Hawks may need to change course after alarming Kingston Flemings measurements

The Hawks posses the eighth pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, where they'll have plenty of talented prospects at each position to choose from. One who's been linked to Atlanta for quite some time is Kingston Flemings, an excellent two-way guard out of Houston. Recent updates surrounding him, however, will likely damage their immediate interest.

Measurement season certainly hasn't done Flemings any favors. According to Jonathan Givony of Draft Express, he measured at just "6'2.5 barefoot and 183 pounds at the NBA Draft Combine, with a 6'3.5 wingspan and 8'2.5 standing reach."

For an organization in the midst of pivoting from small guard purgatory, these tangibles could be the final straw in terms of their interest in bringing him in.

Flemings plays bigger than he is but the facts are difficult to ignore

It can't go overlooked that he's a quality defender and playmaker, regardless of how he compares to his peers in size. Sometimes effort overrules the things a player can't control, and with what he was able to prove this past collegiate season, scouts should at least give him the benefit of the doubt and evaluate him properly.

Front offices around the league, including that of the Atlanta Hawks, will due their due diligence on Flemings. If he impresses in workouts and gives organizations hope in his long-term trajectory, there won't be any reason for him to slip.

With what teams know now, though, he's going to have to really kill it as the draft looms closer. In the middle of transcending eras, it may not be worth the Hawks taking the risk. Can they afford committing long-term to another small guard?

If they could with anyone, it's Flemings. Last season with the Houston Cougars, he averaged 16.1 points, 5.2 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game, shooting 47.6% from the field and 38.7% from deep. An efficient floor general is something every team needs. A chip on a shoulder is nice, too.

It's now likelier than ever that Flemings will be available at pick eight

The guard pool is already looking much weaker than initially expected, just one day removed from the lottery. This is bad news, as many teams slated to make their first selection in the top ten are in desperate need of a playmaker.

With Flemings likely dropping into the Hawks hands at eight, should they bite the bullet, or ignore his free fall completely?

Since he's not alone in these underwhelming combine measurements, the reality of them reaching for a big like Aday Mara becomes increasingly respectable. Atlanta will have a variety of options to choose from in June, and it won't be easy to make a final decision.

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