Why Atlanta Hawks could land their future backcourt and frontcourt in the first round

The Atlanta Hawks enter the upcoming NBA Draft in an interesting position, holding two first-round picks and looking to reshape the future of the franchise following the departure of Trae Young. With the eighth overall selection, one prospect who makes tremendous sense for Atlanta is Mikel Brown Jr., a dynamic lead guard whose offensive creativity could help redefine the Hawks’ backcourt. Meanwhile, with the 23rd overall pick, Atlanta could take a long-term swing on intriguing big man prospect Chris Cenac Jr..

Atlanta’s biggest need is clear: the roster lacks a true floor general capable of consistently organizing the offense, creating advantages in pick-and-roll situations, and generating easy looks for teammates. Brown possesses all the tools to fill that role at a high level.

The 6-foot-5 freshman guard flashed elite offensive upside whenever he was healthy this season. Although a lingering back injury impacted his consistency, Brown still showcased deep shooting range, advanced passing vision, and the ability to collapse defenses. When he found his rhythm, few guards in college basketball were more dangerous. Brown exploded for 45 points with 10 made three-pointers against NC State and consistently displayed elite creativity as a ball-screen playmaker. Some scouts believe he has the upside to become one of the NBA’s best pure facilitators because of his ability to create passing angles others simply do not see.

Cenac Jr. Could be the high-upside frontcourt  gamble the Atlanta Hawks need

At No. 23, Cenac would give Atlanta a completely different type of upside bet. The athletic big man is still raw, but his combination of length, mobility, and shooting touch makes him an intriguing developmental prospect. Cenac owns a massive 7-foot-4 wingspan, shoots comfortably from the perimeter, and improved steadily throughout the season at Houston under coach Kelvin Sampson.

Cenac averaged eight rebounds in only 25 minutes per game and showed flashes of defensive versatility thanks to his fluid movement skills. He also connected on 30 three-pointers this season, hinting at valuable floor-spacing potential as a modern frontcourt player.

There are still concerns about Cenac’s physicality, toughness, and overall feel for the game. He settled too often offensively and struggled to consistently pressure the rim. Defensively, his effort and awareness occasionally fluctuated. Still, the tools are difficult to ignore.

For the Hawks, drafting Brown and Cenac would provide both immediate offensive upside and long-term developmental potential, giving the franchise two important building blocks for the future.