Atl All Day Atlanta Hawks Specific NBA Draft Big Board
Tier 3: Mid – Late 1st Round
11.
Nicolas Claxton Big
Peachtree Hoops Scouting Report
Biggest Strength: Versatility, Rim Protection
Biggest Weakness: Lack of Strength and Bulk
NBA Comparisons:
Al Horford, Mason Plumlee (The Ringer)
12.
Darius Bazley Forward
ESPN Interview and Workout Footage
Biggest Strength: Multi Positional
Biggest Weakness: Inexperienced
NBA Comparisons:
Gerald Green (CBS Sports)
Nicolas Batum, Anthony Randolph, Bruno Caboclo (The Ringer)
13.
Kz Okpala Wing
Lance Highlights Scouting Report
Biggest Strength: Playmaking, Defense
Biggest Weakness: Outside Shooting
NBA Comparisons:
Brandon Ingram, Trevor Ariza, Wes Johnson (The Ringer)
14.
Keldon Johnson Forward
Biggest Strength: Power and Agression
Biggest Weakness: Shooting off the Bounce
NBA Comparisons:
Otto Porter Jr., Garrett Temple, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (The Ringer)
15.
Mfiondu Kabengele Center
Biggest Strengths: Shooting, Rim Protection
Biggest Weaknesses: Foul Prone, Passing
NBA Comparisons:
Surge Ibaka (CBS Sports)
Tier three of our Atlanta Hawks Draft board, begins with big man Nic Claxton who is a local product of the Georgia Bulldogs. He has all of the tools desired in today’s big men, with the ability to not only rebound, block shots and finish at the rim, he is also comfortable handing the basketball on the perimeter and distributing to his teammates. His outside shot is a work in progress, but he has seen major improvement. Claxton will take a while to develop physically. When he does fill out his frame, he should be a starting caliber center.
Darius Bazley and KZ Okpala check in at number 12 and number 13 respectively. Both men are versatile forwards who finish well, yet are able to run an offense from the point forward position as well. Bazley is the better shooter of the two, by Okpala is more experienced. I traded back up into round one and selected Bazley in the Atl All Day Mock Draft 3.0. Keldon Johnson who ranks number 14 is a combo forward as well. He’s a better shooter than Bazley and Okpala. He’s also much bigger and stronger. Unlike these two men, he is not a guy who can run an offense as a secondary creator. I feel that’s an important role that the Atlanta Hawks need to fill, that’s why he ranks below Bazley and Kz.
Mfiondu Kabengele rounds out the first half of tier three. He is the nephew of Atlanta Hawks center Dekembe Mutombo. Kabengele is rising up draft boards according to analysts, despite being another prospect who was not a starter for his team. That shows you how valuable a big man who can stretch the floor and protect the rim is in today’s NBA.