A recent NBA mock draft suggests the Atlanta Hawks could find their ideal backcourt addition in a rising guard prospect whose skill set makes him one of the best fits for the team's long-term plans.
With the 2026 NBA Draft less than two weeks away, the Atlanta Hawks hold three selections and several roster questions to answer. Recent mock drafts project Atlanta using the No. 8 overall pick on either a guard or a big man as the franchise looks to add young talent.
Recent mock drafts have most commonly projected Atlanta to target either Michigan center Aday Mara or Houston guard Kingston Flemings. While the franchise also holds the No.23 and No.57 picks, its first selection may dictate its future opportunities.
Bleacher Report's Zach Buckley wrote a story on June 12, rating the best and worst landing spots for NBA 2026 lottery picks. For the Hawks' No. 8 pick, he expressed that Louisville point guard Mikel Brown Jr. would be the best fit for Atlanta.
"Brown needs touches to put his scoring, shotmaking, and clever passing on display, but his ineffectiveness in college suggests he could use playmaking help," wrote Buckley. "The Hawks already funnel things through All-Star forward Jalen Johnson, so that's covered," he added.
Building Atlanta
Along with Atlanta's three draft picks, the team will have $30 million in cap space this offseason. The franchise made the postseason but lost 2-4 in the first round to the New York Knicks, revealing that the team lacked bench depth, shooting, playmaking, and ball-handling.
If the Hawks drafted Brown Jr., he would be able to develop under the current talent. Buckley continued to explain how the Louisville guard's passing could help add depth to the backcourt.
"Johnson's passing could actually help perk up Brown's impact, since he's a knockdown spot-up shooter and a bouncy slasher," Buckley wrote. "Atlanta's collective athleticism and willingness to run (fifth in pace) would also help, because he's a showman in the open floor."
Atlanta needs more playmaking ability and a guard who can take the pressure off Johnson to get others involved. Dyson Daniels averages the most assists at the guard position, and Jalen Johnson leads the team with 7.9 assists at the forward position. During the season, the Hawks traded Trae Young, who was averaging 8.9 assists. The team needs a guard who can score but still get others involved.
While Brown Jr. may not be a consistent name linked to the Hawks for the No.8 pick, he fits the needs of the franchise. He finished the 2025-26 collegiate season averaging 18.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 4.7 assists, while shooting 84.4 percent from the free-throw line.
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