Atlanta Hawks: 5 bold predictions for 2017-18 NBA season

2. Atlanta Hawks will win the 2018 NBA Draft Lottery

Few teams have had worse luck with the first overall pick than the Atlanta Hawks. Atlanta has been awarded the top selection in the NBA Draft three times in franchise history, but the three players selected made a minimal impact on the franchise.

The Hawks haven’t selected first overall in the draft since taking David Thompson with the top pick of the 1975 NBA Draft, but he was also chosen by the Denver Nuggets of the ABA with the first choice in their draft.

Denver and Atlanta entered into a bidding war, one in which the Hawks were extremely unprepared. Thompson was treated to a dinner at McDonald’s, and instead joined Denver and became a Hall of Fame player.

Prior to selecting Thompson, the franchise tabbed Dick Ricketts, also a pitcher in the Major League, but lasted only 29 games with the team before being dealt to the Rochester Royals.

Mark Workman was the first overall pick of the 1952 NBA Draft, but instead of reporting to the team, he traveled through Europe as part of the Harlem Globetrotters. Workman played just five games for the Hawks before being dealt to the Warriors.

The Hawks aren’t expected to be very competitive in 2017-18, with only the Chicago Bulls and Brooklyn Nets being in the same ballpark.

Even if a draft lottery reform is in the works, the Hawks will have odds tilted in their favor to land  the top selection in the 2018 NBA Draft. The roster is in need of franchise pieces, and Atlanta could be the landing spot for Michael Porter Jr., Marvin Bagley III or Luka Doncic next season.