The Atlanta Hawks are bringing in another crop of 2023 NBA draft hopefuls, per Lauren L. Williams of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on June 1, and arguably chief among them was the twin brother of Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray.
Keegan Murray | F | Iowa
6-foot-8 | 215 lbs
Hawkeyes forward Kris Murray, an All-Big Ten pick in 2023, filled his brother’s role capably when he made the leap to the NBA averaging 20.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 2.0 assists.
He shot 33.5% of his looks last season to 39.8% for Keegan Murray in 2021.
While that means he won’t go as high as No. 4 like his brother, Kris Murray could still make a team very happy in the back end of the first round – like at the No. 24 overall spot where ESPN’s Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo have him joining his brother in Sacramento – or potentially even higher.
Iowa's Kris Murray drew a big audience of NBA executives to watch him work out at the Priority Sports pro day at the NBA draft combine. pic.twitter.com/Uu769ahccz
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 19, 2023
Atlanta currently holds the No. 15 overall pick, just outside of the lottery. They also have picks Nos. 43 and 46 overall and enough enticing contracts that they could move up for a player assuming they really like someone and fear he might not make it to them.
Of course, they have had tremendous luck over the last two years with previously potential lottery picks AJ Griffin and Jalen Johnson falling in their laps at picks Nos. 16 and 20 overall.
Their roster is also not bereft of talent at any particular position.
Maxwell Lewis | F | Pepperdine
6-foot-7 | 195 lbs
While many of the Hawks’ previous workouts have been second-round hopefuls and like undrafted free agents, this group features several potential first-rounders including Maxwell Lewis, No. 30 overall in ESPN’s latest mock draft. A 2023 All-WCC selection, Lewis averaged 17.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.8 assists this past season.
He was also part of the WCC All-Freshman team.
dunkin' in the fast lane! #WavesUp | @maxwelll2002 pic.twitter.com/46QbTSQBVd
— Pepperdine Men’s Basketball (@PeppBasketball) December 7, 2022
The 6-foot-7 Lewis would be a nice complement to Griffin and Johnson in future bench units under new head coach Quin Snyder.
Of course, the Hawks did keep up with their deeper cuts of prospects who are not projected to hear their names call in the first round if at all. And chief among them was a dynamic guard out of the Big 12.