2024 NBA Mock Draft: Who are the Hawks Selecting in ESPN's Latest Mock Draft?

The Hawks could have as many as two first-round picks in the upcoming NBA Draft

The NBA All-Star break is nearing its end and that means the final push for the playoffs is soon to begin. For some teams though, this next part of the season will be about getting more ping pong balls for the 2024 NBA Draft Lottery to try and improve their odds. 

The Hawks are a team that is not actively trying to improve their lottery odds, but they are in the top ten as the standings currently sit and while the Hawks likely won't move up much more in the lottery odds, it is unlikely they improve their actual place in the standings that much either. 

So if the Hawks do land in the top ten of the 2024 NBA Draft, who could the Hawks take? According to the latest mock draft from ESPN's Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo, the Hawks are landing one of the most talented prospects in the draft, G-League Ignite's Ron Holland. Holland has been as high as the top five in some mock drafts, but a thumb injury that will sideline him for the rest of the season could cause him to drop a few spots in the draft. 

Ingite forward Ron Holland told @andscape at the latest taping of his season diary today that he will miss rest of season out of caution to protect his injured right thumb. The elite 2024 NBA Draft prospect is expected to make a full recovery and have a full pre-draft involvement pic.twitter.com/D7i9DIBZrq

— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) February 17, 2024

Holland averaged 20.6 points on 44.3 percent shooting, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.5 steals in 14 games for the Ignite.

This would be an interesting selection for the Hawks. Most draft analysts are not high on this draft, but having a potential top-five pick like Holland fall to ten could be huge for the Hawks. They benefitted from Jalen Johnson falling to them in the 2021 NBA Draft and now Johnson has turned into one of the most improved players in the NBA and one of the cornerstone players for the Hawks's future. 

The Hawks could potentially have two first-round picks this summer, due to the Kevin Huerter trade. If the Kings make the playoffs, Atlanta will get their first-round pick. In the ESPN mock draft though, they have Sacramento missing the playoffs, meaning they get to keep their pick. 

The most recent mock drafts have had the Hawks taking some high-upside prospects. 

Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman is one of the top NBA draft analysts out there. He released his new mock draft last week and it had the Hawks taking a pair of intriguing prospects, including one prospect who used to be mocked at the top of drafts.

With the 10th pick, Wasserman has the Hawks taking Baylor guard Ja'Kobe Walter, a 6'5 195 LBS prospect. Here is what he had to say about the potential of the Hawks taking Walter:

"Ja'Kobe Walter was convincing enough through two months to afford the current slump he's in. Scouts still see an NBA shot-maker with promising defensive tools.

The real questions here focus on his lack of creation, playmaking and versatility. It reduces his margin for error as a shooter, and he's only made 23.7 percent of his threes over Baylor's last 10 games.

NBA teams still figure to value the made shots and eye test over the percentages. Walter is still averaging 2.0 threes per game, drilling jumpers off spot-ups and movement and showing the ability to attack through contact or use floaters."

Hawks Land Isaiah Collier and Ja'Kobe Walter In the Latest 2024 Mock Draft

With the 19th pick (the Kings pick), Wasserman has the Hawks taking USC point guard Isaiah Collier. Here is what Wasserman had to say about Collier being mocked to Atlanta:

"After missing nearly a month, Isaiah Collier returned to draw 31 free-throw attempts in his first two games back. It sums up his style, elusiveness and physicality.

From an NBA scouting standpoint, his most coveted strength is his ability to put pressure on the defense with shifty ball-handling, quickness and power. Scouts just have concerns over how his limited shooting range and decision-making will affect his value as a ball-dominant guard.

Collier figures to start his career as a backup, playing to his strengths as a driver and playmaker while he works on his jumper and learns to read the game."

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