Today, the NBA announced the order for the 2024 NBA draft. The Atlanta Hawks somehow landed the 1st pick in the draft with a 3% chance of being the number one pick. The second pick in the draft went to the Washington Wizards and the third pick belongs to the Houston Rockets as they have control of the Brooklyn Nets picks thanks to the James Harden trade.
With the lottery, anything is possible. The Hawks getting the number one pick should have been nearly impossible. This is huge as they can finally find a player to pair with their star, Trae Young. Also, after a rough play-in finish, getting a strong rookie could really help with their playoff struggles.
A Possible Rebuilding Season
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Trae Young was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks in 2018 at number five. However, he would never suit up for the team as the Hawks stepped in and gave Dallas their number three pick Luka Doncic for Young and a future first round pick. There are many people who believe this was a huge mistake by Atlanta as Doncic has turned into a constant MVP candidate and an incredible player.
With the number one draft pick, the Hawks have a decision to make. They can search for a player who has the skill set to match up with Young, or they get a solid player they can build around and put Young on the table for other teams.
There has been a lot of talk about Atlanta trading Young in the past two seasons. However, this might not be the best year too do it. The 2024 draft class is a bit lackluster so it might be difficult to find a player to build a foundation with. There are some bright spots that they could look at, but there is the chance that said player won’t live up to the hype.
A Hawks Team Led By Dejounte Murray
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Dejounte Murray was drafted 29th in 2016 by the San Antonio Spurs. He stuck with the team for five seasons before being shipped to Atlanta in 2022. Since the move, he has been a solid player and consistent scorer for the team. This regular season he led his team in steals and also averaged 22.5 points per game which is good for a second option.
With Murray showing consistency, there is a chance the Hawks choose to find a player that will be able to play beside him. If the plan is to try and trade Young, it would make sense for them to think about who Murray could best pair with since he would shift from the second option to the first option.
Both of these players have made All-Star teams and have similar stats. The difference comes with the giant salary that Young is raking in. The star guard also has a looming free agency period in 2027. This might be the year to consider trading him while the Hawks can still get a decent offer.
Who Should the Hawks Take at Number One?
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Right now, the number one pick will most likely be Alex Sarr from France. At the moment, he is playing for the Perth Wildcats in Australia’s NBL. His stats are decent with 9.4 points per game, .9 assists per game, and 4.3 rebounds per game. When looking at the low scoring, one must take into consideration that he is a 19-year-old playing in a professional league already.
The key thing to look at with Sarr is his height. He stands at 7’1″ with a wingspan of 7’4″. Physically he shows similar charactersitcs to his fellow French player Victor Wembanyama who won ROTY this season. There is a big chance Sarr could take a leap in stats and abilities with proper coaching and a drive for success making him a great first pick.
Now the big question is, does Atlanta take Sarr and pair him with Young, or do they choose to blow it up and build around him and Murray? Trae Young has been hit with a lot of criticism this season, but should it result in a trade, or could this number one pick be just what Young needs to drive the Hawks to a Finals win?
About the Author
Elizabeth is an avid watcher of all things sports. However, the Boston sports teams will always be her number one. Her favorite sport to watch is basketball, but she also enjoys professional wrestling, soccer, and baseball. You can find her on X @edellapiana1 to check out more content.
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