NBA Mock Draft 2018: Dzanan Musa projected to Atlanta Hawks

With virtually everyone projecting Luka Doncic to the Atlanta Hawks on the heels of ESPN reporting, the mock draft parade has stalled to some extent. It is noteworthy each and every time a prominent outlet weighs in on what the Hawks might do but, in the same breath, it is anything but a surprise that Gary Parrish of CBS Sports sends Doncic to Atlanta with the No. 3 pick in his latest mock.

At No. 19 overall, however, Parrish ties Bosnian forward Dzanan Musa to Atlanta with the following rationale.

Musa is a 19-year-old Bosnian who averaged 20.2 minutes this season for Cedevita in the Adriatic League. The 6-8 wing has long had a reputation with scouts as a potential quality scorer in the NBA. The only concern is whether he’s a good-enough athlete, and mature enough, to guard his position and flourish in general when he moves to the United States. But that concern shouldn’t keep somebody -- especially a franchise with three first-round picks like Atlanta -- from selecting Musa in the first round.

It would be wise to consult our full scouting report of Musa but, in short, it aligns with Parrish’s analysis. Offensively, it would be tough to find a more intriguing player in this range, as Musa has flashed real ability as a shot-maker at a (very) young age in Europe.

With that on the table, Musa’s defense is a significant concern of NBA teams and that leads to something of a divide on his prospect status. Could he slip to No. 30 overall? It may not be likely, but it’s possible. At No. 19, he may feel like a slight reach (at least in my view) but Lloyd Pierce’s reputation on the defensive end could provide cover for Atlanta in the event of an investment.

Stay tuned as more mock drafts, information and analysis becomes available.