Atlanta nailed the obvious pick in Kingston Flemings at No. 8, but the Zuby Ejiofor selection at No. 23 raises real questions. Grading both Hawks first-rounders.
The first round of the NBA draft is over, and the Atlanta Hawks made one obvious choice and one that was fairly surprising. Nobody was shocked to see Kingston Flemings come off the board at No. 8. He was mocked to Atlanta in that spot just about everywhere.
By contrast, St. John's big man Zuby Ejiofor was not on most pundits' radars that early. Sometimes the obvious choice is the right one. Other times, the pick that reads as a reach turns out to be the smartest move a team could make. So how will these two pan out?
Hawks Make the Right Choice in the Lottery
Let's do this chronologically.
Teams weigh two questions in the draft: who's the best player available, and who fits the current roster? It's hard to say with confidence that Flemings was the best player left, but he was arguably the highest-rated prospect on the board when the Hawks picked at No. 8. The choice likely came down to Flemings or Aday Mara, and Flemings was the right call.
The Hawks needed a point guard, and after the Trae Young experience, they were probably after one who plays defense. Flemings checks that box and then some. He's also a strong floor spacer who can run the offense. It's hard to make the case that Atlanta should have drafted anyone else.
So they get a perfect grade here.
Grade: A+
Hawks Make a Bold Choice With the 23rd Pick
The Hawks were expected to add both a point guard and a big man this summer, and they checked both boxes in the draft.
But it's fair to question whether Ejiofor was the right big man for Atlanta. At 6-foot-9, he's undersized for the position. Yes, he has a 7-foot-2 wingspan, and yes, he has a relentless motor. He loves the dirty work and should be able to guard every frontcourt position at the NBA level.
Sound familiar?
That's right. Ejiofor is reminiscent of Onyeka Okongwu, who is already on the roster. Part of the reason Atlanta was tied to a big man is a frontcourt that runs small and shorthanded: Okongwu is undersized for a center, and Kristaps Porzingis, the nominal starter, is injury-prone and playing on an expiring deal. Ejiofor doesn't really change that math. He's another undersized big, not the kind of size the Hawks lack when Porzingis is off the floor.
So the pick is a little puzzling. It's also worth noting that in many mock drafts, Ejiofor was an early second-round pick. There's a lot to like about him, but he's an undersized big with a raw offensive game.
It would be too far to call it a bad pick. The Hawks clearly saw something they liked, and there's real value in the profile. Still, it doesn't feel like they found the size they'll eventually need, and in time, Atlanta may have to choose between its two undersized bigs.
Grade: C+
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