The NBA Draft lottery revealed many surprising draft picks that shocked the Basketball world, most notably the Dallas Mavericks' winning the No.1 overall pick and a future star in Cooper Flagg. For the Atlanta Hawks, the evening went as expected; they acquired the 13th overall pick from the Sacramento Kings, which was a part of the Kevin Huerter trade.
Given the outstanding talent in the 2025 draft pool, fans are excited to see who the front office will select, especially with a new general manager in place.
Hawks owner Tony Ressler is taking a more aggressive approach to avoid wasting the talent of his budding young roster, and it’s evident with his search for a world-class General Manager. Whoever the Billionaire hires will significantly impact the franchise’s trajectory with the upcoming draft classes. Former GM Landry Fields was able to compile a plethora of draft picks before losing his job, and the 2026-2028 draft classes feature numerous prospects that could thrive in Atlanta.
2026 NBA Draft: SAS, CLE, MIN or UTA swap rights
Next summer, the Hawks will have two first-round draft picks: an original pick of their own and a pick from the San Antonio Spurs acquired in the Dejounte Murray trade. The Hawks can acquire a pick from the Cleveland Cavaliers and, more importantly, the Utah Jazz’s pick 1-8 if the Jazz agree to a pick swap. Picks 9-30 are protected, so they're guaranteed a quality prospect if it falls within the top eight.
The draft class is headlined by AJ Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer, and Darryn Peterson. All three are exceptional talents, but it’s improbable that the Hawks secure one of the three. Most notable mock drafts predict the Hawks will have the 13th-15th pick in the first round, and the 2026 draft class is littered with athletic big men.
It’s likely the Hawks draft a PF/C since Clint Capela is expected to leave in free agency and Oneyka Okongwu shined as the starting center during the second half of the season. Quin Snyder also discovered a diamond in the rough by allocating more playing time to Mouhamed Gueye, but the Hawks need more front-court depth. Larry Nance Jr played great in his first season with the Hawks, but at 31 years old, his best years are behind him.
If center Malachi Moreno is still available on the draft board, he would be an excellent addition to the roster with his abilities and size at 6'11. He committed to the University of Kentucky in October 2024 after dominating his first two seasons at Great Crossing High School. He ended his senior year averaging 21.8 points, 14.9 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks per game after leading the Warhawks to a state championship in March.
The five-star recruit excels in the pick-and-roll, making him a fantastic offensive weapon for Trae Young and Jalen Johnson. The Hawks' star duo excels at playmaking, and Moreno will also improve the team’s defensive rating, where Atlanta struggles the most.
2027 NBA Draft: The Pelicans Pick
The 2027 draft is extremely important for Atlanta because of their three draft picks. Atlanta will reap the benefits of the Dejounte Murray trade, as they can secure a high draft pick from the Pelicans if it falls out of the top four, giving the Hawks another vital lottery pick for their roster construction. They also have two second-round picks from the Cavaliers that were acquired in the De'Andre Hunter trade package.
A point guard would be the best course of action, given how unreliable Kobe Bufkin has been due to injuries. Jason Crowe Jr. and Dylan Mingo are two viable options for the Hawks. Both five-star recruits are first-round picks in most mock drafts, and their specific play styles significantly upgrade the backcourt depth.
Crowe has impressed scouts with his three-point shooting prowess, even at the high school level. Multiple reports reiterate the same sentiments about his game: Crowe is a 6'3" left-handed combo guard who can score at all three levels but must improve his playmaking.
He is leaning towards the UCLA Bruins for the 2025-26 school year, and playing under Mike Cronin will polish his game to an NBA-level throughout the NCAA season. If Saleh wants to add more playmaking, Mingo would be the better option with his court vision and size at 6’5. He's also proven to be a great two-way player
Atlanta added more size to its frontcourt with the 6’7" Dyson Daniels and 6’5" Terrance Mann. Young, at 6'1" , has numerous limitations but has career averages of 25.3 points and 9.8 assists after seven years in the NBA. He is a rarity in the 21st-century NBA, and drafting these taller guards will give Atlanta an adequate guard rotation to compete with the NBA’s modern landscape.
2028 NBA Draft: UTA or CLE swap rights
2028 will be an intriguing year for Atlanta because this pick is variable and depends on numerous moving parts. The Utah Jazz have the chance to swap picks with the Cavaliers, and the Hawks can gain the least favorable pick from either team. Utah’s draft pick would be ideal, as their young roster puts them on pace to struggle for the next three seasons, giving Atlanta another first-round pick.
The Hawks should insist on drafting a wing since this class features many promising shooting guards/forwards. According to NBADRAFTROOM.com, Nikola Kusturica, Fabian Kayser, and Jacob Wilkins are some of the best wings available in the first round. Kusturica and Kayser have impressed scouts overseas with their scoring, and Wilkins has inherited his father’s (Dominique Wilkins) athleticism as a high flyer on the fast break.
Many things could change within the next three years, but these players are realistic options. The Hawks have draft picks leading up to 2031, so Saleh will have plenty of opportunities to discover a hidden gem or use the draft capital in a trade package to sign another star.