Atlanta Hawks Options with No. 1 Pick

The Atlanta Hawks had a 3% chance of winning the 2024 NBA Draft Lottery and they struck gold by landing the number one pick in this year’s draft. The franchise is in an interesting position as it is led by franchise point guard Trae Young who has averaged 25.7 points and 10.8 assists per game this season. The Hawks missed the playoffs this season and looked very disappointing, so now they’re looking to put the right pieces next to their franchise point guard in hopes of making the playoffs next season, but what are their options?

The number one prospect in this year’s draft is Alexandre Sarr, who played for the Illawarra Hawks in the NBL last season. The 7-foot-1 big man is one of the best defensive prospects in the entire draft while possessing a versatile offensive skill set. He has drawn many comparisons to Jaren Jackson Jr and Evan Mobley due to their defensive and offensive similarities. Sarr would be a perfect fit alongside Young.

If they were to draft Sarr, their other centers, Clint Capela and Onyeka Okongwu, could be on the verge of being traded to another team. The Capela experience hasn’t been great for the Hawks, so changing their view of the center position might be what’s best for the Hawks moving forward. An on-court duo of Sarr and Jalen Johnson would give Atlanta a promising young duo that would bring a lot to the table. As of today, this appears to be the likely option on draft night.

While it’s likely the Hawks end up keeping the number one pick and drafting Sarr, there’s a chance they end up buying the pick of a proven star player. The Hawks are basically in win-now mode with guys like Young and Dejounte Murray on their roster, so pairing that duo with a star forward could be what Atlanta needs to contend for an NBA championship.

The big question here is what star could they trade for that is worth getting rid of the number one overall pick? There are plenty of superstars who will request trades this offseason, so expect to hear some names floating around the rumor mill soon, which could play a big role in whether the Hawks make the pick or to exchange.

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