The Atlanta Hawks won the lottery in FanSided’s first mock draft of the season, where the franchise selected Darryn Peterson, a 6’5 combo guard out of Kansas. Peterson would be the perfect piece to slot into this Hawks roster – the final stone in Atlanta’s Infinity Gauntlet. This would be the second time in three years that the Hawks won the lottery, which certainly would rile up the "lottery is rigged" crowd.
When you read about Peterson, he seems like the perfect star player: “big-time scorer,” “natural creator,” “good tools, physicality, and competitiveness as a defender.” He’s only played two games at the collegiate level (and will be sidelined with a hamstring injury), but he has looked as advertised thus far. In his first real test against North Carolina, Peterson stepped up for 22 points on 14 shots.
Peterson isn’t just the best player in the draft class; he’s a perfect fit for this Hawks team. Assuming Atlanta keeps Trae Young, the star core of Young, Peterson, and Jalen Johnson could be one of the strongest in the league. Add in Onyeka Okongwu, who is experiencing a breakout of his own, and one of Zaccharie Risacher, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Dyson Daniels, and you have an elite two-way starting lineup and two Sixth Man of the Year candidates.
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The Hawks are currently tied for the best lottery odds in the 2026 draft after the Pelicans stumbled to a 2-13 start, and there is no sign of recovery in sight. They recently fired coach Willie Green, and the reporting around the franchise increasingly suggests that there is rampant organizational dysfunction.
So long as the Pelicans finish in the bottom four of the league, which seems near inevitable at this point, the Hawks will have a 14% chance of claiming Peterson. But even if the pick isn’t first, this is a loaded draft with tons of players who could instantly make an impact in Atlanta. Cam Boozer and AJ Dybantsa are a pair of elite fours that could make Kristaps Porzingis’s role much more straightforward. In the early to mid lottery, there are a plethora of wing shooters and guards that could alleviate Atlanta’s weaknesses.
In the mock draft, the Hawks opted to let Trae Young walk after receiving the first pick. While this is certainly an option with a generational talent like Peterson on the roster, it wouldn’t be necessary immediately. Perhaps Young and the team could agree to a short-term max deal. This would allow Young to leave in free agency while still in his prime, similar to Paul George’s move to the 76ers, or fall back into a smaller role to continue competing.