Hawks poised to benefit from Western Conference rival at pivotal time

The loss of Dejounte Murray resulted in mixed emotions for the fanbase of the Atlanta Hawks, but one of the interesting factors of the trade was the 2025 draft pick from the Los Angeles Lakers. As of right now, multiple mock drafts have the Hawks slated to receive a lottery pick.

Websites like NBA DRAFT ROOM, The Athletic, and NBADRAFT.NET have the Hawks listed as the 12th to the 14th pick in their mock drafts.

As the NBA season is set to begin in late October, the NCAA basketball season will begin in November and we will see who fluctuates in the mock draft. If we analyze the roster, the Hawks have multiple small forwards and big men after their acquisitions over the summer. The 2025 draft class is filled with multiple prospects that could benefit the Hawks, but the roster could use another athletic shooting guard or center to develop behind Onyeka Okongwu when Clint Capela leaves. Some of the talent is too good to pass up on regardless of who the Hawks have on the roster.

Early predictions have the Hawks drafting Tre Johnson, Dink Pate, and Jalil Bethea. Of course, the Hawks can draft a plethora of different names next summer, but these three players have been the most consistent names among credible mock drafts online. For them to acquire another lottery pick, the Lakers will have to have another lackluster season, and they will face a fair amount of adversity in the West with their current roster.

How will the Lakers perform in the West and how will it effect the Hawks?

Even though the Lakers have LeBron James and Anthony Davis, General Manager Rob Pelinka did not acquire a notable star-caliber player during free agency. The front office hired a new Head Coach in JJ Redick, but the 39-year-old might experience some adversity during his first few seasons in LA. It is unlikely they will sign anyone else before the season starts because of the money used to extend James and Davis.

According to ESPN Bet, the Lakers are projected to win 44.5 games this season, which would put them in the Play-In tournament, benefiting the Hawks in the process.

If the Lakers fall to a Play-In spot, it almost guarantees the Hawks a lottery pick. Adding another lottery-caliber talent to their young core will further solidify their bright future. Zaccharie Risacher, Dyson Daniels, and Jalen Johnson are going to be tremendous assets for Trae Young when they’re all fully developed.

The young core looked stellar their first time playing together during their NBA Preseason opener on October 8th.

Risacher put on a show-stopping performance off the bench, finishing with 18 points while shooting 7-9 and had a game-high plus-minus of plus-15. Daniels was inserted into the starting lineup and immediately made an impact on defense. He also showcased his offensive game with back-door cuts and made a three-pointer as well. He finished with 14 points while shooting an efficient 5-for-9, and his offense continues to improve.

Johnson shined on both sides of the floor. He finished with 19 points, 3 steals and grabbed 10 rebounds. He led the team in scoring while shooting an efficient 8-12 and showcased his high basketball IQ with excellent shot selection.

We will see if he can truly replace Murray as the No. 2 option, and if the Hawks make the right pick in next year's draft, It will put Atlanta in a great position as they enter the second half of the decade.

Young will be rewarded with the best supporting cast he's ever had if he remains patient with the front office. General Manager Landry Fields made the right pick last year by selecting Risacher, and it will be hard to go wrong with the gold mine that is the 2025 NBA draft. It is not ideal when one team’s performance dictates the future of another, but in this case, the Hawks are in a position to take advantage of the situation.