Atlanta Hawks: Atl All Day Mock Draft 3.0, Best Case Scenario
Guard. Orlando Magic. Nickeil Alexander-Walker. 16. player. 38. <h5>6’6 205 • Virginia Tech</h5> <h6>2018 Stats: Pts:16.2 REB:4.1 APG:4.0 STL:1.9 BLK:0.5 FG%:47.4 2P%:53.7 3P%:37.4 FT%:77.8</h6> <p>The Orlando Magic have taken a front court player in the first round of the draft for three consecutive years. They made a playoff appearance for the first time since 2012 on the strength of that front court, but must improve the backcourt if they are to take the next step. Point guard is the team’s biggest need, but this is not a rich draft for lead guards. Nickeil Alexander-Walker is a combo guard that has shown some potential to be a guy that could one day run an offense full time. Nickeil is a solid ball handler and a smart passer. He does however need to improve on his shooting off the bounce. He also had a difficult time blowing by quicker players guarding him. Nickeil Alexander-Walker could team with former number one overall pick Markelle Fultz, to form a backcourt tandem of combo guards. Both men would initiate the offense at times and play off the ball other times, depending on situations and matchups. Even if Alexander-Walker doesn’t cut it as a lead guard, spot up shooting is one of his best attributes, along with good defense, so he should round into a decent NBA shooting guard at worse.</p>
The NBA Basketball Writers provide us a comprehensive breakdown of the strengths of Nickeil Alexander-Walker:
Here The Basketball Writers show us the areas in which Alexander-Walker needs to improve in.
125. <h5>7’3 208 • Oregon</h5> <h6>2018 Stats: Pts:21 ORB: 2.1 REB:9.6 APG:1 STL:0.8 BLK:2.7 FG%:56.1 2P%:57 3P%:52 FT%:75.7</h6> <p>With their third pick in the 2019 Atl All Day NBA Mock Draft, the Atlanta Hawks select Bol Bol from Oregon. Similar to Trae Young last year, many Atlanta Hawks fans will love this pick and many will despise it. The foot injury that caused Bol to miss all but nine games is definitely concerning, but if his medical report shows a good long-term prognosis, his talent is undeniable. Bol Bol surely has weaknesses outside of his injury. He is very light and will be pushed around as a post defender. He is not a good defender in space at all. Although Bol has the speed and length to keep up with many players, he must work on his agility because he does not change directions quickly. He also must take better angles. His weakness on offense is he’s a poor screen setter with his slight frame. Passing well consistently is also an issue, but he has shown flashes of improvement in that area, even making the proper reads while leading the fast break. Bol Bol possesses amazing ball handling ability for a man who is over seven feet tall. He is also has an incredible shooting touch and has a great chance of being a 40 percent three-point threat at the next level. Bol also has solid post moves, that feature a smooth hook shot and a nice turn around jumper. Both are impossible for the primary defender to block with his length. He is at his best inside when he makes a read and goes quickly. Bol can also rebound the ball well. His best quality on defense is as a weak side shot blocker.</p>. Power Forward. Atlanta Hawks. Bol Bol. 17. player
The key to Bol Bol realizing his full potential, besides staying healthy, is him getting stronger and becoming more physical. Nutrition and work ethic will be paramount. The ceiling for Bol is a shot blocking version of Kristaps Porzingus. The floor is a shot blocking version of Channing Frye with better handles. Recently there have been unconfirmed reports of a Bol Bol sighting in Atlanta and the Hawks having a representative at his recent workout in Los Angeles. Jonathan Givony of ESPN DraftExpress gives us his thoughts and a clip of the workout showing Bol Bol looking healthy and skilled:
Bol Bol conducted a Pro Day in LA yesterday in front of approximately a dozen NBA teams, including five GMs, to ease concerns around his health and remind them of his ultra high skill-level. Bol showed why he's considered a top-five talent in this draft in terms of pure upside. pic.twitter.com/GSPF6W3FYL
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) June 13, 2019
The dime drop takes a deep look at the pros and cons of Bol Bol in this video:
100. <h5>6’6 202 • Indiana</h5> <h6>2018: Pts:16.5 REB:5.4 APG:2.3 STL:0.8 BLK:0.8 FG%:44.8 2P%:53.0 3P%:27.2 FT%:72.2</h6> <p>The Indiana Pacers made the playoffs despite losing their best player Victor Oladipo for the majority of last season. They suffered a major loss this offseason, as swingman Tyreek Evans was suspended for two seasons due to violations of the leagues substance abuse policy. Romeo Langford the best available fit to replace the talents that Evans provided for the team. Similar to Evans, Langford is a plus ball handler, who can create offense for others. However Romeo is much more offensive minded and is not yet the defender Evans is. Langford will have to prove that it was the hand injury and not his unorthodox shooting mechanics, that caused him to struggle from beyond the arch last season. Romeo Langford turned down offers from other colleges in order to stay home and attempt to revive the Indiana Hoosiers. That did not turned out as he had hoped, but this would be a dream scenario, in which he gets a shot to help carry his home professional team to new heights.</p>. Small Forward. Indiana Pacers. Romeo Langford. 18. player
According to the Atlanta Hawks Twitter page Romeo Langford is scheduled to work out for the club on Saturday. Hoops Perspective takes a closer look at Langford in the following scouting video production: