The Atlanta Hawks are inching closer to what may very well be their last lottery pick for quite some time. Jalen Johnson and the Hawks are fresh off of a playoff appearance in which they handed the NBA champion New York Knicks two of their only three postseason losses, and are thus likely to be picking outside of the top 14 in future seasons.
With the No. 8 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, the Hawks are reportedly looking for a downhill playmaker. That makes Labaron Philon Jr. the perfect pick.
Atlanta has a tremendous core four with Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dyson Daniels, Johnson, and Onyeka Okongwu. It still has question marks at the other forward position, however, as well as concerns in regard to who can fill the role CJ McCollum thrived in during the 2026 NBA Playoffs.
According to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, the Hawks are hoping to re-sign McCollum, but are also interested in utilizing the No. 8 pick to find a playmaker to feature alongside Johnson.
"While league sources maintain that Atlanta remains hopeful about its chances of re-signing veteran CJ McCollum in free agency after his standout postseason, sources say that the Hawks are interested in coming away with another downhill ballhandler to complement Jalen Johnson over a longer term."
That doesn't necessarily mean that Atlanta intends to draft a guard, but Philon is everything they need and more in the backcourt.
Labaron Philon Jr. is the adaptable downhill player Hawks need
Philon, who will turn 21 in November, measured at 6'2.5" without shoes at the 2026 NBA Draft Combine. Though he's somewhat thin in his frame, he boasts a 6'6.25" wingspan—the same as potential top-five pick Keaton Wagler.
Philon is also one of the fastest players in his class, as well as an aggressive downhill finisher and playmaker who can occupy either a traditional point guard role or play in more of a hybrid capacity.
This past season, Philon averaged 22.0 points, 5.0 assists, 3.5 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 2.5 three-point field goals made per game. He did so while shooting the lights out, converting at a clip of .501/.399/.798 despite facing all but constant double teams.
Philon proved just how adaptable he is when he overcame a poor shooting performance by dishing out 12 assists to send Alabama to the Sweet 16 and then dropped 35 points on the eventual national champions a round later.
Beyond the numbers and feats, Philon is a three-level scoring threat with pro-caliber court vision. He also boasts an intriguing combination of elite ball handling and tough finishing, which makes him an ideal fit alongside Alexander-Walker and Johnson both.
Atlanta will have options at No. 8 overall, but Philon has all of the tools to adapt to a dynamic role and diversify the offense as a potential cornerstone.
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