With the No. 8 pick, these three Hawks NBA Draft targets fit a stacked young core: Louisville's Mikel Brown Jr., Michigan big Aday Mara and Kingston Flemings.
Fans of every NBA franchise are probably watching the NBA Finals right now, because there's no other basketball on TV. Atlanta Hawks fans are no exception, and they should be paying close attention to the New York Knicks, because that's the bar they'll need to clear if they want to be playing into June themselves before long.
Meeting that standard could start with the 2026 NBA Draft. The Hawks hold the No. 8 pick, and with an already stacked young core, they could significantly improve their long-term outlook by adding another rotation-caliber player. Here are the three prospects still likely to be on the board that they should covet most.
Mikel Brown Jr., Louisville
Of course, the draft is not an exact science, and some fans will disagree with this ranking, preferring Flemings over the next two prospects on the list. Fair enough; if anything, that speaks to the quality of this class.
Brown is a 6'5" playmaker who may have the highest ceiling in this group. The catch is that he shot 34.4% from three. That's not a dismal mark, but it's below average for a lead NBA ball-handler, and it doesn't bode well for his fit alongside Jalen Johnson.
Some will argue the Hawks shouldn't draft for fit, an age-old philosophical disagreement. But this is a playoff team holding a mid-lottery pick acquired from another team, and there are no surefire stars left on the board. With their franchise player already in hand, the Hawks should prioritize players who complement Johnson over ones with overlapping skill sets.
Aday Mara, Michigan
I said Brown "may" have the highest ceiling in this group; if he doesn't, it's because Mara is giving him a run for his money. At 7'3", his potential is hard to deny. He projects as a game-breaking rim protector and is a surprisingly good passer for his position.
The concerns are real, though. Mara has shown very little shooting touch, and while he's laterally quick for his size, he may still be too slow to defend in space at the NBA level. For all his remarkable length, he's a flawed prospect with genuine bust potential. He'd be an intriguing swing for the Hawks, but only if they're willing to stomach the risk.
Kingston Flemings, Houston
Flemings may have the highest floor of the group. He's a reliable three-point shooter and a strong point-of-attack defender, the type of guard who should fit perfectly next to Johnson. He's not strictly a three-and-D piece, either; Flemings projects as a tertiary playmaker at the NBA level, and a guard who can shoot, defend, and handle the ball isn't easy to come by.
He may not have the upside of Brown or Mara, but he doesn't carry their risk either. Since the Hawks already have star power and a deep roster, the most logical move would be to take the bird in the hand: a solid prospect who makes them better right away.
Land him, and Flemings could help push Atlanta toward the NBA Finals before long.
Hawks Roundtable also offers a fan community and message board. We’d love to have you join us to talk all things Hawks. Click the “Join” button at the top of the page to join our community for free.
