The Atlanta Hawks own picks Nos. 13 and 22 in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft, and they could use one of those selections on Georgetown center Thomas Sorber.
Measuring in at 6-foot-9 without shoes, Sorber is roughly the same height as Hawks starting center Onyeka Okongwu. He is also nearly 20 pounds heavier, though, and projects as a greater force on the defensive end, particularly in the paint.
According to NJ Advance Media’s Adam Zagoria, the Hawks have an “interest” in Sorber.
“Georgetown freshman Thomas Sorber is drawing the interest of several teams in the lottery and also just outside the lottery ahead of Wednesday’s NBA Draft,” Zagoria wrote on June 21.
“The 6-foot-10 Trenton, N.J. native has attracted interest from the Atlanta Hawks (which pick at Nos. 13 and 22) and San Antonio Spurs (No. 14) -- the last two picks in the lottery. Sorber is also drawing attention from the Minnesota Timberwolves (No. 17) and Brooklyn Nets (Nos. 8, 19, 26 and 27), NJ Advance Media has learned.”
That interest could spark the Hawks to make a trade up as The Stein Line’s Jake Fischer noted.
“Various sources have indicated that they do believe the Hawks will fall right in line with Oklahoma City, Orlando and Brooklyn as teams with multiple picks in the mid-to-late first round exploring various avenues to move up the draft board,” Fischer wrote on June 12.
“Rival teams have projected the Hawks as targeting big men with whatever draft slots they ultimately operate from. After years of dangling Clint Capela on the trade block, Capela is finally expected to depart Atlanta via free agency this season, sources say. So the Hawks appear poised to have an opening for a center.”
That does not mean Sorber is whom the Hawks are planning to move up for, but he would provide a sound replacement for presumed outgoing veteran Clint Capela.
Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor compared Sorber to Jonas Valanciunas and Jusuf Nurkic.
“Sorber has a brick-house frame and the throwback skill-set to match with strong screens, soft-touch finishes, and gritty drop-coverage instincts,” O’Connor wrote on June 12. But to be more than a role player, he needs to tap into the flashes he shows as a shooter while also improving his perimeter defense.”
O’Connor and Zagoria noted durability concerns for Sorber, who still logged 23 starts in 24 appearances for the Hoyas in 2024-25.
Thomas Sorber a fitting complement for Hawks’ frontcourt
The Hawks’ frontcourt rotation is not facing the dire straits their rumored interest in a big trade or players like Myles Turner of the Indiana Pacers and Duke’s Khaman Maluach, the top center prospect in the 2025 class, might otherwise indicate.
Okongwu is a fine offensive presence and provides something players like Sorber cannot as a perimeter defensive option with the budding three-point stroke to match.
The Hawks also have 2023 second-round pick Mouhamed Gueye.
Gueye filled in for injured starting power forward Jalen Johnson, and could be a viable backup 5 with more muscle mass. Sorber would make a fine replacement for Capela as the Hawks’ backup center, so long as he is on the board when they go on the clock, presumably at No. 22.