New 2024 NBA Mock Draft: Hawks Make Two Intriguing Selections In Latest Mock
With less than a month to go in the NBA season, some teams are looking more forward to the offseason and the NBA Draft than the rest of the games. You might count the Atlanta Hawks as one of those teams. While Atlanta is still in the play-in tournament with the No. 10 spot, they are unlikely to win both games in the play-in tournament and make the playoffs. It is still possible the Brooklyn Nets catch them for the last spot as well.
Right now, Atlanta would have the No. 10 selection in the draft (their own pick) and the No. 20 pick (Acquired from Sacramento in the Kevin Huerter trade). The Hawks are still rooting for the Sacramento Kings to make the playoffs and not be in the lottery, or else they will not get the pick.
Top NBA Draft analyst Jonathan Wasserman released his new 2024 mock draft today and has the Hawks taking UConn big man Donovan Clingan with the No. 10 pick.
Here is what Wasserman said about the Hawks hypothetically taking Clingan:
"There may be sexier picks with more modernized skills or compelling archetypes, but with Donovan Clingan, teams know what they're getting, and that could hold extra weight for a front office directly looking to strengthen its interior defense and add more physicality. At 7'2", 280 pounds with length, surprising mobility and excellent anticipation, he's going to instantly improve a team's rim protection, alter decisions in the paint and prevent second-chance points.
Offensively, his size, strength and soft hands will naturally translate to easy baskets off rolls, dump-downs and putbacks, though playing Clingan may require forwards who can handle the ball or space the floor."
Wasserman also compared Clingan to Raptors center Jakob Poeltl.
With the No. 20 pick, Wasserman has the Hawks selecting Kansas forward Johnny Furphy. This is the second mock draft where he has the Hawks selecting Furphy. He compares the Kansas forward to New Orleans Pelicans sharp-shooter Trey Murphy.
"Playing exclusively off the ball makes Johnny Furphy vulnerable to quiet games. Even on 17.2 percent usage, he's still been productive by capitalizing on spot-up threes and transition opportunities.
His NBA role won't be any different early on in the NBA, where his shotmaking and athleticism can translate to play-finishing from behind the arc and at the rim."
Mar 9, 2024; Providence, Rhode Island, USA; Connecticut Huskies center Donovan Clingan (32) dunks the ball against the Providence Friars during the second half at Amica Mutual Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
Last week, Wasserman had the Hawks selecting a big man with their first selection, but it was Duke star Kyle Filipowski and not Clingan.
"Scoring mismatch isn't the draw to Kyle Filipowski anymore. It's the versatility—a specific combination of shooting, passing, physical finishing and switchable defense that separates him from most 7-footers and can give a frontcourt a different feel or advantage.
The flashes of transition ball-handling or half-court face-up moves into drives are a bonus and allow Filipowski to generate his own offense in space. But his real value comes from making his lineup better with floor-spacing, post-passing, cleaning up inside, and his ability to slide and guard around the perimeter."
There is no shortage of needs for Atlanta and they are facing a critical offseason coming up that will include what they will do in the draft.
