Hawks Reportedly Have Called Teams With Top-5 NBA Draft Pick, Seek Center
The Atlanta Hawks are actively seeking a center and have reportedly reached out to teams with top-five picks in Wednesday’s NBA Draft in hopes of trading up from the No. 13 pick, per Yahoo Sports Kevin O'Connor.
If the Hawks are unable to trade up, Kevin O’Connor projects they’ll select French prospect Joan Beringer—a 6-foot-10, 18-year-old rising talent who only started playing basketball three years ago but has already drawn comparisons to Clint Capela.
Meanwhile, in Bleacher Report’s final mock draft, Jonathan Wasserman predicted Atlanta will take Kasparas Jakucionis, a 6-foot-5 guard out of Illinois.
Jakucionis averaged 15.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists while shooting 44 percent from the field in his lone college season, leading Illinois in both points and assists.
Though he plays a different position than the Hawks’ primary need, Atlanta may take Jakucionis as the best player on the board if they remain at No. 13.
"If Khaman Maluach, Derik Queen and Asa Newell are gone, they'll likely just focus on drafting the best player on their board, regardless of position," Wasserman wrote. "Kasparas Jakucionis could either give Atlanta backcourt depth or another ball-handler with enough skill versatility, size and shotmaking to play off the ball next to Trae Young.
The 2025 NBA Draft is set to kick off on Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. ET.
