The 2025 NBA Draft is here and Hawks fans are waiting to see how their team is going to follow up the shocking Kristaps Porzingis trade. Since GM Onsi Saleh announced that Atlanta was building around Trae Young for the foreseeable future, how the Hawks were going to build a winner for next season became the most important question.
That is why Atlanta's No. 13 pick became so critical. One name that Atlanta was connected to over the last few weeks was BYU standout Egor Demin. This raised concern among Hawks fans who were worried about the 19-year-old's fit in Atlanta. As talented as Demin is, he is a ball-dominant perimeter player who can't shoot, making him a poor fit next to Young.
Nets Save Hawks from Themselves by Selecting BYU's Egor Demin
Fortunately, the Hawks were saved by an Eastern Conference rival. Only a day after helping Atlanta out in the three-team deal that landed the Hawks Kristaps Porzingis, the Nets reached for Demin with their eighth-overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Demin being off the board will help the Hawks with their selection at No. 13. Even though Atlanta needs more shot creation and ball handling next to Young, they need that player to be able to shoot.
The Hawks already have Dyson Daniels in the backcourt and Jalen Johnson and Zaccharie Risacher on the wings. While Daniels and Johnson are improved shooters, they are still works in progress, and Risacher still has ways to go as an overall offensive player. Instead of a raw prospect who needs significant strides as a scorer and shooter like Demin, the Hawks will be better off investing their resources elsewhere.