The biggest storyline of the NBA Draft is Alex Sarr and the Hawks.
In a draft class without a consensus top prospect, Sarr is the consensus top prospect. For much of the offseason, the belief was that he would be the first player off the board to Atlanta.
However, things have changed in the last week or so. First, it was reported that the Hawks were unable to get Sarr into the building for a workout. It was then suggested that his camp didn’t want him in Atlanta for whatever reason.
It culminated with Jonathan Givony reporting the Hawks are down to two prospects — Zaccharie Risacher and Donovan Clingan — as Alex Sarr going No. 2 to the Wizards is seen as a lock.
Now, the ESPN pundit is backtracking. The latest information reveals that the Hawks are willing to take Alex Sarr with the No. 1 pick, which may force the Wizards to trade up.
“NBA teams say the Hawks are indicating they could take Alex Sarr at No. 1, which some speculate might be more an attempt to force the Washington Wizards to trade up,” Givony wrote.
Generally speaking, I subscribed to the notion that if you don’t want me, I don’t want you, especially in the case of a fresh-faced 19-year-old who has yet to log a single minute in the NBA.
However, Alex Sarr doesn’t have control here. The Hawks have all of the power, and if Landry Fields sees Sarr as the best prospect in this class, it shouldn’t even be a discussion about what Sarr wants.
This could also just be a smokescreen to potentially pry some draft capital out of the Wizards or another club that sees Alex Sarr as the crown jewel of this draft. The Hawks would be wise to trade down if they don’t see Sarr in the same light.
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Photo: Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire
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