With just a 3% chance to do so, the Atlanta Hawks won the NBA Draft Lottery for the first time ever on Sunday, giving them the #1 overall pick in the draft.
It’s frankly one of the biggest wins in franchise history. This is an organization that’s been cursed by abysmal luck and poor decision-making; finally, something seems to have gone their way. However, luck is only half the battle. This is a draft class that doesn’t have a clear-cut top prospect. There will likely be more busts in than stars taken in the top five, so it’s pivotal the Hawks make the most of this situation.
Of course, that could mean not making a selection in the first round of the draft at all. The Hawks could opt to put all of their chips in the middle, using the top draft pick as bait to lure another star to Atlanta to pair with Trae Young, Dejounte Murray, or both.
That’s really what winning the NBA Draft Lottery gives the Hawks the most — options. There is no shortage of avenues they can take, but only a few will result in long-term success. So, what should the Hawks do with the first overall pick?
On the latest episode of SportsTalkATL, Alex Lord and I break down some of the options the Hawks have ahead of the NBA Draft, as well as the benefits and downsides of each one.
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Photographer: Austin McAfee/Icon Sportswire
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