Atlanta Hawks: 5 options for pick No. 3 in 2018 NBA Draft
By Ty Delbridge
The Atlanta Hawks went into the 2018 NBA Draft Lottery with the fourth-best odds to win the No. 1 pick, but now, they officially own the third pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. Here are their top five options.
It was a disappointing season for the Atlanta Hawks this year, but things are brightening up for them after Tuesday night. They came into the 2018 NBA Draft Lottery with a 13.7 percent chance at receiving the No. 1 pick and will walk away with the third pick this season.
The fans and the organization were hoping for a bit of luck to swing their way, and it did. The Hawks jumped both the Dallas Mavericks and Memphis Grizzlies, who both had better odds to enter the top three in the draft. The Phoenix Suns landed the first pick, the Sacramento Kings jumped up to second, and the Hawks got the third pick.
The Hawks are currently in a full rebuild after a tanking last season and firing longtime head coach, Mike Budenholzer. On Monday, the Hawks hired Lloyd Pierce. Pierce was an assistant coach with the Philadelphia 76ers for the past few seasons and now will be tasked with helping turn this organization in the right direction.
The Hawks will head into next season with $19.7 million in cap space and $51.2 million in luxury tax space. They only have two guys set to be free agents, Malcom Delaney and Damion Lee. The Hawks will likely let both guys walk. They should be players in free agency and will attempt to land a big-name player by being able to offer them the most money. The Hawks also can take on some bad contracts with assets attached through trade because of all the cap space they have.
The first opportunity the Hawks will have to get better is through the 2018 NBA Draft. Atlanta has a chance to land a top player in this draft and a guy who can change this team’s future. They drafted John Collins at No. 19 last season, and he turned out to be one of the biggest steals. Come draft night, the Hawks will be hoping for similar success with their pick this season. Let’s take a look at five options for the Hawks at pick No. 3.