Atlanta Sports Today

Atlanta Sports News Continuously Updated

Hawks Should Target This Player With 22nd Overall Draft Pick

by

Atlanta Hawks on-court logo

The Atlanta Hawks are expected to have two first-round picks in the 2025 NBA Draft.

Who Should Hawks Target With First Round Draft Picks?

Jase Richardson

Their top pick, which is currently set to be the No. 13 pick, will be conveyed by the Sacramento Kings. The focus of that selection should be on Michigan State guard Jase Richardson. Strongest in the areas where Trae Young is weakest, he’s a terrific foil for the four-time All-Star and should emerge as his primary backup. With that in mind, as Young being diagnosed with chronic tendinopathy in 2024-25, having a full-time backup for Young is more important than ever.

Last season, the team relied on the wily Keaton Wallace, who was on a two-way contract. Wallace arguably played well enough to earn a standard contract with the Hawks. However, he definitely has to refine his game, particularly as a shot-creator and shot-maker. In 2024-25, he averaged 5.4 points per game on 40.1 percent shooting from the field and 32.9 percent shooting from 3.

That being said, similar to Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cason Wallace, Richardson can also start alongside Young if need be. That’s not expected to happen as next season’s projected starting lineup (Young, Dyson Daniels, Zaccharie Risacher, Jalen Johnson, Onyeka Okongwu) is all but etched in stone. Nonetheless, given Johnson’s injury history, it’s fair to assume that he’ll miss some games next season. If so, Richardson could be promoted to the first unit, with the 6-foot-8 Daniels shifting to a forward slot.

Nique Clifford

Atlanta’s second first-rounder isn’t the one they control, which would have been the 14th overall pick. Due to their 2022 offseason trade for Dejounte Murray, that pick will head to the San Antonio Spurs. It’s the second to last first-rounder that the Spurs will receive from the Hawks as recompense for their ill-fated decision.

Nonetheless, Atlanta will have the 22nd overall pick. Originally, the Los Angeles Lakers’ pick, Atlanta received it by proxy thanks to the 2024 offseason trade that saw them send Murray to the New Orleans Pelicans. The Pelicans owned the pick due to what is now only the second-biggest trade that Anthony Davis has been a part of; the one that landed him with the Lakers.

Now that we’ve gotten the history of the pick covered, here’s who the Hawks should select: Colorado State swingman Nique Clifford.

A late bloomer, Clifford will be 23-years-old at the time of the draft. In his time with Colorado State, the Colorado Springs native averaged 15.5 points, 8.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game. Extremely efficient, he converted 50.6 percent of his field goals (37.7 percent of his 3s). Those numbers underscore the dynamic force that he is as a 6-foot-6 wing.

A three-level scorer, live-ball playmaker, assertive rebounder and astute defender, he’s truly a do-it-all player. For the Hawks, he’s also an inexpensive alternative to impending free agent Caris LeVert. Even as a super senior, Clifford won’t be quite as polished as a nine-year NBA veteran right off the bat. However, his well-rounded skillset and knack for getting to the rim could allow him to step right into his shoes.

© Jason Getz-Imagn Images

The post Hawks Should Target This Player With 22nd Overall Draft Pick appeared first on Last Word On Basketball.