Soaring Down South
Fansided

The Atlanta Hawks’ dream team if they nailed every draft pick

By Michael Shearer

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - DECEMBER 02: Clint Capela #15 of the Atlanta Hawks defends against Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets during the second half at State Farm Arena on December 02, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - DECEMBER 02: Clint Capela #15 of the Atlanta Hawks defends against Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets during the second half at State Farm Arena on December 02, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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Atlanta Hawks. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images) /

2017. Pick #19. Actual: John Collins. Should’ve Been: OG Anunoby

Collins is a good player who never quite lived up to his potential, partly through his own doing and partly through the franchise’s. The defensive effort and shooting both waxed and waned, and he chafed at what he perceived as his limited role on offense. His tumultuous relationship with the Hawks finally, mercifully culminated in a recent trade to Utah.

Collins is still a better-than-usual pick at #19, a player who became a solid starter in the league. But that doesn’t mean Atlanta couldn’t have done better.

All-Star Jarrett Allen was taken three picks later. Kyle Kuzma, who just signed a nine-figure contract, was also available, as was Dejounte Murray’s former teammate Derrick White.

But the cream of the remaining crop was another Toronto Raptor, OG Anunoby. The pinnacle of the 3-and-D player, it’s impossible to imagine a better fit next to Trae Young (or any high-creation point guard, really). Anunoby is a lockdown wing defender with a little bully-ball post-up game who also knocked in 39% of his triples last season. While Anunoby might never be an All-NBA caliber player, he’s one of the most valuable non-superstars in the game due to his remarkable flexibility — there isn’t a team in the league who couldn’t use him, including (especially?) Atlanta.

And even if the Hawks ended up in a weird standoff with Anunoby, as they did with Collins, perhaps they would’ve been more amenable to the rumored three first-rounders teams offered Masai Ujiri for OG last season.

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