With the former No.1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher falling out of the rotation, the Hawks have a chance to replace the 21-year-old after the recent tiebreakers for the upcoming NBA Draft Lottery on May 10. There were multiple tie-breakers this season, including the New Orleans Pelicans, who tied the Dallas Mavericks with a 26-56 record.
Atlanta was one of the many cities, including Toronto and Utah, that benefited from the hands of fate. Shortly after the ping-pong balls were inserted into the machine, they were awarded the seventh-best odds to land the No. 1 overall pick, and the lowest the pick will fall is No. 11.Â
The route to redemption starts here
The quality of the 2026 NBA Draft has been well documented. Many pundits believe it’s the best draft class since 2003, given the three-headed monster of Cameron Boozer, AJ Dybantsa, and Darryn Peterson. Not to mention ACC All-American and Atlanta native, Caleb Wilson.
All four could go No.1 overall if they were in separate classes. Although the lottery is truly unpredictable, the Hawks could easily walk away with one of these four future stars.Â
Given the fact that Washington, Brooklyn, and Indiana all had worse records, the Hawks only have a 6.8 percent chance to secure the first pick. They also have a 29.3 percent chance to be in the top four.
If their luck runs out, there is a litany of prospects at the bottom of the lottery who will fit in Quin Snyder’s system like a glove. It would be wise for Onsi Saleh and the front office to draft a guard after seeing Atlanta’s struggle in half-court creation after trading Trae Young.
We’re witnessing CJ McCollum use his veteran experience to carry the offense in the Playoffs, but the 34-year-old’s age will catch up with him eventually. Adding shot creators like Keaton Wagler, Kingston Flemings, or Mikel Brown Jr. would provide a long-term solution.Â
One of the three guards is a very realistic option, leaving it to Saleh to make the right selection on May 10.Â
Selecting the right prospect is essential
A litany of mock drafts feature all three guards falling to Atlanta, but the pick must coincide with the current roster construction. Saleh has built a team with size, length, and athleticism, three characteristics that Keaton Wagler possesses.
The former Fighting Illini led Illinois to its first Final Four since 2005 at just 19 years old. He led the program in scoring (17.9) and assists (4.2) all season. Wagler is a jack of all trades, but the most valuable stat is his efficiency.
Keaton shot 39.7 percent from three and recorded numerous 20-plus point performances on high percentages. If fans are skeptical about his scoring, all they have to do is watch Wagler’s 46-point performance against the Purdue Boilermakers from January 24. He shot 13-of-17 from the field, with nine of his field goals coming from behind the 3-point line.Â
Combining his shooting stroke and solid playmaking at 6-foot-66 adds more versatility to Atlanta's backcourt. His archetype is needed in the NBA’s modern era. Choosing Wagler over the other two guards will avoid Mikel’s possible health issues and Kingston Flemings’ detrimental shot diet.
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