How did the NBA Draft Early Entry Deadline affect the options for the Atlanta Hawks with the 23rd Pick?

Here are some players that decided to stay in the draft who Atlanta could target at No. 23:

1. Koa Peat, Arizona Forward
2. Henri Veesaar, North Carolina Center
3. Isaiah Evans, Duke Forward/Guard
4. Allen Graves, Santa Clara Forward
5. Ebuka Okorie, Stanford Guard
6. Chris Cenac Jr, Houston Center
7. Christian Anderson, Texas Tech Guard
8. Dailyn Swain, Texas Guard
9. Morez Johnson Jr, Michigan Forward

All of these players are going to be in play for the Hawks at No. 23.

Are all of these players clean fits? No, but Onsi Saleh and the Hawks front office is about taking the best player available on the board. They showcased that last season when they took Asa Newell with the No. 23 pick.

Koa Peat is a polarizing player in this draft because of his shot, but he is very gifted and given that the Hawks develop players very well in College Park (their G-League Affiliate) and Peat could become a serious player with a couple of years of development.

Morez Johnson Jr is another player that fits this description. He is not a clean fit for this roster, but he brings a lot of toughness and physicality that the Hawks could use, thought I doubt that he makes it to No. 23. Same goes for Dailyn Swain.

Veesaar is an obvious pick given the Hawks' need at center, plus he can space the floor. Evans would give the Hawks a viable 3-and-D option at the wing. Cenac Jr is another option at center.

Two notable names that should be on the Hawks radar since they have a need at guard are Christian Anderson and Ebuka Okorie. Both players should be in play at No. 23 and it was a win for the Hawks that they decided to stay in.

Potential picks who returned to school

Here are some notable names Atlanta could have considered at No. 23, but opted to come back to college basketball:

• Tyler Tanner, Vanderbilt Guard
• Amari Allen, Alabama Forward
• Juke Harris, Tennessee Guard
• Billy Richmond, Arkansas Wing
• Malachi Moreno, Kentucky Center

I think of that group of players, Allen was the most likely pick for the Hawks.

Tanner and Harris were guard options for Atlanta and while I think that Tanner's size would have prevented the Hawks from taking him at No. 23 at the end of the day, I think they could have moved back for him potentially and taken him. He is an electric scorer that could turn into a very nice bench option, but going back to college and entering a weaker 2027 draft was the right play.

Richmond was a pure defensive specialist that could have helped the Hawks on the wing.

I think overall, the Hawks are going to be in a fine spot when it comes to their options with the 23rd. Players fall in drafts all the time and Atlanta should have plenty of viable options to select or they could move back for one of these players.