The Atlanta Hawks are entering a pivotal stretch in their rebuild, and the decision to trade away Trae Young has opened a new chapter-one that could reshape the franchise for years to come. But while the move has given them flexibility and a fresh direction, the most intriguing piece they now hold might not be what most fans are focusing on.
That coveted first-round pick from the New Orleans Pelicans? It’s a valuable asset, no doubt-but its true worth depends entirely on where it lands.
Right now, New Orleans sits at the bottom of the league standings, which on paper gives Atlanta a shot at a top pick. But if you’ve followed the NBA Draft Lottery over the past few years, you know how unpredictable it can be.
Holding the worst record hasn’t guaranteed the No. 1 pick in quite some time. In fact, more often than not, teams with the highest odds have seen their picks slide down the board.
That’s just the nature of the lottery-it’s a high-stakes gamble, not a sure thing.
So what does that mean for the Hawks? It means they have to be ready for multiple outcomes.
Let’s say they land the third overall pick. That’s still a premium spot, but if top-tier prospects like AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson are already off the board, the front office could face a tough call.
Cam Boozer might be the best available talent at that point-but how would he fit alongside Jalen Johnson, who’s quickly becoming a foundational piece?
That’s where things get tricky. Boozer and Johnson both operate best in similar areas of the floor.
Pairing them could create some positional and spacing issues that stunt the development of one or both players. On the flip side, passing on Boozer for a lower-ranked prospect-just to avoid redundancy-could open the door to second-guessing for years to come.
Draft decisions like this are rarely clean-cut, and the Hawks’ front office will have to balance talent with fit in a very real way.
This is why Atlanta can’t afford to treat that Pelicans’ pick as a guaranteed game-changer. It’s a valuable chip, but it’s not a magic bullet.
The draft rarely unfolds exactly how teams hope, and the Hawks know that as well as anyone. They’ve already shown the courage to make a franchise-altering move by parting ways with Young.
The next step is making sure that courage doesn’t turn into impatience.
Jalen Johnson has earned his spot as a core piece of the rebuild. His growth, versatility, and two-way impact make him someone you build around-not someone whose role you compromise to squeeze in another name.
That means Atlanta’s front office has to be strategic. This draft pick is a big opportunity, yes-but only if it complements what the team is already building.
Fit matters. Identity matters.
And right now, the Hawks are in the process of defining both.
Bottom line: Atlanta is in a strong position. They’ve cleared the deck and set themselves up for long-term success.
But the next move-how they use that Pelicans’ pick-will be crucial. It’s not about chasing the biggest name on the board.
It’s about staying true to the vision they’ve committed to. Because in this league, the teams that win big are the ones that build with purpose, not just potential.