Atlanta Hawks: 3 Draft Options if Team Trades in Late Lottery
By Dallin Duffy
Precious Achiuwa, PF/C, Memphis
One of the biggest subplots of the Atlanta Hawks’ draft is whether or not they’ll select another big man.
This was their biggest need less than a year ago, but after the trade deadline acquisitions of Clint Capela and Dewayne Dedmon, they’re suddenly very deep in the frontcourt.
If they do, Achiuwa could be worth a long look. At Memphis, he proved to be a fantastic rebounder, using his 7-foot-1 wingspan and energetic motor to average 10.8 boards per game as a freshman.
The Hawks were bottom-10 in the league in rebounds per game last year and while Capela and a full season from John Collins will help, adding another body for depth is never a bad choice.
Outside of rebounding, Achiuwa is seen as one of the best frontcourt defenders available in the draft. He could potentially guard 3-5 with comfort, giving Atlanta a valuable defender off the bench.
There will be prospects with more potential and offensive upside but Achiuwa should be able to contribute right off the bat, something not many late-lottery picks can do.