Here is my big board for the Hawks: This is mid-season before conference play so we have along way to go.
Tier 1:1. Zion - The best overall player and fit for me. He can protect the rim. He covers space in lighting speed, I have issues about his post defense but he is an offensive monster and no NBA big will be able to guard him. He will protect Collins like a Ben Wallace like center while having the offensive talent of a Russell Westbrook for 6'7 282. INSANE! #1 player by a mile.
2. Reddish - Raw, still has a lot to work on in terms of coverages and not overly fouling and he still working on learning the off ball game but shows a lot of promise at this stage. I posted articles on him but I like him for us simply because he is a perfect fit with what we have with Trae, Kevin, and John. I don't think he is the best prospect and needs work but his ceiling could be the highest of his class outside of Zion of course.
3. Bol - Do I think he is a perfect fit. No but I do like his fit in our trap heavy defense, I do like that he can protect the paint and I do like his length on D and I love his defensive instincts to block shots which is extremely good but hate his awareness which can be well bad. I understand our defensive communication will take time with him. I understand he doesn't have the bulk to deal with the bigs at this stage in the paint and that he doesn't move laterally well. His offensive value is top notch. Can shoot the three at a high clip with great accuracy.
Can move extremely well without the ball. Gets good positioning in the paint. Extremely skilled. Quick for his size. Excellent ball handler for his size and position. He has as much talent as anyone in this class.
He's my boom or bust for this class. He is a lot like Trae Young to me from that stance. That said, the talent is tremendous. He covers everything we need from a 5 where we have a 4 like Collins who defensively is a liability since Collins isn't laterally quick, doesn't cover a lot of ground, is not an instinctive defender, and simply doesn't have the bulk either. Sometimes I feel like Collins is the Jamal Crawford of NBA defenders. Of course Collins can get blocks based on athleticism and of course, he is a tremendous rebounder who does boxout with good fundamentals. Collins lacks the defensive potential to be any better than below average. We would need a 5 who can cover for Collins weaknesses defensively while still adding value on offense which is most critical for us. Bol Bol can do that. But can we cover Bol for his weaknesses, that's the question with this one. Right now, we got 4 skinny guys starting (Bol, Kevin, Trae and John) Can that work in the NBA?
Tier 2: 4. R.J. - I love love love R.J. My #2 overall prospect. The only prospect outside of Zion I think has multiple time All Star potential with the ability to still be impactful year 1. He would be in the mix with last year's guys as well like Bamba, Bagley, Ayton, Doncic, Trae, WCJ, and JJJ. My issue with him is even though he is Bazemore replacement and he can be that. He isn't a SF. His best position is SG. But so is Kevin's. At this point, we would be drafting R.J. to start over Kevin and still playing Prince at the 3. I am not sure that's as helpful. Kevin does a lot of things that help Trae. Kevin communicates on defense and protects Trae. He just fits with Trae extremely well.
R.J. fits well and he solves a critical issue of a #1 option which we lack but I personally think Trae could be a #1 option. Do we need someone who can just take the ball out of his hands and doesn't really move the ball without dominating it. I think he would be an amazing fit with the Knicks or the Cavs but with us. It's tough. I do think he can be really good with us but if winning a title is our goal, fit really really matters. Especially with our ace being Trae. I'll draft him #4. After 1-3, the others just don't have the potential to justify getting drafted over R.J.
Tier 3:5. Little - I have my issues with Little. I think he is more Justise Winslow than Leonard.
I see high end role player but I don't see any star potential. I think he is a good fit but he's not a legit top 5 pick in a good draft. I don't even see him as well as I saw Buddy Hield. I personally think he is like Prince, just younger and a better fit and not as skilled or the same quality of shooter. I would look to moving back at this point but this draft becomes pretty even on my board so in the 8-20 range is where I would look to draft Little.
Like how Prince fit Bud's system, Little fits our current one but I don't see the potential to be a star but I like him.
6. Culver - I posted a lot on him already so I will focus on what I like. He is a great system fit in what we do especially at the SG. He gives a depth and a legit baller to mix and match with Kevin. Not really a top 5 guy in my book in any draft but like Little, the 8-20 range is good.
Tier 4:I actually like my 4th tier guys a lot. Usually super raw and just average role player potential, these guys can be much better than projected.
7. Okpala - I love Okpala. I call him Giannis before the growth spurt lite. Does not have as wide of shoulders as Giannis, as big as hands, nor as coordinated as the Greek Freak but they have a similar skill-set and baseline as prospects. Okpala maybe more advanced as a prospect than what Giannis was but Giannis at this point grew two inches to 6'11 and Giannis just has better tools but both are similar. I think K.Z. is a better shooter at this stage. I know K.Z. has more experience and K.Z. is a smart player. Doesn't have any of Giannis playmaking ability either.
I see a lot of potential. I think he could be special. I don't think he would be Giannis thought, I think he could be a steal even in the top 10. But he's not going to be a top 10 player in the NBA but he might develop into a multiple time All Star.
8. DeAndre Hunter - I like this kid. He has a mix of Marvin Williams and JJJ in terms of how he moves and how he looks gangly on the court. He marks out high on my of my adv. marks but his tape tells me he could be capable of a lot more in the future. Doesn't move off the ball all that well but he moves very smart.
His defensive fundamentals are elite. He is a 3/D prospect with good playmaking skills. Doesn't sellout to rebound, he actually boxing out and getting clean boards. He doesn't look to blocks shots or get steals outside of help side or weak side assignments. He adjust on the fly, his instincts and BBIQ is 100% there. His focus is consistently playing fundamentally sound defense, defending in space and on the ball and communication on defense with his teammates. I actually think he could be coached to be more aggressive in getting steals and blocks. He has elite defensive instincts. He just so fundamentally sound. Look, I think he is a MUCH better player than most everyone on this list. But his ceiling will never be that high because he is just willing to play within the team concept. I think he is an elite fit. I am probably doing him a disservice at this spot. I would take him before Culver and Little.
He is not Mikal Bridges, he is not an elite role player type who makes All Stars. He is more like Tony Allen or Pascal Siakam who does a lot of winning plays and impacts that show up in the W/L column. His lack of stats will likely see him never be an All Star but his impact will feel like a star. I would not pass on him. I am taking him with a top 10 pick. Not top 5 but I will take him in the top ten. He fits perfectly for us. I will move him up on the next list.
His tape is just as impressive has his advanced stats. He has ZERO star potential but he has superstar team player written all over him.
9. Sekou - Potential, Potential, potential. I have my doubts, but his potential can be good. I don't see the fit. He shouldn't be the on list.
10t. Kevin Porter Jr. - TBA, like his highlights but I haven't evaluated him yet.
10t. Nickeil Alexander-Walker - TBA, like his highlights but I haven't evaluated him yet.
12. Jontay Porter - I like him and I clearly felt he was a fit last year. Nothing has changed. Still feel the same. I wanted him then at 18. I am just not as high on taking a center so high knowing John is who his partner will be and paint protection isn't his calling card.
13. Simi - I need to see more but I like what experts are projecting which fits what we need from the 5.
Tier 5:
14t. Gafford - I like his profile for us, need to see more. I like his game tape as well.
14t. Jason Hayes - I like his profile for us, need to see more. I like his game tape as well.
16. Naz Reid - Not as big on him but I liken him to Brian Grant and that would be a great backup for us right now.
17. Bassey - I like his profile for us, need to see more. I like his game tape as well.
18t. Bruno - I like his profile for us, need to see more. I like his game tape as well.
18t. Brandon Clarke - I love Brandon Clarke and I see him as a perfect fit as a backup 4. That's why he is on this list. I have backup 4 as a need position and around the mid to late 1st in this draft. I like him as a possibility.
20. Romeo- He needs to stay another year. The talent is there but he isn't where he needs to be BBIQ wise to take that leap to the NBA. Development is going to be good for him. The NBA isn't good to raw skinny SG's without great athletic ability. He needs to bulk up, improve that jumper, and get smarter so he can dominate his level.
you know..the necessary quad and low gravity strength to move guys..