Picking three sleepers the Atlanta Hawks could use the 6th overall pick on.
With the NBA Lottery in the books, we have just about two months of rampant speculation to sit through. Get ready to hear a lot of: who will the Atlanta Hawks take? And who should the Atlanta Hawks take?
No one has the answers to those questions, but it is nice to know where the Hawks will pick to get a better sense of who they could select. Instead of digging into the more obvious names, here we’ll be picking three sleepers the Hawks could reach for on draft night.
Who’s considered a sleeper? I didn’t include anyone who routinely goes in the top-ten of mock drafts. Full list of non-sleeper players below:
Wide Awake:
- LaMelo Ball
- Anthony Edwards
- James Wiseman
- Obi Toppin
- Deni Avdija
- Tyrese Haliburton
Tired, But Not Quite Sleepers:
- Isaac Okoro
- Devin Vassell
- Onyeka Okongwu
- Killian Hayes
Three Sleepers The Atlanta Hawks Could Take:
#3 – RJ Hampton
Hampton’s draft stock took a considerable hit after an injury-shortened season overseas. When he did play, his production was all over the place, but he flashed true potential as a slashing guard.
The Hawks could value his secondary playmaking and isolation shot creation next to Trae Young, and Hampton is likely the smallest “reach” on this list. He usually goes somewhere between 10-15 on mocks.
#2 – Saddiq Bey
Anthony Edwards, Isaac Okoro, and Devin Vassell are the elite 3-and-D prospects in this draft, but Bey might be the next best option after those three. The Hawks are in need of outside shooting, with Bey certainly brings.
He made 45 percent of his treys as a sophomore on 5.6 attempts. He has an ideal, quick release and enough defense to be seen as a positive on that end. He could start right away or come off the bench in Atlanta.
#1 – Tyrese Maxey
I’ve been on the Maxey bandwagon for a while, and he continues to be one of the most widespread placements on mock drafts. Some have him cracking the top-ten, while some stick him into the early-twenties.
Maxey’s ability to get to the rim in a flash and finish with consistency is exactly what the Hawks’ offense needs. While it may be best to trade back a bit to grab him with a bit more value, I wouldn’t have any issues with the team taking him 6th.
Honorable Mentions:
- Aaron Nesmith – in the same mold as Saddiq Bey. Nesmith is a better shooter but much worse defensively.
- Cole Anthony – Could be a solid value pick but doesn’t fit well with Trae Young.
- Patrick Williams – Dynamic offensive threat and one of the most intriguing players in the class.
Who are some sleeper pick the Atlanta Hawks should consider?