With a head coach now in place the Atlanta Hawks will shift fully into preparing for the upcoming NBA Draft. Joe Kotoch from Sheridanhoops.com updates their latest mock draft and introduces a new target and a familiar name to the Hawks.
With the No. 17 pick in the draft Kotoch projects 6-9 small forward Giannis Adetokunbo from Filanthlitikos to the Atlanta Hawks:
With two picks in hand, Hawks GM Danny Ferry will be have a lot of options. Considering Atlanta's cap space this summer, taking a flier on an international prospect is very likely.
Based off his history, Ferry isn't afraid to pick an international prospect, and landing Adetokunbo here could be a coup. Adetokunbo is one of the most physically gifted players in this draft. If given time to develop, he could be a quality starter in the league.
Adetokunbo is believed to have a promise from a team. It is not known i it is the Hawks.
Its been reported that Adetokunbo has received a first round promise from a team but it isn't know if that came from Atlanta. Adetokunbo is 18 years old and is listed at 6-9 and 196 pounds.
With the 18th pick in the draft, Kotoch becomes the latest writer to project Duke center Mason Plumlee to the Atlanta Hawks:
One of the problem areas the Hawks have had for years is the lack of a true center. It would be wise for the Hawks to take advantage of this draft, which is deep in big men.
Plumlee can come in and contribute right away and showed progress offensively at Duke this past season.
As a bonus, Plumlee, who is an explosive athlete for his size, would allow the Hawks to slide Al Horford to his more natural position of power forward.
We have discussed Plumlee before and he is a legit 7-footer with enough athletic ability to be intriguing. I'm not exactly sure that his presence alone allows the Hawks to move Al Horford immediately to power forward but he is a guy that could develop down the road.