The NBA Draft is four days away. The Atlanta Hawks hold two first round picks for the first time since 2019, when they doubled down at forward, selecting Virginia's De'Andre Hunter and Duke's Cam Reddish, and they could come away with an ideal haul.
Hunter, that year's fourth overall pick, turned out to be a solid two-way contributor at the next level. Atlanta traded him to Cleveland in the midst of a career-year due to his contract situation and the emergence of Zaccharie Risacher, the first overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
Cam Reddish was a different story. The promising forward who displayed flashes of excellence alongside Zion Williamson and RJ Barrett at Duke has not had a successful NBA career. Despite two seasons of solid play and consistent minutes in the rotation, Reddish requested a trade out of Atlanta for a larger role, something he has still yet to receive.
The outcome of the 2019 NBA Draft has left Hawks fans scarred, which is not great considering the Hawks could (and should) follow a similar philosophy this year. While Travis Schlenk stepped down a couple of years later and the franchise is now on their second general manager since his departure, the idea of surrounding Trae Young with athletic, shot-making, defensive-minded wings remains a perfect plan.
Similar to Schlenk, General Manager Onsi Saleh comes from the Golden State Warriors pipeline. He excels in scouting and negotiating bold transactions. With Atlanta also bringing in Bryson Graham from New Orleans, it is clear they view this draft as one that could define the next decade of Hawks basketball.
How could the Hawks fulfill the vision of 2019 while ensuring the two players they select can contribute now and in the long-term?
Atlanta should select Washington State's Cedric Coward at 13 and Rasheer Fleming of Saint Joseph's at 22.
Both of these forwards fit the mold for what the Hawks are building. Either in the starting lineup or off the bench, Coward and Fleming would provide two-way versatility at the wing and forward positions. Neither are projected to have a long adjustment period, something that makes them stand out from their peers.
Atlanta will benefit from aiming for playoff contention next year. While most teams in the first round place a large emphasis on selecting a "one-and-done", the Hawks will likely draft one or two prospects who fit their current timeline: a young team poised to make a real leap as early as next season.
Coward, a 6'6" wing, played his senior year at Washington State where he only appeared in six games due to a season-ending injury. After taking a massive leap the year prior at Eastern Washington, the hype for his final season was high. While he did not get to showcase as much as he wanted, the senior turned some heads and saw his draft stock rise.
The Washington State forward is only 21 years old despite going through a full collegiate development process, making him a high-upside prospect with a low floor. His efficiency saw next-level improvement, and he could be a day-one contributor in the right situation. Coward's catch-and-shoot ability, combined with his defensive versatility, makes him a perfect fit for the Hawks.
The Hawks have several ways they could go with pick 22. One intriguing option is forward Rasheer Fleming. Another draft riser with a similar come-up to Coward, Fleming provides a different skillset and fills an important hole in Atlanta's second unit.
He played an entire season in his final year at Saint Joseph's and made massive improvements to unexpected areas of his game. While being one the most dominant defensive prospects in this year's draft considering his ability to guard multiple positions as a big, Rasheer Fleming became one of the more reliable outside shooters in the Atlantic 10. At 6'9", his rebounding ability is remarkable, averaging 8.5 a game last season. He has drawn comparisons to forwards such as Pascal Siakam and Jalen Johnson due to his ball-handling and play-finishing abilities.
This year's draft class is loaded. Whether Atlanta elects to draft a guard, big, or double-down on forwards again, they have their work cut out for them.