The Atlanta Hawks are in a fascinating position right now - one that demands patience, not panic. With a potential franchise-altering draft pick looming and a young core that’s starting to find its rhythm, Atlanta should think twice before making a blockbuster move for Anthony Davis. There’s a compelling case to be made that the next AD might already be on his way to the Hawks - and at a fraction of the cost.
Let’s rewind to draft night. Atlanta made a move that flew under the radar at the time but is aging like fine wine.
The Hawks landed the rights to the New Orleans Pelicans’ first-round pick this season - a pick that comes via a swap with the Milwaukee Bucks. As things stand today, both the Pelicans and Bucks are lottery-bound, which gives Atlanta the best current odds of landing the No. 1 overall selection in this year’s draft.
And if they do end up with that top pick? Duke freshman Cameron Boozer is the name to know.
Boozer, the son of longtime NBA veteran Carlos Boozer, has been turning heads all season. He’s not just holding his own as an 18-year-old in college basketball - he’s dominating.
Boozer has been the best player in the country as a freshman, and that’s not hyperbole. That kind of production at his age is rare, and history tells us that players who shine this early often go on to become stars at the next level.
What makes Boozer such a tantalizing fit for Atlanta is how complete his game already is. He’s a high-IQ forward with no glaring weaknesses - a versatile defender, a polished scorer, and a player who can stretch the floor. He’d instantly upgrade Atlanta’s interior presence, which has been one of the team’s biggest question marks all year.
And here’s where the comparison to Anthony Davis comes in - because stylistically and situationally, Boozer mirrors a young AD in a lot of ways. Both were dominant freshman bigs with elite defensive instincts, fluid athleticism, and the ability to impact the game on both ends. Boozer might not be the exact same player, but the parallels are hard to ignore.
Now, let’s talk about the elephant in the room: Davis himself.
On paper, the idea of adding a player like Anthony Davis - a perennial All-Star and one of the best two-way bigs in the league when healthy - sounds like a no-brainer. But context matters.
Davis is 32, in the first year of a three-year, $175 million contract, and currently dealing with a hand injury. His injury history is well-documented, and while his talent is undeniable, so is the risk.
Contrast that with Boozer, who would come in on a rookie-scale deal projected to start at $11.5 million - less than one-fifth of Davis’s salary next season. He also comes with a clean bill of health and years of upside ahead of him.
Sure, Davis would be the better player out of the gate, but Boozer’s basketball IQ and feel for the game are advanced beyond his years. His learning curve is expected to be short, and his ceiling is sky-high.
Even if the Hawks could acquire Davis for pennies on the dollar - and that’s a big “if” - it’s hard to justify the move. Why jeopardize a young, ascending core that could feature Boozer and Jalen Johnson, who’s blossoming into a legitimate two-way threat, just to bring in a veteran with a long injury history and a massive contract?
This is a moment that calls for discipline. The Hawks are in a position to build something sustainable, something special. Chasing a short-term splash like Davis might feel tempting, but it could derail what’s shaping up to be a promising long-term vision.
Atlanta has a chance to land a cornerstone piece in Boozer - a player who could define the next decade of Hawks basketball. That’s not the kind of opportunity you throw away for a quick fix. The smart play here is to stay the course, trust the process, and let the chips fall where they may come draft night.