The 2015 NBA Draft is right around the corner and ESPN.com's Chad Ford has released his latest mock draft and projects Arkansas Power Forward Bobby Portis to the Atlanta Hawks with the No. 15 pick of the first round.
The Hawks finished the season in the bottom third in defensive rebounding. Then in the playoffs, they got absolutely demolished in the paint by the Cavs. They have Al Horford and Pero Antic and not much else. Portis' rebounding and shot-blocking ability, combined with an elite motor and unselfish attitude, should give the Hawks some much-needed size and energy off the bench. Wisconsin's Dekker is another option for them.
Portis averaged 17.5 points and 8.9 rebounds per game this season and helped lead the Razorbacks to the NCAA Tournament. He was named SEC Player of the Year as a sophomore. He measured out at just over 6-10 in shoes at the NBA Draft combine and has a wingspan of 7'2." He is a versatile prospect with a good jump shot and is a tenacious competitor. He is not a great defensive rebounder at this juncture but has the tools to improve on that aspect of his game.
Here is a draft workout and interview of Portis from DraftExpress:
On the surface, Portis looks like the type of prospect that the Hawks would be interested in. He is long, has a lot of tools and is a good shooter which is a priority for Atlanta's spread offense. He is also the type that could see his name move up the draft board with a few strong workouts.