A good chunk of Atlanta Hawks fans are focused on the upcoming NBA free agency period as the offseason slowly ramps up. Free agency is the perfect opportunity for teams to upgrade their roster with some fresh faces, and the Hawks certainly need reinforcements after failing to make the playoffs for the second consecutive season.
With that being said, free agency isn't the only important upcoming NBA event. The 2025 NBA draft is set to begin on Wednesday, June 25, and the Hawks are fortunate to have two first-round draft picks to work with (No. 13, 22). Interestingly enough, if the latest free agency rumors are to be believed, Atlanta already knows which direction it will take in this year's draft.
Hawks Expected to Let Clint Capela Leave in FA, Draft Center as Replacement
On Thursday, NBA insider Jake Fischer reported that the Hawks are expected to part ways with veteran center Clint Capela when free agency opens on July 6. The potential of Capela leaving town will likely result in Atlanta using one of its two first-rounders on a big man later this month.
"Rival teams have projected the Hawks as targeting big men with whatever draft slots they ultimately operate from," Fischer wrote.
Capela leaving the Hawks has been a long time coming, to say the least. The former NBA rebounding leader's name has been involved in trade rumors throughout the last few seasons, and a departure from Atlanta seems inevitable now that he'll be an unrestricted free agent in a few short weeks. With fellow big man Larry Nance Jr. also hitting the open market, more frontcourt help will be needed.
Fortunately, the 13th and 22nd overall selections should give the Hawks plenty of opportunities to add a promising center prospect. Maryland's Derik Queen, Georgetown's Thomas Sorber, and Michigan's Danny Wolf are just a few of the talented rebounders Atlanta will have access to in less than two weeks, leaving time to tell if any can make an immediate NBA impact.
Who knows? Perhaps the Hawks will use both first-rounders on frontcourt prospects. Not everyone in the draft is guaranteed to develop successfully, so rolling the dice on two up-and-coming centers might be a better strategy than only drafting one.
At the end of the day, it's encouraging to see the Hawks' offseason take a concrete direction. Replacing Capela with a high-ceiling prospect could be the key ingredient to helping Atlanta end its playoff drought next season.