2020 NBA Draft roundtable: Which players should the Atlanta Hawks target at No. 50 overall?

The 2020 NBA Draft arrives on Wednesday, Nov. 18 and, before the big day, the Peachtree Hoops staff is collaborating on a set of roundtable topics. In the first installment, we glance at some players the Hawks should be targeting with their second round pick at No. 50 overall.

Note: Additional information on prospects can be found in our pre-draft scouting reports.

Brad Rowland: Since I’m the first person answering, I’ll point out that the Hawks might trade, or even sell, this pick. If they elect to stay put, there is potentially value to be had and, in general, there is almost always a player in my own top 40 that falls into the 50’s. Some of these guys will undoubtedly be gone but, among players that could reasonably be available, I’d be looking at guys like Ty-Shon Alexander, Jalen Harris, Nate Hinton, Isaiah Joe, Sam Merrill, Cassius Winston and, of course, Killian Tillie.

Wes Morton: If the Hawks keep the pick, this draft presents some interesting depth options. There could be some backup point guard options available like Tre Jones or Cassius Winston, both solid ball handlers and good team defenders. Grant Riller, Payton Pritchard or Sam Merrill could also provide scoring punch if available. Also, a glaring weakness in interior defense could be addressed with the addition of versatile rim protectors like Mamadi Diakite or Nick Richards.

Glen Willis: It is so difficult to project which players might actually be available once the draft reaches the No. 50 pick. If the Hawks end up selecting at this point, there are three players I am keeping my eye on, depending upon availability, of course. Devon Dotson offers a lot of athleticism at the point guard position although the possibility of bringing him onto the roster, even if on a potential two-way contract, would depend upon the team’s plans for current backup Brandon Goodwin. Reggie Perry would be a big man that possesses a nice mix of athleticism and improving ball skills. Paul Reed doesn’t have the size that Perry has, but he’s already a fairly advanced rebounder and rim protector, and he has already demonstrated a lot of raw ability that contributes to winning basketball.

Daniel Comer: The Hawks have loaded up at wing over the past few drafts, but I’d be on board with another 3-and-D flier in the form of Immanuel Quickley out of Kentucky. An elite perimeter shooter — he shot 40 percent from beyond the arc in two seasons with the Wildcats — with a 6-foot-10 wingspan, Quickley offers an in-demand skillset that is difficult to teach at the NBA level. It is also worth noting that Quickley was a five-star point guard coming out of high school, so while most outlets don’t consider him to be an above average passer, there are potentially untapped playmaking instincts to be developed by Lloyd Pierce and his coaching staff.

Rashad Milligan: If you are blessed enough to have Malachi Flynn fall to No. 50, you have to draft him. He is a clutch shooter, quick trigger, great catch-and-shoot guy in transition. He was the man at San Diego State, so he can also score in traffic, and take multiple defenders if need be. Obviously, he probably wouldn’t need to do all of that in the NBA, but the Hawks could use some shooting and offensive punch, especially coming off the bench. I believe Flynn’s one of the gems in this class. I honestly can’t see the famous point guards like Cassius Winston or Tre Jones falling to No. 50. I also like the potential of Markus Howard, or a late-first projected guy like Jordan Nwora if he falls for some depth at the wing, which is a thing now with DeAndre’ Bembry’s future with Atlanta firmly in question.

Ryan Kerley: It is difficult to predict if the Hawks will even end up keeping this pick. This feels like a draft where Atlanta will either trade or sell this one. Most of the players that make sense for the Hawks at No. 50 will most likely be off the board. Atlanta needs another guard to help surround Trae Young with more shooters and ball-handlers. I think guys like Cassius Winston and Tre Jones will likely be gone by this pick, but if for some reason they are available, the Hawks should not hesitate to scoop them up. Sam Merrill, Isaiah Joe and Reggie Perry should all be in consideration, if they are available.

Zach Hood: If Atlanta actually picks here and he is still available, Isaiah Joe would be a great target. He shot 16 three-pointers per 100 possessions for Arkansas in 2019-20, on pretty decent accuracy. Other appealing options could be guys like Killian Tillie, Markus Howard and Payton Pritchard, who project as potential role players. Guys like Malachi Flynn, Cassius Winston, and Grant Riller would also be more than ideal at No. 50 but are seemingly unlikely to slip that far.