The NBA Draft is looming and the most important team that might set the tone for this class is the Atlanta Hawks. Landry Fields needs to get Trae Young some help so that the franchise could go back to their winning ways just like three years ago. This top pick is going to be the determinant of all that. Whether it is Alex Sarr or Zaccharie Risacher taking the top spot, the fit is all that matters. However, someone that is in the middle of the lottery could be all that this team needs. Donovan Clingan is someone who has piqued their interest which may mean trading down.
At this point in time, there is still no consensus top pick for the NBA Draft. Alex Sarr remains at the top of many mock drafts while the others that don't have him are urging the Hawks to take Zaccharie Risacher. Both are good in terms of fit but the Trae Young-led squad could be getting more.
An overhaul is never complete without getting better assets to bargain for better players as the offseason goes by. This is exactly what Landry Fields and the rest of the front office could be thinking. The teams below them in the NBA Draft have what it takes to buy the pick out of their hands, per Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints.
“At this juncture, the Hawks are evaluating several scenarios at the top of the draft, including hearing inquires from rival teams for their first overall selection. The San Antonio Spurs and Portland Trail Blazers currently possess the assets that would be needed to make a swing for the Hawks' top pick. The belief right now is that general manager Landry Fields and his front office will be holding onto this selection, sources said,” the NBA Insider declared.
Hawks eyeing a prospect outside the top two
The Hawks might not even need Alex Sarr or Zaccharie Risacher when draft night comes. Donovan Clingan is a name that echoes throughout the Hawks front office. This means that the first pick could be up for grabs if Fields decides to forgo picking at the top.
“However, UConn's Donovan Clingan is a player the Hawks have done their research on in recent weeks, leading to the belief that the Hawks are open to the idea of moving down a few spots. As far as other moves the franchise could make, Atlanta is expected to make both Clint Capela and De'Andre Hunter available in trade discussions leading up to and past the NBA Draft,” Siegel concluded.
Clingan is not at all a bad pick in the coming NBA Draft. He is an established threat as a roll man and off lobs. His 63.9% field goal percentage which yielded him a little over 13 points is a big piece of evidence. Moreover, he has shown some flashes of being more swift-footed than other big men in the 2024 NBA Draft Class. His youth gives him a much higher ceiling but the championship mentality he inherits from Dan Hurley is irreplaceable. The UConn prospect just does not have an outside shot which prevents the Hawks from playing five-out sets unlike Alex Sarr and Zaccharie Risacher.
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