Best/Worst Draft Scenarios
(#15 pick)
Best Case Scenario: Trading up for C Willie Cauley-Stein (Kentucky, Junior)
The Hawks, while a very complete team (should they retain SF DeMarre Carroll and PF Paul Millsap in free agency) need a lot of help in both rebounding and rim protection. They would also need to draft a prospect that could contribute right away, as a title contender like themselves cannot afford to wait for a young guy to develop. That has Cauley-Stein’s name written all over it, as he is one of the best in the draft in both rim protection and rebounding: averaging an outstanding 2.23 blocks, 1.1 steals, and 6.2 rebounds per game during his three seasons at Kentucky. Given that the teams drafting from 5-10 don’t really need a center, that could be a prime opportunity for the Hawks to trade up. As they own all of their future draft picks, packaging their 15th overall and another first-rounder to a team like the Denver Nuggets to snag Cauley-Stein is well within the realm of possibility.
Worst Case Scenario: Late-lottery teams all decide to stock up on bigs
After the top 10, big men Myles Turner, Frank Kaminsky, Trey Lyles, and Bobby Portis will all likely be available. Great news for Atlanta, a team in need of another frontcourt player, right? Problem is, the Pacers, Jazz, Suns, and Thunder (teams picking 11-14), could all use a big body. In a nightmare scenario for the Hawks, which also includes not being able to trade up for Cauley-Stein, all four of these teams would take all four of those big men . This could potentially leave a prospect like PG Cameron Payne, SF Kelly Oubre Jr, SG Devin Booker, or SF Sam Dekker sliding down to #15, but none would really address a major need for Atlanta.
(#15 pick)
Best Case Scenario: Trading up for C Willie Cauley-Stein (Kentucky, Junior)
The Hawks, while a very complete team (should they retain SF DeMarre Carroll and PF Paul Millsap in free agency) need a lot of help in both rebounding and rim protection. They would also need to draft a prospect that could contribute right away, as a title contender like themselves cannot afford to wait for a young guy to develop. That has Cauley-Stein’s name written all over it, as he is one of the best in the draft in both rim protection and rebounding: averaging an outstanding 2.23 blocks, 1.1 steals, and 6.2 rebounds per game during his three seasons at Kentucky. Given that the teams drafting from 5-10 don’t really need a center, that could be a prime opportunity for the Hawks to trade up. As they own all of their future draft picks, packaging their 15th overall and another first-rounder to a team like the Denver Nuggets to snag Cauley-Stein is well within the realm of possibility.
Worst Case Scenario: Late-lottery teams all decide to stock up on bigs
After the top 10, big men Myles Turner, Frank Kaminsky, Trey Lyles, and Bobby Portis will all likely be available. Great news for Atlanta, a team in need of another frontcourt player, right? Problem is, the Pacers, Jazz, Suns, and Thunder (teams picking 11-14), could all use a big body. In a nightmare scenario for the Hawks, which also includes not being able to trade up for Cauley-Stein, all four of these teams would take all four of those big men . This could potentially leave a prospect like PG Cameron Payne, SF Kelly Oubre Jr, SG Devin Booker, or SF Sam Dekker sliding down to #15, but none would really address a major need for Atlanta.