The 2024 NBA season is coming to a close with just less than five games left for all teams. For teams on the brink of playoff elimination, like the Atlanta Hawks, landing good picks in the NBA Draft Lottery is very important.
With many eyeing to get Cooper Flagg, the projected No. 1 overall from Duke, the Hawks need to make adjustments by being efficient in their options. But who could they be?
Hawks Could Own Two First-Round Picks in the 2025 NBA Draft
Though the Hawks aren't competing at the same level as years past, they're coming into the 2025 NBA Draft with some real upside. According to Sports Illustrated, they might receive two first-round picks: their own and a possible extra from the Sacramento Kings, as long as it's outside the top 12. They also possess the Los Angeles Lakers' first-rounder, which sits around 25th overall.
Currently, mock drafts have Atlanta at picks No. 14 and No. 25, and those picks might provide them with the chance to rebuild their roster around young stars such as Trae Young, Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels, and others.
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2025 NBA Mock Draft: Collin Murray-Boyles and Rasheer Fleming to Atlanta?
Analyst Julia Stumbaugh has the Hawks selecting South Carolina standout Collin Murray-Boyles with their lottery pick. The latest Bleacher Report mock draft explains why the Hawks are on the right track with this selection.
Praised for his elite defense and quick development, Murray-Boyles put up 16.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, and shot 59% from the field in his breakout season. While his three-point shooting (27%) remains a work in progress, his potential is undeniable, and some analysts have even seen him as a top-10 pick.
If he falls to the Hawks' position in the lottery, it would be a huge victory. Murray-Boyles' size, athleticism, and defensive skills would fill Atlanta's glaring needs in the post.
With their second selection, Stumbaugh recommends that Atlanta take Saint Joseph's forward Rasheer Fleming, a developing stretch-four who's quickly making waves.
The 6-foot-9 Fleming has 50 dunks and 50 made threes in this draft class alone and possesses a unique combination of rim-finishing, shooting range, and defensive versatility. He's currently hitting 40% from outside the arc on 4.6 attempts per contest, figures that make him a desirable pick for any club seeking to stretch the floor.
Meeting Atlanta's Most Important Needs: Defense, Size, and Shooting
Atlanta's 2025 NBA Draft plan is obvious: they require interior defense, shooting depth, and tweener forwards. A draft class featuring both Murray-Boyles and Fleming would meet those needs head-on, providing head coach Quin Snyder with greater flexibility and balance in the rotation.
While the Hawks failed to land Kevin Durant in a previous rumored trade, they have the option to create a younger roster that could stick for many years.
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