The Atlanta Hawks are doing their due diligence with all prospects expected to be available in the range of their first selection, but as the draft looms closer, teams' plans begin to shape exactly who they'll have a realistic shot at landing.
While the dream of Mikel Brown Jr. or Keaton Wagler falling all the way to eight is almost a perfect scenario, it's appearing less likely by the day. If they're both gone, it means Houston's Kingston Flemings would likely be available, and it's difficult to imagine Atlanta letting him go any further.
In a recent intel drop from Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, it was revealed that Brown Jr. and Wagler both cancelled their upcoming workouts with the Sacramento Kings, highly suggesting that both will be off the board before the seventh pick.
Atlanta would still be in a qulity position landing Flemings
Now, it's important to remember that if both Brown Jr. and Wagler are off the board, Atlanta could choose to move back, or simply avoid a point guard entirely. They're intrigued by the idea of Michigan's Aday Mara, and if they're not as high on Flemings as some towards the back-end of the lottery, there won't be any need for them to force the pick.
If they do ultimately land on Flemings, though, Hawks fans will have plenty of reason for celebration. Not too long ago, before pre-draft measurements were revealed, Flemings was seen as the consensus fifth-overall selection.
Mostly, at least. The top-four has always been a lock, it's just the order that remains up in the air. The expected pick right after Caleb Wilson has varied, but for most of the 2025-26 NCAA season, Flemings was the guy most people were predicting would land there.
Despite being more undersized than many initially believed, Flemings is still the same player he's always been. He plays bigger than he is, too.
Small point guards are not fully out of style, either
It would certainly go against much of what Onsi Saleh has been preaching for some time, but still, the talent Flemings possesses is undeniable. He has serious future All-Star potential, and Atlanta would be silly to ignore that just because he's not as large as they once thought.
The difference between him and most smaller guards is that he's still a quality defensive player. As long as he can continue playing bigger than he is at the next level, he shouldn't have any sort of issue translating his impressive nightly attack.
The 2026 NBA Draft is just days away, and it'll be incredibly intriguing to see exactly which direction the Atlanta Hawks will go.
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