The Atlanta Hawks have two first-round picks in the 2025 NBA Draft, and they could use either one of them to land Stanford’s Maxine Raynaud.
NBA Big Board’s Rafael Barlowe revealed a link between the Hawks and Raynaud.
Raynaud would join countryman Zaccharie Risacher if he landed in Atlanta. Listed at 7-foot-1, Raynaud would bring size and pick-and-pop ability to the Hawks connecting on 34.7% of his deep looks to go with 20.2 points and an ACC-leading 10.6 rebounds per game.
“One player who did play 5-on-5 and arguably helped himself is Stanford big man Maxime Raynaud,” Barlowe wrote on June 2. “He was second in the ACC in scoring, first in rebounding, and made the second-most three-pointers by a seven-footer in NCAA history. This wasn’t a one-week hot streak—he’s been producing at that level since November.
“However, since Chicago, interest has skyrocketed. He’s got more teams requesting workouts than there are days left on the calendar.”
Barlowe noted some teams would not even get an opportunity to bring Raynaud in.
Raynaud also averaged 1.7 assists, 1.4 blocks, and just a hair under 1.0 steals per game, underscoring the various ways he can impact the game.
The Hawks are the highest team Barlowe linked to Raynaud, but he noted the San Antonio Spurs, who boast their own French connection, are also in play with the No. 14 overall pick. The Spurs own that pick from trading Dejounte Murray to the Hawks in 2022.
Hawks could face flashpoint decision on Maxime Raynaud
Barlowe also believes the Hawks could still have a chance at Raynaud with the No. 22 pick.
Atlanta owns that selection courtesy of the Los Angeles Lakers by way of the New Orleans Pelicans, to whom they traded Murray during the 2024 offseason.
The tallest player under contract with the Hawks entering the offseason is 2023 second-round big man Mouhamed Gueye.
He is listed at 6-foot-10.
The Hawks list starting center Onyeka Okongwu at the same height, but he was previously listed at 6-foot-8.
Atlanta is expected to lose former starting center Clint Capela (also listed at 6-foot-10) in free agency this offseason. Replacing him with a taller player who can also spread the floor would be an ideal scenario for the Hawks, whom Barlowe noted also need backup point guard help.
Raynaud's “wide” draft range means waiting could cause the Hawks to miss out on him. But is he worthy of being a lottery pick, even one on the back end of that segment of the draft?
“Raynaud has leveled up every year at Stanford, turning into a player who pops 3s, slashes to the rim with a smooth handle, and makes eye-popping passes,” Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O'Connor wrote in March. “As a talented passer who also offers solid defense, there’s little reason to think the Frenchman won’t carve out an NBA role.”
Even more encouraging, O'Connor compared Raynaud to Brook Lopez and Rasheed Wallace.