The Hawks are expected to hold onto the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, Charles Odum of The Associated Press reports.
Hawks general manager Landry Fields said during a Monday press conference that while he won’t stop fielding offers for the pick, he’s inclined to keep it.
“I think we’re really excited by the draft,” Fields said. “And the more that we uncover, like we go, ‘Great, I’m glad we have No. 1.’ I keep joking around like, ‘I’m not giving it back.’ So, I think we’re in a really good position here. I’m excited about it, frankly.”
Fields wasn’t expecting to be in this position before the lottery but Atlanta had the winning combination and zoomed up from the No. 10 spot.
If the front office has settled on a player, Fields isn’t tipping his hand. He did indicate the staff had narrowed down the list in recent days.
“I would say a week ago it was wider than it is now,” he said. “The board is definitely shaping up, tearing itself out.”
Most mock drafts have the Hawks going the international route and selecting either small forward Zaccharie Risacher or power forward Alexandre Sarr. If they decide on a domestic prospect, UConn center Donovan Clingan or Kentucky guard Reed Sheppard could be the surprise top pick on June 26.
There are apparently a number of teams willing to move up, if the Hawks are willing to part with the top selection.
“I got a little time off (Sunday) because it was Father’s Day,” Fields said, per The Atlanta Journal Constitution’s Lauren Williams. “But for the most part, it continuously rings and we make outgoing calls as well, just to see what the rest of the landscape is looking like.”
According to Fields, he’ll make the final decision, not team owner Tony Ressler. Atlanta doesn’t currently own any other picks in the draft. Its second-rounder was dealt to Portland as part of a trade that allowed the Hawks to acquire Saddiq Bey.
Fields said the Hawks are looking for “a great fit for us, not just for the next day, but for the future as well.” He’s already certain they won’t have to worry about character issues.
“They’re just really good guys (and) good people in this draft and that doesn’t mean like it’s always like that,” Fields said. “But it really has been neat to kind of see especially the guys that are all projected to be at the top and guys that we’ve had in. Taking them to dinner and speaking with him, whether it’s in Chicago here in the building, on Zoom or elsewhere I mean, like we’ve had so many different mediums to do this. And just to get to know them more and more outside of just the intel that you gather around them. It’s just some really good guys.”
The Hawks would seemingly have a greater need in the frontcourt, though there’s been plenty of speculation that Fields may opt to break up his high-scoring backcourt of Trae Young and Dejounte Murray.
We should probably trade back but if we stay at 1 I definitely hope Isaiah Collier is the pick. He’s the best pg in the class. He’s big, smart, athletic, tough, versatile & obv he’s from the A. We’re about to trade our franchise pg, seems like it would make sense to replace him with a young guy that could eventually take that role. Obv we still have Dejounte as our starting pg for the next few yrs but that just gives Isaiah time to learn the league. Already having Kobe Bufkin makes it much less necessary for us to go for a young guard in this draft but Collier is better than Bufkin & they could easily play together
Collier sucks, he’s just a downhill athletic guard, he will get exposed in the NBA for his lack of shooting ability and high turnovers-assists ratio.
Seems like at best an impact guard off the bench but I don’t even think he will achieve that.
Gives me Dennis Smith Jr feels but I liked Dennis more entering the league
I wouldn’t go nearly that far, Collier has upside. Big, winglike physicality as a guard can be very valuable. But his feel for shots, even inside the line, doesn’t appear to be nearly as good as it looked like in high school. He’s not worth the #1 pick.
Risacher, Sarr, Clingan. Those are the three with a real chance at #1 overall. Not as high on Sheppard, but he’s also a possibility.
Collier is dropping on boards for a reason. Don’t over think it. They don’t even need a PG.
What’s an upside
EON I am really low on Sheppard. He could be the biggest bust of the class
I’m glad the hawks have the no.1 pick. Few tweaks to the roster and can turn the corner quickly. Always had a soft spot for Atlanta, always little brother to Boston, philly, NY.
I think they take Sarr or Clingan and throw either guy at centre, with Onyeka the back up Clint Capela on an expiring deal because expendable.
With Jalen the PF, there’s still question marks at SF and then obvious the backcourt stuff.
It makes a ton of sense to trade Trae or Dejounte for Ingram, he fills the 3 spot and the guy you decide to keep has the 1 which then leaves the 2 spot for Bogi and Bufkin.
Don’t know what you do with Bey, if you trade for BI then he probably leaves. Hunter is a solid 3 and D guy and can play either forward spot but is slightly overpaid to be a back up.
I think if that is your plan the only thing to consider might be is adding some shooting with Trae leaves. Just to help space the floor and allow there to be room inside the paint. Gary Trent would be a nice little addition in that situation.
He looks like the type of guy that makes bad decisions lol
Yeah, that’s because no one wants to trade up for that pick. That whole narrative was ATL-driven wishful thinking, hoping the Spurs would give them back their 25FRP. That ain’t happening.
On a draft class like this, better trade down ….. Get more assets.
I honestly would lean to Risacher bc watching Sarr’s highlights and low lights I think he’ll get exposed by bigs in the NBA, and he could be this drafts Wiseman.
The problem with taking Risacher is Murray. If they do indeed plan to trade him, and they land Ingram, then Risacher is in the same spot as Griffin currently.
Which brings me back to them taking Sarr. They can easily move Capela by the deadline, creating more PT for Sarr, and if he improves defensively he should pan out.
I think it would also be a priority to move off of Hunter’s contract. Which is why I would try do do that in the deal for Ingram. A Murray and Hunter deal for Ingram, Nance, and #21 would be my ask. If you’re not moving Murray for a bevvy of picks or Ingram, you pivot back to Risacher. And everything I say beyond this is moot.
They’ll have a glaring need at backup PG if they deal Murray, which is where I’d use #21 in the Ingram trade scenario. Collier or Carrington could be there.
I’d be shipping Capela and Nance out by the deadline for future picks.
Trae, Pick 21
Bey, Bogdan, Bufkin
Ingram, Griffin
Johnson, Sarr
Okongwu, Sarr
Agree with 99% of what you’re saying, although I think Nance would stay as the vet to help Onyeka and Sarr plus he can play both PF and C. Plus I always think the number 1 pick should always be a starter, in order to let him fail and learn from his mistakes he needs quality minutes.
As for Bey, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him leave but that does also open a joke potentially but gives them more flexibility with pick 21.
I’d draft a guard there and also look to sign a bet in FA at the other guard spot depending on who you grab.
Trade Young now to Houston for Fred V 3rd pick and future picks. Then trade Murray and Hunter for at least two 1st. Maybe Murray to Chicago for the 11th pick and Lonzo Ball. Hunter for a 1st. Keep the one year expiring contract veterans. Sarr, Holland or Williams and Collier. Start a rebuild
Then trade Fred V, bogdon and Bruno Fernando with a 2nd to the Nets for Simmons, Dennis S and Thomas
If you did this deal, you keep FVV. The Spurs own the Hawks picks the next 3 years, unprotected. You cannot tank.
FVV, Bey, Ingram (for Murray), Johnson, Sarr (#1). Topic (#3), Bogdan, Griffin, Okongwu off the bench.
You’d deal Capela for a 25 FRP. You deal Hunter for anything to move off his contract. You need to contend and develop the two international players.
Then Atlanta trades Johnson and Thomas to the spurs for a contract, the 8th pick and Atlanta’s picks back
“Murray to Chicago for the 11th pick and Lonzo Ball” jeez you are the non-sense machine but this one sets a a new record
A pick to get Collier with a expiring contract for a rebuilding team doesn’t make sense to you? Simple
Draft Sarr and trade Capela ……. simple