For the first time since 1975, the Atlanta Hawks own the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft.
It gives Landry Fields, Kyle Kover, and the front office a lot more capital to potentially make moves this offseason, one that everyone believes is going to involve at least one blockbuster trade.
Trae Young or Dejounte Murray; that’s what Hawks fans are debating. On the one hand, Young will surely bring back more in return, but on the other, building around the better player is usually the popular choice.
They could potentially package the top draft pick in any trade, or they could use it and build around one of their All-Star point guards. The only problem? There isn’t a clear cut prospect to take first overall like most draft cycles.
In the latest mock draft from ESPN, the Hawks land the “most physically gifted big” in Alex Sarr.
The Hawks caught lightning in a bottle in Sunday’s lottery, converting on just a 3% chance to win (10th-best odds) the top pick. Suffice it to say, this is a major stroke of fortune for Atlanta, which doesn’t control its own first-round pick again until 2028, owing future picks and swaps to the San Antonio Spurs. This had been viewed as an offseason of potentially big changes for Atlanta, as the Hawks weigh the luxury tax and attempt to navigate their way out of the middle of the Eastern Conference standings. Now they’ll unexpectedly have a chance to pick who they want from atop the draft.
Coming off a solid year in the NBL, Sarr is the most physically gifted big in this class, and could give Atlanta a much-needed element of size and floor spacing from the frontcourt. He’ll have work to do in expanding his offensive game, sharpening his 3-point range and adjusting to the speed of the NBA, but could be quite valuable as someone who can stretch the floor and protect the rim at both the 4 and 5 spots. If the goal is to build a better defense around Trae Young, Sarr looks like a strong fit because of his versatility on both ends of the floor. — Jeremy Woo
One of the biggest issues with the Atlanta Hawks roster construction is the lack of a big who can space the floor.
Trae Young and Dejounte Murray need a big that can threaten defenses beyond the three-point line, or at least that’s what would maximize the point guards’ potential.
If there was a consensus top prospect, it’s probably Sarr. The Frenchman resembles Victor Wembanyama in a lot of ways, but he’s underdeveloped in nearly every facet compared to his fellow countryman.
The Hawks will have a lot of information and scouting reports to sift through this offseason.
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