The Atlanta Hawks may very nicely be picked up at n ° 1 of the NBA 2026 draft.
No, it isn’t as a result of the Hawks ought to be a foul workforce (even when they’ve been, the Spurs have the proper to alternate decisions with the Hawks), it’s as a result of they succeeded in an absolute breakage of a job on the night of the draft in June. Atlanta returned from 13 to twenty third with the Pélicans de la Nouvelle-Orleans and bought an alternate of selecting 1st spherical unprotected in 2026. The alternate is essentially the most favorable alternative of Milwaukee and New Orleans.
He left the world of NBA speechless and with out the commerce of Luka Doncic in February, he would have been essentially the most shocking NBA commerce in years. The Hawks ought to be among the many greatest contenders on the Japanese Convention this season and due to their enterprise with the Pélicans, they may additionally win the selection n ° 1 in a mission that features three elite hopes in Cameron Boozer, Darryn Peterson and AJ Dybansta.
The explanation, or one of many causes, the commerce was so surprising was that the Pelicans shouldn’t be a very good workforce subsequent season. Within the newest batch of NBA Energy rankings by Andy Bailey de Bleacher Report, he ranked New Orleans twenty sixth:
“So long as Zion Williamson is a part of the workforce, New Orleans’ Pélicans are the poster workforce for theoretical outcomes.
When it’s wholesome, they will apparently compete with nearly anybody. However he solely appeared in 30 competitions final season, and he has a median of round 36 video games a 12 months throughout his profession.
Sure, there are different intriguing abilities within the workforce, together with and particularly Trey Murphy III, which collected on common 21.2 factors in 2024-25; Herb Jones, a defensive ace; Dejounte Murray, which comes out of a torn Achilles; And Jordan Poole, whose sizzling sequences may win a match or two.
However throughout the Western Western Convention, this can’t result in a ton of success. And with out Sion to hyperlink all this collectively throughout the matches that may inevitably miss, New Orleans can have hassle protecting the tempo of most opponents. “”
This is able to give the Hawks the fifth greatest probabilities of successful the NBA drafts and though they’re removed from being assured to win it, they might be within the combination.
Though it’s far too early to mission how the 2026 draft will do away with, the primary simulated tasks have all chosen Atlanta within the Prime 10.
Within the first simulation mission for 2026 of CBS Sports activities Analyst Adam Finkelstein, Atlanta has the selection n ° 2 and selects Wing AJ Dybantsa:
“Dybantsa is essentially the most proficient prospect of the category. A Jumbo 6-9 wing with an elastic sort of physique and excessive judicial protection, it’s the prototype of a contemporary NBA wing. Rivalizing within the FIBA World Cup subsequent week.”
Jonathan Wasserman de Bleacher Report has landed the Hawks the selection n ° 6 and the choice of Baylor Wing Tound Yessoufou:
“Tound Yessoufou capitalized on a handful of alternatives the place NBA scouts had been allowed within the constructing. His 24-point Nike Hoop summit match in opposition to america was revealing as a result of it confirmed its steady enchancment as a marker and shooter.
In any other case, Yessoufou had constructed a fame round its highly effective setting, its athletics and its engine, a mix which it used for transition and protection. However he began to finish his in suspense bodily capacities with a clearer leg recreation, contact and taking pictures expertise. “”
Jonathan Givony of ESPN A Atalnta to decide on the eighth and to pick out the Caroline of North Caleb Wilson striker:
“At 6-9, Wilson appears to be like on the recreation with an distinctive body, a size and growth of bidirectional versatility which could possibly be exploited in the long run in a really intriguing package deal. It might push defensive glass and transfer in movement.
Wilson’s stage of depth and outside taking pictures want work, but it surely has attributes that you just can’t educate and is loaded in the long run. “”
It’s positive to say that it could possibly be a really treasured alternative for the Hawks. Not solely will that, Atlanta may even have two first -round alternatives on this mission. San Antonio has the proper to alternate decisions with Atlanta, however given the latest actions of the Hawks, they could possibly be in higher place than the Spurs subsequent 12 months and to not have to present them a positive alternative.
