Atlanta Hawks: Ranking the last 10 first round picks
By Corey Rausch
Number 5: De’Andre Hunter
Hunter may be slightly older than Huerter but his profile as a potential defensive stopper gives him a slight edge over the aforementioned guard completing his second season. He appeared in all but four games for the team this season and is already averaging more points and rebounds than Huerter.
While he is the same height as Huerter, the 35 lbs weight advantage that Hunter boasts gives him an edge on the defensive end. Given that he is a year older he is clearly more physically developed than Huerter and while this may be a red flag for some, Hunter is still only 22. The difference in age is not significant enough to give the edge to Huerter given that Hunter is able to compete on both sides of the ball.
While not the shooter that Huerter is, 35.5 percent from long-range is still admirable for a young guy this fast into his career. Some (myself included) may like the potential of Cam Reddish more than Hunter down the line.
But out of the gate, Hunter has fit the team better than either Huerter or Reddish to this point. Things may change as they all grow alongside Trae Young. For now, though, Hunter stakes his claim as the best of this bunch.