Atlanta Hawks 2025 NBA Mock Draft Roundup 2.0

Bryant has been a fast riser throughout the draft process. The Arizona star could still return for his sophomore season, but it's likely he ends up as a mid-to-late first-round pick next month. Bryant started just five games for Arizona this season, but he has the perfect size to be a wing at the next level. It wouldn't be surprising if he ends up in the lottery.

Sorber's freshman season was cut short due to a season-ending foot injury, but he did look like a first-round pick in the 24 games he appeared in. Sorber showed promise as a solid rim protector after averaging 2.0 blocks per game. His shooting numbers from beyond the arc (16.2%) is one aspect of his game he can improve on.

Traoré, the younger brother of Lakers forward Armel Traoré, was recently named the Champions League Best Young Player for his production with Saint-Quentin. He is currently playing some of his best basketball of the season, averaging 16.6 points, 5.8 assists and 1.6 rebounds on 48.1% shooting from 3-point range over his last five games. Traoré has the potential to be an elite playmaker at the next level, with his feel, instincts and passing, making him a possible option for the Hawks if they look to make roster changes under a new front office.

Sorber is about 10 weeks post-surgery from a foot injury that limited him to 24 games with the Hoyas and will prevent him from working out with teams this draft cycle. He established himself as a dominant presence in the paint with his athleticism and motor, and showed that he can space the floor some. He measured in with an absurd 7-foot, 6-inch wingspan at the combine this week, which would rank among the league leaders. Sorber initially declared for the draft while maintaining his college eligibility, but the All-Big East third-team selection told Andy Katz that he is "all-in" at this point in the process. This pick seems to be his floor at the moment.

Traoré has rebounded well from a tough start to his pro season in France. Over about three months from Jan. 15 to April 6, Traoré averaged 13 points and four assists while shooting 50 percent from the field, 35 percent from 3 and 79 percent from the line. His overall numbers on the year aren't that strong, but it's worth remembering that he's a teenager playing professional basketball for a full season for the first time in his career and leading his team to the cusp of the playoffs as the primary ballhandler at 13-16 on the season. He's also dropped 20-plus points in back-to-back games recently, too.

The Hawks just moved Bogdan Bogdanović this past trade deadline. They do have Caris LeVert, but he's entering free agency. They could use another player in the backcourt who could both play with Trae Young or could back up Young as the lead ballhandler in bench units. That's what they were hoping for with Kobe Bufkin, who has been unable to stay healthy.

Coward is my bet for this year's riser into the first round. This might not be high enough. Coward only played six games this year, but he was lights out in those appearances, averaging 18 points, seven rebounds, four assists and shooting 56 percent from the field, 40 percent from 3 and 84 percent from the line before a shoulder injury knocked him out. I saw Coward work out in Los Angeles in April, and it's hard to overemphasize just how impressive he was. His balance and fluidity athletically are special for a player who is 6-6 with a 7-1 or so wingspan. Everything in the kinetic chain with Coward is perfect. Everything is in one motion and clean with the jumper, with easy, repeatable mechanics to pair with touch. He seems to have added some explosiveness, too. He's a real upside swing for a team in the back half of the first round that wants to bet on his current trajectory.

Coward committed to Duke earlier this week and is a perfect fit there if he chooses to attend. But my opinion is that he will prove himself worthy of staying in the draft.

Pro Comparison: Alperen Sengun

Scouts who thought highly of Derik Queen before the NCAA tournament should only feel more confident after Maryland's Sweet 16 exit. His three three-point makes and 27-point game against No. 1 seed Florida could have only helped turn some of the skeptics.

Queen's skill level, scoring versatility and passing IQ have been strong enough indicators of offensive success that certain teams will be willing to look past his defensive limitations.

Team Fit: Queen is a unique prospect who could really impact the game with a seldom seen blend of size, scoring, vision and feel. He'd give Atlanta another needed half-court option the Hawks can go to, aside from Trae Young.

Pro Comparison: Kyle Anderson, Hedo Turkoglu

Danny Wolf made a strong, final pitch to scouts against Auburn, finishing with 20 points and a number of eye-opening highlights that showcased his creation and shotmaking.

Though his three-point numbers might not indicate shooting improvement, he added a pull-up and step-back to his repertoire this year. A 7-footer who made 21 dribble jumpers, served as Michigan's lead playmaker and still averaged 9.7 boards and 1.4 blocks is bound to entice a number of teams.

Scouting report: Richardson broke through as a surprise one-and-done at Michigan State, earning a major role and impressing with his poise and versatility in the backcourt. There has been some dissonance for evaluators between his strong analytic profile and the eye test, with terrific all-around productivity but average physical tools and some questions as to whether he can handle full-time point guard duties in the long run.

Richardson has plenty of fans among the league's executives, but his range might be a little wider than that of some of the other players projected in this part of the draft. -- Woo

NBA intel and fit: The Hawks made encouraging strides this season, with the additions of Dyson Daniels and Zaccharie Risacher injecting youth and depth into their starting five. Atlanta changed leadership in the offseason and is still searching for a president of basketball operations, but it should be looking to cultivate depth through the draft much the same.

Richardson's feel and versatility at either guard spot would give the Hawks a useful connective option to mix in alongside their young roster. -- Woo

Scouting report: Sorber isn't expected to conduct much on-court activity during the predraft process as he recovers from foot surgery in February. Still, his strong feel for the game, defensive versatility, length, physicality and skill level as a pick-and-roll finisher are attractive qualities at 19 years old that should draw plenty of attention in this portion of the draft. -- Givony

NBA intel and fit: The Hawks acquired the Lakers' pick as part of the Dyson Daniels-Dejounte Murray trade, their second selection in the first round. With Clint Capela an unrestricted free agent, it makes sense for the Hawks to think about drafting a successor to back up Onyeka Okongwu at center. -- Givony

Newell is an athletic play finisher who dunks with power at every opportunity, bullies smaller forwards on the offensive glass, and provides some secondary rim protection. He isn't a good outside shooter yet after hitting 29 percent of his threes, but his stroke looks projectable enough that it should keep improving. He feels a bit caught between positions at 6'9 with a 7-foot wingspan, not big enough to anchor a defense at center or skilled enough to fully play on the perimeter as a big wing. Still, Newell's ability to play with force around the basket is appealing, and if he lands with a gifted facilitator, he could walk into easy buckets just by playing with energy.

Clifford was a five-year college player outside of the power conferences who morphed into one of the best players in the sport this season. Originally a defensive specialist, Clifford got better and better offensively every year, culminating in a star turn in a heavier on-ball role this season. A strong 6'6 wing, Clifford is an active defender and excellent rebounder who plays with physicality and has quick hands. The Rams needed him to create with the ball in his hands this year, and he showed improved passing chops and a developing mid-range game. Clifford isn't a high volume three-point shooter and probably won't get many on-ball reps in the league, but he should be a multi-positional defender who brings toughness at both ends.

Ah, the brilliant playmaker who may or may not score. It's a cruel plight the basketball gods dish out on occasion, but Demin, the huge but skinny and slow-moving BYU guard, can still be able to persevere if he finds a way to score with some consistency. Atlanta is likely in search of a defensive anchor, but Demin could give its offense a steady hand when Trae Young sits, or help bridge to the future should it decide to move on from Trae before he can hit free agency in 2026. Demin is the best overall transition passer in this draft, which should feed splendidly into the strengths of the Hawks' perimeter talent. Star bets feel a bit pie-in-the-sky for the 19-year-old, but his vision and feel for the game are special enough that you take the swing.

My guess is that Sorber won't explode in an obvious way in his NBA career but will rather have the kind of subtle impact that ball knowers and League Pass obsessives love to champion. Sorber can move the ball well for a player of his size. He can also be a presence in the paint and switch onto smaller forwards. He'll quietly garner support because he makes winning plays. The Hawks should entertain pairing this pick with 14 to try to move into the top 10 and make a run at Khaman Maluach, but if they don't, Sorber would address their need for defense in the frontcourt.

Clifford is a true two-way stud who is a 3-and-D weapon ready to contribute for virtually any team with his skill set. He has made steady strides across five college seasons and is ready to contribute from the jump.

Fleming is a glove-in-hand fit for any team with its lead playmaker established. He's a rangy wing who is among the best spot-up shooters in this class and is coming off a big senior season in which he made 37.7% from 3-point range as the alpha at St. Joseph's.

Essengue is a toolsy forward with a fluid handle, dynamic finishing package and highly versatile defensive skill-set. That's why he has significant appeal for the Hawks, because any team could use a 6-foot-9 prospect with upside across the board. But Essengue isn't a consensus top pick because his long-term ability hinges on the jumper clicking. Over three consecutive years, he's gone from a hackable nonshooter to a player making 24.4% of his 3s and 70.1% of his free throws. If it doesn't continue progressing, his defense must keep ascending to a level that prevents Quin Snyder from keeping him off the floor.

Coward has gone from a Division III player to a potential first-round pick in just a few years behind his rapid development into a prospect with a valued 3-and-D skill-set. With his 7-foot-2 wingspan, Coward is one of the fast risers throughout the pre-draft process with team executives from multiple teams believing he won't last until the late first round or the early second as they once had hoped. Even having him going 22nd to the Hawks could be too low since he's a high-floor player with intriguing upside thanks to his passing vision and intriguing pull-up shooting.