The Hawks appear to be moving up in the NBA Draft.
Atlanta is sending four picks to the Pelicans in exchange for the No. 4 selection in Thursday's draft, according to an ESPN report, which cites unidentified sources. The Hawks are trading the No. 8, 17 and 35 picks and a "heavily protected" 2020 first-round selection to receive Solomon Hill and the No. 57 pick in 2019, the report says.
Atlanta has acquired New Orleans' No. 4 pick in the draft for No. 8 and 17 and 35, league sources tell ESPN. Pelicans are sending Solomon Hill, No. 57 pick and a future second-round pick.
Atlanta has acquired New Orleans No. 4 pick in the draft for No. 8 and 17 and 35, league sources tell ESPN. Pelicans are sending Solomon Hill, No. 57 pick and a future second-round pick.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 20, 2019
Atlanta is also sending a Cleveland heavily protected first-round pick in 2020 to the Pelicans, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 20, 2019
The Hawks are expected to pursue Virginia's De'Andre Hunter. They were the only team that invited Hunter to a private work out leading up to the draft.
Atlanta is pursuing Virginia's DeAndre Hunter with the No. 4 pick, league sources tell ESPN. Atlanta GM Travis Schlenk makes a big move in lottery second year in a row to get his man. Last year, it was Trae Young. This time, DeAndre Hunter.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 20, 2019
It has been reported the Hawks thought about packaging the No. 8 and No. 10 picks to move up to No. 4 to grab Texas Tech's Jarrett Culver as well.
Atlanta has been involved in trade rumors over the last several weeks and Hunter is about as NBA ready as it gets in this year's draft. He is already one of the best on-ball defenders in the class and is a very good 3-point shooter.
He shot 43.8% from long distance this season and was 41.9% over two years with the Cavaliers.
Hunter is very similar to Culver in that they both shoot the ball well and play very good defense. The fact Atlanta has interest in both players makes sense especially considering general manager Travis Schlenk's comments leading up to the draft.
“I’ve said it 100 times, and it sounds really elementary, but being able to dribble, pass and shoot in today’s league is really important,” Schlenk told The Athletic. “If you’re a guy out there and you can’t do those things, you’re almost a liability. I would have no problem adding another 6-7 to 6-10 guy who can play on the perimeter to the roster because they’ll just find a way for them to get on the floor.”