24 Hours Later - How do you feel about the Hawks Draft?

[Jamaaliver]

I think I’m gonna go back and reread that thread. Makes me laugh a bit. Just wanna see who went from anti Luka to pro. Most people said he was too slow and weak, those are prolly the same that are saying he’s the best thing since sliced bread.

If you wanna read Hawks fans' thoughts on Luke pre-draft, this is the place to go:

How many Hawks Fans would NOT select Luka Doncic if he somehow fell to #3?

[Spud2nique]

I think I’m gonna go back and reread that thread. Makes me laugh a bit. Just wanna see who went from anti Luka to pro. Most people said he was too slow and weak, those are prolly the same that are saying he’s the best thing since sliced bread.

If you wanna read Hawks fans' thoughts on Luke pre-draft, this is the place to go:

How many Hawks Fans would NOT select Luka Doncic if he somehow fell to #3?

I disagree. I think the 2018 draft thread shows who supported whom throughout more than this last second panic thread you refer to.

[Jamaaliver]

I disagree. I think the 2018 draft thread shows who supported whom throughout more than this last second panic thread you refer to.

Yeah, I'd want to keep this hidden, too.

Doncic was my boy early on and all throughout. However, as the draft approaches I’m getting nervous about selecting him.


...I’m kind of sold on Bagley. Let him fall to us.

May 2018

[Spud2nique]

I disagree. I think the 2018 draft thread shows who supported whom throughout more than this last second panic thread you refer to.

Yeah, I'd want to keep this hidden, too.

Doncic was my boy early on and all throughout. However, as the draft approaches I’m getting nervous about selecting him.


...I’m kind of sold on Bagley. Let him fall to us.

May 2018

oh ur such a lil dick Wendell lover. Again stooey, try to keep up, the entire body of work. You do know how to read, right?


3 seconds later... a Wendell poster thrown up by Stu...

[macd-gm]

I'll admit i didn't think Luka would be this good but I also think no one really did. But Luka was my second choice behind Trae. I didn't want bagley, bamba or JJ. You have to pick a scorer and playmaker if you're in the top 3.

[Atlanta Hawk Fan]

I'll admit i didn't think Luka would be this good but I also think no one really did. But Luka was my second choice behind Trae. I didn't want bagley, bamba or JJ. You have to pick a scorer and playmaker if you're in the top 3.

I'm just thrilled Trae has come along so well. I had Luka #1 and Ayton #2 and then a gap. Didn't have Young in my top 5.

[macd-gm]

I'll admit i didn't think Luka would be this good but I also think no one really did. But Luka was my second choice behind Trae. I didn't want bagley, bamba or JJ. You have to pick a scorer and playmaker if you're in the top 3.

I'm just thrilled Trae has come along so well. I had Luka #1 and Ayton #2 and then a gap. Didn't have Young in my top 5.

I think the more interesting question is who would have picked Ayton or Bagley over Luka?

[Atlanta Hawk Fan]

I'll admit i didn't think Luka would be this good but I also think no one really did. But Luka was my second choice behind Trae. I didn't want bagley, bamba or JJ. You have to pick a scorer and playmaker if you're in the top 3.

I'm just thrilled Trae has come along so well. I had Luka #1 and Ayton #2 and then a gap. Didn't have Young in my top 5.

I think the more interesting question is who would have picked Ayton or Bagley over Luka?

There were definitely some who would have. They might even be proved out right over time. This looks like such a strong class.

[Jamaaliver]

I think the more interesting question is who would have picked Ayton or Bagley over Luka?

From the moment I first laid eyes on D Ayton, he was my #1. That boy is a perfect specimen.

Throughout the scouting process, I heard a lot of whispers about focus, work ethic and maturity. But I'd be hard pressed to advise passing on that kid from a physical perspective.

Dude is a beast.



I liked Luka but never imagined he'd be this good this soon. (I thought 20/5/5 was his ceiling.)

[kg01]

I think the more interesting question is who would have picked Ayton or Bagley over Luka?

From the moment I first laid eyes on D Ayton, he was my #1. That boy is a perfect specimen.

Throughout the scouting process, I heard a lot of whispers about focus, work ethic and maturity. But I'd be hard pressed to advise passing on that kid from a physical perspective.

Dude is a beast.

I liked Luka, but never imagined he'd be this good this soon. (I thought 20/5/5 was his ceiling.)

Ayton seems destined to be a guy folks'll forever say, "Man if he had {insert name here}'s motor, he'd be great."

[macd-gm]

I think the more interesting question is who would have picked Ayton or Bagley over Luka?

From the moment I first laid eyes on D Ayton, he was my #1. That boy is a perfect specimen.

Throughout the scouting process, I heard a lot of whispers about focus, work ethic and maturity. But I'd be hard pressed to advise passing on that kid from a physical perspective.

Dude is a beast.



I liked Luka, but never imagined he'd be this good this soon. (I thought 20/5/5 was his ceiling.)

Obviously there are a lot of factors and differences between Dallas and Phx but to me it shows the differing impacts of dominant bigs vs big scoring wings in today's nba.

[Jamaaliver]

Obviously there are a lot of factors and differences between Dallas and Phx but to me it shows the differing impacts of dominant bigs vs big scoring wings in today's nba.

This is definitely part of it.

But also goes to show how useless big men are if they can't be defensive anchors.

No matter the era, the Center needs to take the lead defensively.

[Spud2nique]

Obviously there are a lot of factors and differences between Dallas and Phx but to me it shows the differing impacts of dominant bigs vs big scoring wings in today's nba.

This is definitely part of it.

But also goes to show how useless big men are if they can't be defensive anchors.

No matter the era, the Center needs to take the lead defensively.

Gary Payton and I would like to disagree. Ervin Johnson in agreement. Not necessarily the center but even the pg can spearhead your D.

[EazyRoc]

I'm just thrilled Trae has come along so well. I had Luka #1 and Ayton #2 and then a gap. Didn't have Young in my top 5.

I think the more interesting question is who would have picked Ayton or Bagley over Luka?

There were definitely some who would have. They might even be proved out right over time. This looks like such a strong class.

I think I had the following list in this order: Ayton, Bagley/Trae tied, JJJ, and then Luka. My order is wrong but at least the 5 guys I picked turned out to be players. Earned my promotion to assistant armchair GM.

[~Wretch~]

I don’t like making predictions and I seriously dislike comparisons between dissimilar talents. I also have a tendency to get way ahead of myself. So I find it best to focus on positives when evaluating. I don’t “dislike” players as much as I focus on what a better option would be and I try my best to avoid hype talk. I take the time to actually study a player before agreeing with the popular sentiment and if I haven’t seen enough of a player to have an opinion, I’ll flatly state as much.

That being said, my opinion is pretty much the same now as it was before the draft:

On the subject at hand, and while it's fresh and I still feel comfortable talking about it...
I'd also like to state for the record that I very much understand the bias against Euro guys - because I usually have it. I don't have a straight up, narrow-minded dislike, but the return rate, comparative lack of exposure, and the busts over the years don't help the stigma for me. And yet...Luca made me a believer.

I hope Trae does well and you won't see me trash him - not while he wears our colors. I'm hoping that if Luca is going to blow up, I hope it's well after Trae proves his worth (and after we yank a lottery pick from Dallas).

- Actual me running my dang mouthy mouth

The Hawks fan in me will always worry...lol
I can see them cracking the bottom of the West. There's a couple of spots at 7-8 that could open up if they make some good free agent signings AND Luca hits the ground running. There's a very real possibility that if they don't make the playoffs, that pick will end up in the bottom of the lottery. That's my real concern *thumbs down*...

- More of the same Wretchedness

Bottom line – I would not have then and I would not now swap Luca for Trae straight up. Trae + mid/late 1st is not enough either. For me, Luca’s floor and uniqueness was just too high to pass on. He can effectively play multiple positions (with SG being an in-demand slot currently) and the intrigue/positive press (things we sorely needed) were through the roof. I would have strongly considered taking him #1 if we had the pick, but I have to admit that I was super high on Ayton and would have likely gone with him for better or worse.

I’m also one to admit when I’m wrong… Prior to the draft, I looked at Ayton, Luca (a lot), and Bagley (a whole lot). I had Trae nowhere on my radar and consequently hadn’t even looked at so much as a single highlight vid. When I heard his name start popping up days before the draft, I started checking him out…and all I saw from the fans and pundits were silly comparisons to Steph Curry. Sitting at #3 and Luca looking to fall in our laps, I wasn’t interested.

But management saw something in Trae that I was blind to – his passing and leadership. I’m ridiculously relieved that we didn’t blindly fall in love with him and any premature comparisons (as I outlined such fears in a whole thread dedicated to our new pick). I LOVE his command of the offense, but I’ll feel better once I know where that pick lands. So, I’m still neutral leaning disapprove pending our future pick. This is not going to change for quite some time - certainly not until I see who’s available where we’re drafting this year.

And of course IF we get the pick...

[~Wretch~]

I think the more interesting question is who would have picked Ayton or Bagley over Luka?

From the moment I first laid eyes on D Ayton, he was my #1. That boy is a perfect specimen.

Throughout the scouting process, I heard a lot of whispers about focus, work ethic and maturity. But I'd be hard pressed to advise passing on that kid from a physical perspective.

Dude is a beast.



I liked Luka but never imagined he'd be this good this soon. (I thought 20/5/5 was his ceiling.)

Have to go on record with a +1 here. 100% echoes my sentiments.

[King Ken]

I love it now. Hated it 24 hours after the draft even though I was in full support of Trae. I wanted the high floor and ceiling Luka had. Wasn't a fan of low floor elite ceiling at the time.