The Atlanta Hawks will select at Nos. 13 and 222 in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft. At least one of these selections should go toward bolstering the frontcourt, specifically at the center position.
One of the others, though, should probably go toward finding a reliable backup guard. The Hawks have been linked to one, potentially, in Michigan State’s Jase Richardson.
That would likely mean the end of Kobe Bufkin’s brief tenure with the Hawks.
Bufkin was the No. 15 overall pick in the 2023 draft, but has encountered various injury setbacks that have delayed his development trajectory. He has played in 27 games in two seasons, including 10 games after suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in 2024.
Notably, Richardson is smaller and a different kind of player than Bufkin, whose combo skill set was a plus during his pre-draft evaluation.
That could mean that Bufkin can still carve out a niche with the Hawks.
He is an aggressive, downhill player on offence and a pesky defender. That could fit alongside Richardson, who is the son of former NBA swingman Jason Richardson and profiles as more of an offensive booster.
Jase Richardson an obvious choice for Hawks with No. X pick in 2025 NBA Draft
Richardson’s appeal to the Hawks should be clear. The 6-foot-3 guard averaged 12.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in his lone season in Lansing. He also shot 41.2% from deep.
“The 19-year-old found another gear with his productivity as the season moved on, especially after being inserted into the starting lineup for Michigan State on Feb. 8,” ESPN’s Jonathan Givony wrote in April.
“His pace, skill level, feel for the game, perimeter shooting, and high-intensity defense give him an excellent framework to build on long-term. He plays an unusually mistake-free style of basketball (30 turnovers in 912 minutes), helping him earn the trust of Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo.”
Richardson offers an option to supplement Trae Young when he sits.
He could also be a piece to soften the blow in the event the Hawks do the seemingly unthinkable and trade the four-time All-Star this offseason.
Either way, such an addition would at the least displace Bufkin and eat into whatever potential role he can still secure for himself with the Hawks. They have already moved on from 2022 first-rounder AJ Griffin.
It would be even less surprising to see them pull the plug on Bufkin’s tenure now.