The Atlanta Hawks are looking to make a splash in the upcoming NBA Draft. Could it be that they are taking notes from their neighboring NFL team and make a big jump up the draft board? The Hawks currently select at No. 17 and No. 18, but they are hoping to make leap into the top five with a few players in mind.
Yahoo! Sports reports that Hawks are putting up their two first-round draft picks in hopes of moving up into the top five. According to sources, they have had discussions with at least two teams about putting together a potential trade. The player being pursued is reportedly UCLA's Shabazz Muhammad.
The only way this trade will work is with the few teams looking to stock pile on youth. According to draft experts, this is a relatively weaker year for talent the farther it gets down the draft board. With Nerlens Noel, Alex Len, Ben McLemore, Otto Porter and Victor Oladipo rounding out the marquee list of names, teams picking in the first six picks will command more than just two picks for a top selection. By No. 17 and No. 18, the better prospects have thinned out greatly.
If the Hawks really have their sights set on Muhammad, trading into the top five might be unnecessary. Most experts have the names listed above as the locks to be taken right away. At the earliest, Muhammad might go No. 7 to the Sacramento Kings who are reportedly impressed by the forward.
The Hawks have four picks to work with in total for the draft. Along with two first-round picks, they have a pair of second round picks as well. The team has not leaked who they have brought in to work out, but it is assumed they will target a number of big men with their top picks. It was reported that Mason Plumlee and Rudy Gobert worked out with the Hawks, but no work if Muhammad ever stopped by the facilities.
If the team cannot orchestrate a trade, foreign player Giannis Adetokunbo is an option. Atlanta has the option of drafting him and then letting him play overseas one more season while recouping more salary cap savings and having more money to spend on free agents.
Danny Ferry has done well so far with the draft. Last season, he picked up John Jenkins and Mike Scott who will likely be strong rotational players next season. The team is hoping to make some big changes this offseason and a marquee draft move would certainly set the tone.