So...the 2018 NBA draft kicked off with the Hawks trading the rights to Luka Doncic (pick #3) for the rights to Trae Young (pick #5) and an additional pick next year. Several of my Hawks friends were despondent. I had Doncic rated as the best player in the draft and Young at #4. It's not that Young isn't a great prospect, there's just this bad feeling that it's 2005 all over again for Hawks fans...the year we took Marvin Williams over Chris Paul. This isn't THAT bad, but it feels like maybe you just drafted Chris Paul and then traded him for Deron Williams. Deron Williams ain't bad -- he just ain't Chris Paul.
The Hawks also took Devonte Graham with the #34 pick and traded his rights to Charlotte for two future second round picks. With that out of the way, let's look at the players the Hawks actually ended up with:
#5) Trae Young (PG), Oklahoma - 6-2, 178
He’s the first player to EVER lead Division I in both scoring (27.4) and assists (8.7). We’ve all seen his absurd 40-point outbursts and Curry-esque range. He’s a MUCH better finisher than Curry was entering the league (Steph took 4-5 years to become the elite finisher he is now), and he’s an under-appreciated playmaker. A quick breakdown of his game:
Insane shooting range
Outstanding court vision and can whip accurate passes with both hands
Super-efficient pick-n-roll player
Very good distributor
Super-ball dominant -- Astronomically high 37% usage rate (touches that end with a shot, assist, turnover, or foul)
Poor shot selection lowered his three-point percentage -- takes brutal pull-up threes early in the shot clock
Not very committed on the defensive end at his best, a downright sieve at his worst
Not super explosive, but a solid finisher
Slight frame that lacks strength
Led the nation in turnovers (in part due to his high usage rate)
Comparison:
Ceiling: Steve Nash/Damian Lillard
Mid-level: Terrell Brandon/Mike Bibby
Floor: Jimmer Fredette
Let’s pump the brakes with the Steph Curry comparisons. Young has the talent to develop into an elite-level scorer, but Curry’s combination of handle, range, and efficiency are once-in a-lifetime. Furthermore, The Statissassin has protested the Jimmer comparisons by pointing out that Fredette didn’t reach an All-American level until his senior year (in the West Coast Conference) while Young led the nation in points and assists as a freshman in the rugged Big 12. While the skill sets are comparable, Young’s production is arguably more impressive when put in context. His combination of playmaking and scoring has drawn comparisons to everyone from Mike Bibby to Steve Nash, and passing tends to be a skill that translates very favorably to the NBA.
#19) Kevin Huerter (Wing), Maryland - 6-7, 194
Having not seen Huerter myself, here’s what Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report had to say about his game:
With one of the smoothest jumpers in the country, Huerter shot 41.7 percent from three last season, showing the ability to shoot off spot-ups, screens and pull-ups. His shot preparation is excellent, and his release is quick. Huerter also averaged 3.4 assists, and though not a primary playmaker, he has ball-handling skills and a strong passing IQ. He isn't an explosive athlete or advanced one-on-one scorer, but he still managed to rank in the 89th percentile in transition and convert on 14 of 20 isolation opportunities. His touch and feel for the game showed around the basket, where he shot an outstanding 68.2 percent and made eight of 17 runners.
Huerter has no muscle definition, and he will have trouble taking contact and separating against NBA-level wings. He only got to the free-throw line 2.7 times per 40 minutes. Huerter's first step lacks explosiveness, and he also gives the ball up too easily (2.9 turnovers per 40 minutes). As a pick-and-roll ball-handler, his turnover percentage was sky high at 36.7 percent.
Huerter's weak frame won't hold up right away against stronger forwards inside the arc. And he'll never be a defensive playmaker—per 40 minutes, he averaged 0.7 steals and 0.8 blocks. However, he finished with the fourth-fastest shuttle run time at the combine. He moves well laterally and compensates for uninspiring physical tools with defensive IQ. Huerter won't lock anyone down, but he should be able to become a quality team defender.
Comparisons:
Ceiling: Khris Middleton
Mid-level: Joe Ingles
Floor: Kyle Korver
Heurter is a better passer than Korver and a better athlete than Ingles. He’s a future starter that should be a rotational contributor right away because of his shooting and high basketball I.Q. He’s an upgrade over Tyler Dorsey, Deandre Bembry, and Damion Lee and seems like a really good long-term fit to pair with Taurean Prince.
#30) Omari Spellman (PF), Villanova - 6-9, 254
You probably remember seeing Spellman dunking and draining threes during Villanova’s national championship run this past March. The NCAA tournament was a definite high-point in Spellman’s up-and-down career as he showed the kind of offensive versatility that’s becoming a must for modern bigs. Here’s a quick rundown of his game:
Wide, heavy frame that apparently ballooned all the way up to 287 pounds when he first showed up to school.
Is very comfortable banging under the basket, and plays through heavy contact on offense.
Doesn’t have polished post moves; tends to rely on bully ball
He showed adequate lateral quickness and athleticism to be a good defender in college, but will he be a liability in pick-n-roll defense in the NBA?
Has an NBA-ready three-point shot - 43% on 152 attempts
Doesn’t just settle for threes; can attack closeouts with a pump fake or straight-line drives
Not much of a shot-blocker, but has the potential
Spellman was much more impactful than his 10.9 points and eight rebounds suggest because of the role he played in a well-managed system on a super-talented team
Comparisons:
Ceiling: Al Horford
Mid-level: Marcus Morris
Floor: Anthony Tolliver
Spellman’s skillset seems like a good compliment to last year’s first-round pick John Collins. Collins is a more traditional power forward that’s comfortable on the block and the mid-post, while Spellman is a stretch big that shoots threes about as well as anyone you’ll find over 250 pounds. Since Collins is a rather poor defender, the hope is that Spellman can develop into a defensively versatile front-line anchor that can also provide solid floor spacing.
The theme of the night? Shooting. The Hawks put a premium on shot-making and play-making and drafted three players who not only can stroke it, but who also show good passing skills and a strong basketball I.Q. It's not the draft many of us expected, but I can't wait to watch this group bomb away in the NBA Summer League in a few weeks.
Preliminary Draft Grade:
Needs: A+
The Hawks took a versatile big, a sharp-shooting wing, and a super-productive point guard to add to a roster light on outside shooting and heavy on defensive-minded wings. These additions should really help coach Lloyd Pierce balance the rotations on this young squad.
The Hawks added more assets! As of right now, the Hawks could potentially end up with THREE picks in next year's lottery -- theirs as well as the Cleveland (up to #11) and Dallas (up to #6) picks.
Value: B-
Young was slotted between 7-10 for most people, although I had him as the fourth best player in the draft. Most feel getting him at #5 was a reach. That said, they were able to turn the Young/Doncic swap into a future #1 pick, and that adds extra value to the pick.
Huerter was probably a reach considering he only entered his name into the draft pool to test the waters and had no idea he would become a first-round pick, much less a top-20 pick. It's debatable whether he's a legitimate top-20 talent, but he was the best shooter left on the board (and some feel the best wing shooter, period), and that's clearly what the Hawks were targeting in this draft.
Spellman's projections were all over the map, but he appears to be a good value at 30 since he was the last quality big left on the board.
My initial grade was a C+, but the Hawks get bumped up a to"B-" for gaining a potential 2019 lottery pick from Dallas in Young/Doncic Swap.
Talent: B-
The Hawks added a ton of shooting and playmaking, but not necessarily a ton of upside. Young is likely the only one with future "star" potential, but all three seem likely to be immediate contributors as rookies, something that's rare with draft picks outside of the lottery.
Overall Grade: B
Did we get good talent? Yes. Did we trade away the best player in the draft? Quite possibly. Is that such a Hawks thing to do? Aboslutely. BUT...there are some really good pieces in this group to use as a foundation for our transformation into the next Celtics/Warriors/76ers.
Don't believe me? Just wait until Summer League.
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