Why the Atlanta Hawks Should Target Luigi Suigo at No. 23

It seems like the Atlanta Hawks will be choosing between a big man and a point guard with the eighth overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

If they go the big man route, there's only one choice. That would mean Michigan's Aday Mara was the choice. At 7'3" with surprising mobility and passing chops, he'd be a strong selection.

Yet, there will be enticing guards available as well. At least one of Mikel Brown Jr. or Kingston Flemings is likely to be on the board. The Hawks need both size and ball-handling, so from a fit perspective, they can't go wrong.

It should be noted that they have another pick in the draft. If the Hawks take a guard at 8, they can still grab a big man with the 23rd pick.

In that event, there's a high upside prospect they absolutely must take a look at.

That would be Luigi Suigo, who played for KK Mega Basket of the Serbian League last year.

It should be noted that Suigo has implied that he'll withdraw from the draft if he isn't assured a first-round selection. For this piece, that's fine - the Hawks could be the team to assure him that pick.

In some respects, Suigo resembles Mara. He's listed at 7'3", with a 9'6" standing reach. Like Mara, he's quick on his feet relative to his size, and a good passer for his position. Suigo has also shown some ability to space the floor. I know what you're thinking:

Why isn't this kid a lottery pick?

Well, Suigo still has some fundamentals to tune. He's viewed as a raw prospect. For a win-now team like the Hawks, that may not be appealing:

But it shouldn't matter.

The Hawks may have winning aspirations, but their core is young. They can still afford to build on it. If Suigo is ready in a few years, he should be the perfect big man to complement Jalen Johnson and Dyson Daniels.

For the time being, the Hawks can sign a placeholder. It could be as simple as retaining Jock Landale. If they're set on injecting immediate help into the roster via draft, they already have a chance to do so with the 8th pick.

Who knows? Atlanta could be thrilled with the prospect of adding Mara. If so, this article will be moot. That said, if they've got their eyes on one of the lottery's guard prospects, Suigo provides them with an opportunity to fill their other need.

All we can do for now is wait on their decision.

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