Rank the Hawks Young Prospects

[King Ken]

Can start
1. OO

High end backup
Bey
2. JJ
3. Griffin

Backups:
4. Usman
5. Bufkin

AAA prospects:
6. Gueye
7. Lundy
8. Tyty
9. Martin
10. Vit

Upside if fully developed

Star

1. Gueye

High end role player w/ slightly higher all star possibilities

2. AJ
3. OO

Starting rotational player w/ all star possibilities

4. JJ
5. Bufkin

Starting rotational player

Bey
6. Usman
7. TyTy

Backup rotational players.

8. Lundy
9. Martin
10. Vit

Forgot about Bey, added him

After Summer League

Can start
1. OO

High end backup
2. Bey
3. JJ
4. Griffin

Backups:
5. Gueye

AAA prospects:
6. Bufkin
7. Lundy
8. Vit

Upside if fully developed

Star

1. Gueye

High end role player w/ slightly higher all star possibilities

2. AJ
3. OO

Starting rotational player w/ all star possibilities

4. JJ

Starting rotational player

5. Bey
6. Lundy
7. Bufkin

Backup rotational players.

8. Vit

[Jamaaliver]

Which is it?
Keep 'em too long or move 'em for upgrades?

The goal is to develop the young'ns. Get actual production from them while on the team, determine which ones are long term keepers -- and move the rest in trade for top value.

The best Hawks example of these things over the past 15 years is...Jeff Teague.

Teague was drafted with the 19th pick in the draft (sound familiar?), became an above average backup PG, then became a league average starter, eventually made an All Star team, helped us get to the ECF, was eventually traded for a mediocre starter in Taurean Prince, who was later traded for draft picks in a salary dump -- which were traded for Clint Capela -- who helped us get back to the ECF.

That is the ideal scenario for draft picks outside of the top-14.

[Jamaaliver]

My vote for best Hawks prospect:

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[Geaux_Hawks]

Jalen Johnson is the prospect I feel has the game to really be an impact player. Especially at the 4. Griffin will contribute, but i don't know if he has the game to become a top tier offensive weapon. His shooting ability will definitely be needed though.

[jayu70]

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?s=20

[Jamaaliver]

Atlanta's Highest-Ceiling Prospect

Onyeka Okongwu



Onyeka Okongwu turns 23 in December and has just three seasons of NBA experience under his belt, but he's already shown enough to justify the Atlanta Hawks' apparent willingness to move Clint Capela.

Over the last two years, Okongwu has averaged 9.2 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks, while shooting 65.4 percent from the field, and in only 22.2 minutes per game. And while that efficiency is largely tied to the fact that the bulk of his shots come from around the rim, Okongwu has become fairly reliable in the floater range too.

Ultimately, though, Okongwu's ceiling has as much to do with his defense as it does anything else.

His ability to protect the rim is pretty well known, but Okongwu is also solid on the perimeter (relative to other bigs) and can generate extra possessions with steals.

Predicting All-Star or All-NBA nods might be a bit bold (though certainly not crazy), but All-Defense selections certainly aren't out of reach.

Bleacher Report

[Jamaaliver]

AJ gets the vote from these guys as most underrated Hawk.

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[Jamaaliver]

Jalen Johnson is the prospect I feel has the game to really be an impact player. Especially at the 4. Griffin will contribute, but i don't know if he has the game to become a top tier offensive weapon. His shooting ability will definitely be needed though.

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[Jamaaliver]

Thoughts on this being our front court of the future?

I like both guys, but I don't see enough shooting between them to believe they would thrive together as starters long term.

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[jayu70]

Thoughts on this being our front court of the future?

I like both guys, but I don't see enough shooting between them to believe they would thrive together as starters long term.

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It all depends on how they both develop their shooting this upcoming season.
OO with a PnP amd the occasional 3s.
JJ with a reliable 3.

[Jamaaliver]

Hoping the gamble Hawks took on this player pans out better than most of our recent 2nd round draftees:

Code: Select all

Fit w/ Hawks
I love the swing for upside here. Gueye is probably 2-3 years from contributing in the NBA, but he has real, palpable talent. He's the type of big man Quin Snyder will love, and his potential to bring some much-needed offensive versatility to the frontcourt is beautiful. I can see him playing next to both Onyeka and Jalen, and could be the supersized wing/forward of the future if he puts it all together.

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[Jamaaliver]

Frontcourt of the future?

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[CP War Hawks]

OO and JJ are really a nice duo. I strongly prefer a rangy big combo forward at the 3 to compliment them tho. Like Mcdaniels with the Wolves.

[Jamaaliver]

Interesting...according to reports, Hawks were prepared to include AJ Griffin in a Siakam trade?!? But drew the line at including Kobe Bufkin?!?

[Jamaaliver]

Man, just looking back over the last few years.

So many changes in such a brief time.

The only person here longer than Trae Young is...Tony Ressler?!?

[jayu70]

Every NBA Team's Highest-Ceiling Prospect

Atlanta Hawks: AJ Griffin


The Hawks made a pretty big mistake last offseason when they traded away Kevin Huerter, but that trade opened up minutes for AJ Griffin. Even though he was the third-youngest player in the NBA—Griffin turned 20 in August—he found his way into the rotation for the Hawks.

Griffin averaged 19.5 minutes, scoring 8.9 points a game on 46.5 percent shooting from the field and 39.0 percent from three. He had two game-winners last season, one off a lob from Trae Young in transition and the other from a spectacular spinning shot off a sideline out-of-bounds play.

The offense from Griffin is great, but the most important trait is that he can help an Atlanta team that simply was bad defensively. With him on the court, the Hawks' defensive rating was 3.5 points better than it was when he was off.

The challenge for the Hawks will be trying to find more minutes for Griffin, assuming good health for everyone on the roster. If Griffin does continue to improve, though, it could put the front office in a good position to look to move some of the older, more expensive players that are playing ahead of him.

We went with Griffin over another young prospect in Onyeka Okongwu. We easily could have gone with him. He plays a larger role as the backup to Clint Capela and has had a major impact. We went with Griffin for two reasons.

First, this is more of a wing league, especially for those who can defend. Second, Okongwu is eligible to sign an extension this summer, and depending on that deal, he might not be a great trade asset.



https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10088316-every-nba-teams-highest-ceiling-prospect

[Jamaaliver]

Every NBA Team's Highest-Ceiling Prospect

Atlanta Hawks: AJ Griffin


Griffin averaged 19.5 minutes, scoring 8.9 points a game on 46.5 percent shooting from the field and 39.0 percent from three.

With him on the court, the Hawks' defensive rating was 3.5 points better than it was when he was off.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10088316-every-nba-teams-highest-ceiling-prospect

These two facts are the most impressive part of his appearances last season: the scoring efficiency and the defensive effect (I had no idea.)

Blows my mind we were ready to jettison him off to Toronto for 9 months of Pascal Siakam.

I have AJ as my #1 prospect right now. I just wonder what his best position will be.

[Jamaaliver]

The efficiency. The off ball movement. The offensive awareness!!!

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[Jamaaliver]

At this size, if Mo Gueye puts on a decent amount of muscle, could he man minutes at Center moving forward?

Is he the back up plan once we decide to move Capela?

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[Jamaaliver]

Former Blue Devils look to make major impact on NBA's Hawks



The Atlanta Hawks have been on an upward trajectory in recent years, and this upcoming NBA season promises to be no different with two young Duke basketball talents, Jalen Johnson and AJ Griffin, seeing significant time on the floor.

Jalen Johnson, the versatile 6-foot-9 forward, can be used to play multiple positions due to his ability to handle the ball, create for teammates, and score from various spots on the floor. He’s also a world-class athlete who excels in transition and is a plus defender.

Hawks head coach Quinn Snyder is a master tactician whose offensive philosophy is not to allow his players to be ‘ball stoppers’ and the expectation is that he will deploy Johnson in various schemes, even taking some of the creative load off Trae Young and Dejounte Murray.

The one knock on Johnson has been his outside shooting. He must do the work and improve his shooting drastically to take that next step in his development after he shot an abysmal 28-percent from 3-point range and 62-percent from the charity stripe in 14 minutes per game.

Hawks 2nd year swingman AJ Griffin played 19 minutes per game last season as a rookie. Griffin put up respectable numbers with 8.9 points per contest while shooting 39-percent from beyond the arc and 89-percent from the free throw line in 72 games.

Griffin is known for his exceptional 3-point shooting and is a good finisher around the rim. He allows his star-studded backcourt to shine by keeping the defense honest with his lethal jump shot and ability to space the floor.

Guards like Trae Young, who has a gift and is blessed with excellent court vision combined with tremendous gravity, can draw multiple defenders, often leading to wide-open attempts for AJ Griffin.

Assuming he stays healthy, it would be great to see Griffin return to being the supreme athlete he was before his knee injury in high school. If he returns to that, we could see another Duke player with a max contract in the NBA.

Jalen Johnson and AJ Griffin’s skillsets complement the existing roster, adding depth and versatility to the Hawks’ lineup as they continue to develop and integrate into the team’s’ system.

Keep an eye on the Atlanta Hawks because this is a team on the rise.

Duke Fansided