NBA Mock Draft 3.0: Draft using the current NBA lottery position
Detroit Pistons Mock Draft 3.0: Pick No. 19
125. Power Forward. Usman Garuba. 19. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Real Madrid (Spain)/ Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks are one of the surprise teams this season and could go a number of directions with this pick.
They are a middling offense, so could try to grab another shooter, but their defense needs more help, which is why they could reach for a guy like Garuba, who is a defensive-minded forward who will come into the league ready to at least block shots and run the floor.
He has good hands and a long wingspan, so should be able to affect shots and give the Hawks a defender off the bench.
The Hawks could lose John Collins in free agency, which would be a big blow and while Garuba is not in his league as a scorer, he could pick up some of that slack on the defensive end, won’t need the ball in his hands to be effective and will hustle and play with the intensity that the Hawks sometime lack on defense.