Hawks general manager Landry Fields wasn’t expecting to come away with the top overall pick in the draft, Lauren Williams of the Atlanta Journal Constitution relays.
Atlanta zoomed up all the way from the No. 10 spot in the draft lottery to the top of the heap. The Hawks, who won 36 games, had a 3% chance of getting the No. 1 selection.
“I was shocked,” Fields said. “If you look at the percentages, and when I first saw that it wasn’t between 10 and 12, that launched us into the top four. So I was like, ‘Alright, we got a real shot at this thing.’ So, a bit of surprise, but a lot of excitement.”
This year’s draft doesn’t have a consensus No. 1 pick. In fact, the Hawks could go a number of different ways. However, Fields isn’t turning down his lottery luck, Brad Rowland of Locked On Hawks tweets.
“I look at it, frankly, as an opportunity,” he said. “These are the positions that you want to be in.”
If Fields has a particular player in mind, he wasn’t tipping his hand. The Hawks could use some frontcourt depth after enduring several injuries among their forwards and centers this season, Williams notes.
“I mean, there’s a lot of guys. I think it’s a lot of fun to so many different types of guys,” Fields said. “So many different variations. We’ll look at it. We’ll dive deep and see what comes in June.”
Until Sunday’s results, the Hawks had never won the lottery since its inception in 1985. It’s certainly not out of the question Atlanta could trade the pick, due to uncertainty at the top of the draft class. But Fields indicated that building through the draft is his preferred method.
“It’s how you build teams,” Fields told The Athletic’s Mike Vorkunov. “You build through the draft, and to have an opportunity to swing as high as we are this year, that’s a really good thing.”
Well, I am happy for the Hawks
They pick somebody good, they are right back in the Playoff mix
If these are rigged, then they gave it to a team not many care about. 2nd pick too.
Omg the nba is totally rigged!!
How so?
Sucks this year doesn’t have a guaranteed star set to go number 1. In fact you’ve got just as much striking gold at 10 as you do 1 in this draft.
Ron Holland makes a lot of sense to insert into the line up with Trae and Jalen etc but I wouldn’t be surprised to see them grab Sarr either and have him be the new long term big man although he’s got big bust potential
How about trading down for multiple picks.
Could trade with the spurs.
Draft Sarr then trade Capela ……
This is the best choice. I mean Okongwu is on the block too imho. I think there’s a good market for both.
If the Hawks dealt Murray back being that this is deemed a ‘weak’ draft – maybe you could get #4 and #8 out of them.
That could line them up to walk away with Sarr, and 2 of Matas, Sheppard, or Holland.
Why would we trade Capela? He’s in a contract yr, meaning he’s gonna be the best version of himself. Himself = one of the best rebounders & rim protectors in the league. Okongwu is an elite backup but, unless he makes a big leap as a shooter, not quite on Capela’s level just yet. Even if we did draft Sarr he’d most likely be our backup 4 behind JJ to start off his rookie season
Capela – Expiring contract meaning he will be valuable as a money offset in other deals. Plus, he is not worth the money he costs, even at the ‘best version of himself’. Not when you are in a bad cap situation.
Okongwu is a superior defender to Capela. Offense really doesn’t matter as most of the offense from both of them is in put backs or dunks due to solid passing from either of Young or Murray.
Sarr is a 5 technically, though it’s a modern 5 with floor spacing. He would block nor be blocked by JJ. Or at least he shouldn’t be, but these are the Hawks we are talking about. Risacher would definitely be blocked by JJ, as well as Hunter.
Clint is easily worth what hes getting paid. If anything, he’s underpaid. I love Onyeka but in no way is he currently a better defender than Clint. Clint has been the best defensive player on the team for a while now. Onyeka is a very good rebounder & defender but Clint is clearly better at both. Anybody who wants us to trade Clint must not remember what we were before he got here. Please don’t sleep on him. If the Hawks are gonna be contenders next yr we’re gonna wanna keep Clint, no matter who we draft.
Idk how you figure Sarr is “technically” a 5. More than anything he’s just a baller. He could play 4 or the 5 rn tho he’d obv get bullied by most starting NBA 5s rn. If we went into next season with Onyeka, Sarr & Bruno as our 5s that would be a clear downgrade from having Clint, Onyeka & Bruno as our 5s. There’s no reason for us to mess with Clint & Onyeka. When healthy that duo is one of our main strengths. Seems like we should focus on using this #1 pick & the upcoming Trae Young trade to upgrade the rest of the team, specifically defensively. Hawks have been subpar defensively ever since Millsap/Horford era ended, trading our best defender isn’t the way to improve there
The Hawks suck …. They are peddling their top two talents. And you want to make a case about Capela. A guy they tried moving all year. Keep all your players . Obviously heading in right direction for a Crash.
Capela is in a contract year and is priced out of the hawks since resigning OO. Hawks cap is terrible and they need the flexibility with cheaper/younger option. Being a best defender on a bad defensive team means nothing. You can’t keep everyone. I’d move Trae and capela and draft Sarr. Murray balled when Trae was out and others played better(mainly hunter) who also is has a bad contract. If hunter stays, Murray has the be the lead guard. Trae will get you a solid player and some picks. Resign Johnson and they are a sneaky east playoff team.
Clint’s defense fell off and is as much as a reason as any for the team’s struggles the last three years.
Contract year? There are no teams lining up to give him 20M. Certainly not his own team. He’s a below average finisher for the position, has no Post game, a FT liability, and has no range.
He’s gonna be his generation’s Andre Drummond when it’s contract time.
If they say so…
Hawks getting the number 1 pick changes nothing…
Until they trade Trae they ain’t winning nothing but the IST…
Sakra’s fandom gets in the way of seeing his squad objectively. It’s ok though it happens, that’s why we are here bro. Time to shake that mismanaged roster up man.