Without a consensus top prospect, there’s a ton of speculation around the Hawks and their No. 1 overall pick.
Trading the pick is certainly on the table, especially for a potential scenario where Atlanta recoups some of their first-round picks from San Antonio in exchange for the Spurs’ No. 4 overall pick, which has been discussed by other clubs.
“One option that has been widely discussed among teams is the possibility of the Hawks reacquiring their unprotected 2025 first-round pick from San Antonio (perhaps in a swap for the No. 4 pick), which would give the team far more flexibility for rebuilding,” ESPN’s Jonathan Givony wrote.
A couple of prospects that Givony noted could be targeted in that scenario is Reed Sheppard and Donovan Clingan, both of whom have worked out for the Hawks. The UConn product’s workout reportedly went excellent, and details of it have emerged.
“Clingan appears to be Risacher’s main rival at No. 1. His workout — where he shot the ball extremely well, showed surprisingly good passing ability operating out of short rolls and was impressive both in film study and in interviews — helped his draft standing and makes him as possible sleeper selection here, as we’ve discussed for several weeks,” Givony added.
The Hawks haven’t yet worked out Alex Sarr, but they clearly like what they see from the other top big man in his class. Clingan offers a ton defensively to make an immediate impact but still has enough room to grow offensively that his upside is intriguing.
The one thing that Clingan gets knocked for is his inability to space the floor, or at least that’s what he showed at UConn. If the Hawks saw that facet of his game as improving during the workout, they may just feel comfortable enough making him the top pick in the draft.
—
Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire
You must log in to post a comment.