2026 NBA Draft Lottery Preview: Atlanta Hawks
Stephen Gillaspie & Jam Hines talk through the options the Atlanta Hawks could have ahead of them in the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery.
Stephen: After an interesting turn of events in Atlanta, the Hawks ended up making it to the NBA Playoffs this season. Trae Young was moved in exchange for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert. Jalen Johnson took on the star load for ATL–averaging 22/10/8, and being named to the All-NBA Third Team, as well as being named an All-Star.
Onsi Saleh was promoted to President of Basketball Operations after his first season as the General Manager, replacing Landry Fields in April of last year. With the success of Jalen Johnson, the production of Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who was named Most Improved Player after being acquired in free agency, and the contributions of CJ McCollum, the Hawks appear to be trending in the right direction.
But there is still room for improvement. McCollum is going to have a lot laid at his feet at the age of 34. Onyeka Okongwu made strides as a floor-spacer, but Atlanta could really use some legitimate size. Zaccharie Risacher looks like he is going to be a fine NBA player, but living up to the #1 player in a draft is looking less likely.
With the 8th and 23rd picks in the 2026 NBA Draft, this team could certainly add some contributors. How do you think this team could continue its upward trajectory, Jam?
Jam: Atlanta continuing its upward trajectory will be dependent on those core young players that you mentioned taking another significant step forward (adding in Dyson Daniels and Jonathan Kuminga) while adding the appropriate pieces. I’m sure the team will make calls about moving up with a package of #8, #23, and a player (maybe Hield or Kispert). However, it’s more likely the team keeps both firsts and seeks to draft two impact pieces.
Adding a lead guard and frontcourt depth, particularly a big, would be at the top of my list of needs for Atlanta. Do you see similar needs?
Stephen: The Hawks could really go in a number of directions. I’m not sure that any of the teams ahead of them would want to move back in exchange for the picks they have on hand. Maybe you could get there with more assets, but at that point, you’ve got to wonder if it’s worth it. I’m with you, Jam, to stay put with the #8 pick. I think that this board is about eight or nine players deep at the top of my board–and that’s not taking into account some rumors centered around Brooklyn perhaps valuing Nate Ament with the #6 pick in the draft.
If there is real fire to that smoke, there is a real chance that someone of real value could fall into the laps of Onsi Saleh and company.
When looking at the possible areas of need for the Hawks, I do agree in large part with your assessment. Looking back at the playoffs, I would value adding valuable size in the front court over a guard, depending on who is available.
The big man I would look to target is Aday Mara. Atlanta already has the mobile and versatile–but a bit more undersized–big men on their roster. Onyeka Okongwu really opened up his offensive game by growing as a floor spacer this season. Mara would bring someone who has size you can’t teach. Not only is Aday a fantastic lob threat, putback threat, and rim protector, but he also has immaculate passing feel. Not that you would particularly draft Mara for this, but there could be some floor spacing skill, too.
Having a rotation of Jalen Johnson and Aday Mara offers good size, but also a frontcourt of players who can extend the play with their physical gifts, as well as their minds.
Another big man who hasn’t been getting a ton of projection in being drafted by Atlanta would be Morez Johnson Jr. There may be a little overlap with him and Onyeka Okongwu, but you would have the bones to have a switch-everything defensive scheme. Morez Johnson is a strong player who you could visualize taking on tougher frontcourt assignments so that Jalen Johnson could focus on the things that make him special. That’s not all that dissimilar to what he did at Michigan for Yaxel Lendeborg. Morez displayed floor spacing, too, and that could open up lineups for Jalen, Morez, and Onyeka to share the floor together.
For the guard options, I could see a few options play out here, but I think they would hope for Keaton Wagler to be available. For all of the concerns that may exist with Wagler, Atlanta has a “our team is the point guard” sort of mentality, which would help open up Wagler to attack weaknesses in the defense. At a minimum, Keaton should be able to reliably space the floor and make very smart plays with the ball. He also has a very high offensive upside to be a secondary creator. His game should complement Jalen Johnson and also help NAW continue to improve.
What do you think of the names here, Jam? Anyone else that we should consider here? Let’s also get into the options Atlanta could have available with the 23rd pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Jam: It feels like Mara has been linked to Atlanta for quite some time now. I get it for all of the reasons you listed. Although I do like Mara, #8 is a bit too rich for me, despite Atlanta’s need. I still have some concerns regarding his conditioning and being strictly a drop coverage defender who will have trouble in space. For me to go with Mara here, I would need to feel incredible about him being a perennial NBA All-Defensive team. I believe in Mara’s impactful rim protection; I’m just not sure if it’s going to be at the tier needed to be selected at this spot.
If Atlanta drafts a big at #8, Morez Johnson Jr. would be my choice. I completely agree about the overlap with Okongwu, but I believe they can play together. As you mentioned. Johnson Jr. thrived alongside two different big profiles in Mara and Yax. Defensively, they’ll be switchable. Offensively, Okongwu has also developed into a capable spacing threat with some volume, something that’s on the table for Morez as well. I would also expect Jalen Johnson and Kuminga to get some time at the 4 with Morez at the 5.
Wagler and Mikel Brown Jr. are my top two guard options for Atlanta. Both are dynamic pick-and-roll operators with size, shooting, and playmaking prowess that can excel on and off the ball. Brown Jr. occupies the fifth spot on my board, one slot ahead of Wagler. I lean Brown Jr. because of his athleticism, advanced playmaking (arguably the best passer in the class), tough multiple-level shot-making, and ability to generate paint touches on his own.
At #23, Atlanta should still be in best player available mode while favoring whichever need between guard and big that wasn’t addressed at #8. If it’s a big at #8, Bennett Stirtz and Christian Anderson should be in play here. They are two top-tier shooters in the class with passing chops who space the floor, run pick-and-rolls, and can excel both on and off the ball.
If Jayden Quaintance slips due to medical concerns, this could be a value selection for a potential NBA All-Defensive team caliber and a Top 10 player in the class. Another versatile defending big with play finishing that makes sense is Zuby Ejiofor. What do you think Atlanta’s mentality should be at #23?
Stephen: I love the thoughts there with the eighth pick–If Mikel is still there, sprint to the podium.
Things could get pretty interesting for the Hawks with the 23rd pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Bennett Stirtz and Christian Anderson are awesome names to mention to be in contention for that selection. On my personal board, Stirtz would not be available–but the draft never goes according to the draft media’s consensus. Stirtz would provide plus height for his position, above-average passing feel, defensive playmaking, and some audacious shooting touch and range. Christian Anderson would be the best available point guard on my board, so I definitely understand the Hawks leaning his way–though his frame may see him play sparingly in the early going.
If Jayden Quaintance is still available, I feel like the 23rd pick would be an appropriate swing, even if the medicals are concerning. I do have a hard time seeing that happen, though, because Michael Porter Jr. was taken with the 14th pick, and he could barely walk. However, strange things happen in the draft all the time. I do have Zuby in this range, and I think he would be an excellent choice for very similar reasons that I mentioned with Morez Johnson Jr.
You know how I feel about Ebuka Okorie. I would draft him significantly higher than this, but I could see him going lower than where I rank him just because of the depth of the class, and maybe some teams weigh his Stanford context differently than I do. He has such a high level of feel in creation–both for himself and others. He has great length at his size (with the second-longest wingspan among the top point guards). He has good defensive playmaking and, perhaps, the best handle in this class. He would be excellent running some lineups with good height and length around him on this team.
Someone else who I could maybe see falling to this range despite me having him ranked higher is Dailyn Swain. I could see teams wondering which version of him is the real one–comparing his season as an on-ball dynamo at Texas this season, to the more ancillary version of him at Xavier. He fits Atlanta’s “our team is the point guard” approach and has a real knack for scoring off the bounce.
While things didn’t end the way fans in Atlanta probably hoped they would, I’m not sure you could have asked for a better turn of events after trading away Trae Young and shifting the team’s philosophy this season. The growth of players like Nickeil, Onyeka, and JJ on the team were delightful to see–while adding players who could still be contributors next season with McCollum and Kuminga.
On top of that, Atlanta gets to add to that talent and depth with the eighth pick in a class where you can feel really good about the Top 9 or 10 of this class. They could also take advantage of a fall at pick 23 or take a calculated swing.
Here’s to the next steps of the bright-future Hawks! Ca-cawwwww!