John Collins, who will more than likely average more than 30 minutes per game.

Jonathan Wasserman, Bleacher Report

Players off the board: Edwards, Wiseman, Ball, Avdija, Toppin

Atlanta Hawks draft: Tyrese Haliburton, PG, Iowa State

My reaction: Wasserman’s and Woo’s top-six is nearly the same, and both have the Hawks taking the Iowa State point guard. My favoring of Okoro and Vassell stays the same here.

Krysten Peak, Yahoo Sports

Players off the board: Edwards, Ball, Toppin, Haliburton, Avdija

Atlanta Hawks draft: James Wiseman, C, Memphis

My reaction: Here’s where it gets tough to me. I really do like Wiseman as a prospect, and think he star if he goes the right team, but the Hawks aren’t the right team. They just acquired their defensive big man in Clint Capela, and with Dewayne Dedmon and Bruno Fernando on the roster, its’ hard to see Wiseman cracking the rotation. And given his lack of spacing, he’s not an ideal candidate to move down to the four.

Tommy Beer, Forbes

Players off the board: Edwards, Wiseman, Ball, Toppin, Avdija

Atlanta Hawks draft: Onyeka Okongwu, PF, USC

My reaction: Again, still prefer Okoro or Vassell.

Ian Levy, The Step Back

Players off the board: Ball, Killian Hayes, Edwards, Okongwu, Toppin

Atlanta Hawks draft: Devin Vassell, G, Florida State

My reaction: Alexa, play Celebration. But really, this is what I was waiting for, getting a little nervous that no mocks had Vaseell heading to Atlanta. The defensive-stopper can provide instant impact for the Hawks and is perhaps the best fit on paper in the draft class. Love it.

Final Takeaways:

• Edwards, Ball, and Toppin went in the top-five in every mock I read, which is fine with me, considering their respectively iffy fits in Atlanta.
• Killian Hayes, who was a trendy pick to go in the top-five just a few months ago, was available for the Hawks to select in all but one mock.
• I’m sure you’re sick of it by now, but Okoro and Vassell would both fit great on the Hawks. They were both available at six in every mock I read.

Who do you think the Atlanta Hawks should draft?