Thank you, lottery gods.
The Hawks had to sweat out a slim chance of ruin during tonight’s 2025 NBA Draft Lottery, but in the end they managed the best possible outcome.
The main takeaway tonight: Atlanta came away with the 13th overall pick along with the 22nd overall pick to use in the 2025 NBA Draft, a draft rapidly upcoming in late June.
Atlanta came into tonight with no way to win the number one overall pick — almost assuredly the Cooper Flagg pick — but they had major stakes involved nonetheless. As a result of the Kevin Huerter trade to Sacramento three offseasons ago, the Kings owed the Hawks a top-12 protected first-round pick.
Atlanta’s own pick, 14th overall, will head to San Antonio as a result of the Dejounte Murray trade three offseasons ago as well. So, had the Kings struck the lottery with roughly 3.8% odds, the Hawks would have been left with no lottery pick despite missing the playoffs.
But with an approximately 14-in-15 chance, the Hawks finally landed their prized 13th overall pick from Sacramento.