NBA Draft 2024, Atlanta Hawks, No. 1 pick, Zaccharie Risacher, Alex Sarr, and Reed Sheppard (Part 2)

NBA Draft 2024, Atlanta Hawks, No. 1 pick, Zaccharie Risacher, Alex Sarr, and Reed Sheppard (Part 2)

on today’s show it is part two of two with Tyler Jones a good fan favorite of the podcast also one of the co-hosts of atl1 129 we’re talking all things NBA draft number one overall pick and more and all that is coming up you are locked on Hawks your daily Atlanta Hawks podcast part of the locked on podcast Network your team every day Hello friends welcome to episode 1748 of a loton hawks podcast I am your host Brad Rolan coming to you on a Monday evening into Tuesday during the week of the NBA draft and today’s podcast is brought by the folks at FanDuel Sportsbook this summer FanDuel is hooking us all up yes all of us all customers with a boost or bonus that’s right there’s something for everybody every day all summer long at FanDuel and the place to go is fanduel.com lockon to get started also want to encourage you to tell your friends about the podcast also to find us each and every day and listen And subscribe to the show on Apple Spotify we’re also on YouTube and the everday Club is always something you should be joining to support the podcast Today’s Show is actually going to be part two of two with myself and Tyler Jones so if you missed part one I highly recommend listening to part one before part two it should be available in your same podcast feed right now if you already listen to that we’ll come back to part two and we’ll dive back in myself and Tower Jones here we go so you’re really high on clinging we’ve establish that I’m gonna throw the curve ball we’re not going to do SAR next let’s talk about Reese shet for a second because Rec as I alluded to earlier is now the betting favorite to go number one overall um I I will get into more of this on the last show on Tuesday before the draft but I don’t I don’t have res that high I think I think you like him more than I do based on our discussions uh I know our guy Andrew Kelly likes him more than I do for instance um there is a split on him it seems like the mainstream slash the NBA or high arm rese than the internet happens to be nothing wrong with that just the way it is but uh what’s your reaction if they draft re because that I think right now if you were to go to FanDuel and place a bet the most likely scenario is is projected to be that so like let’s just talk about that for a second what’s your reaction to do that I know Twitter gonna be blowing up it would be quite a reaction I agree it’s very funny how people just don’t like him um I like him uh I think I like the shot I’ve always liked the shot it just looks great uh it looks great out of his hands he has improved that quite a bit this is offshoot but I talk to Sam SC about this on the show actually his numbers and I’m guilty of this too his numbers before this year as a shooter were not that good and he changes mechanics which I think I forgot to mention a few times like his mechanics look a lot better now than they did two years ago and that might just be what it is now I I should at least knowledge that because I have brought up the old shooting as like maybe a bit of a warning sign without noting that the mechanics did change which is uh important here here’s the thing if a if a a basketball player who’s played like what over 65 games in the past season and shot 40% from three on decent volume not Elite volume we we’ll talk about that later but on decent volume yeah like if if if we’re just gonna be like uh I don’t know about the shooting then we’re just gonna do that about every PRP like we’re literally gonna do that about every Prospect like it’s it’s a good point i’ I’ve tried to nitpick a little bit no no it’s a good point I’m glad you said that because I’ve tried to nitpick it a little bit because the previous sample wasn’t very good and even this year like he was really really hot really really cold and really really hot again which I think does you know over the the sample matters more I mean it matters more that sounds like bie like you know that’s true that’s a fair point stretches and then he he gets cold for a month like Paul George did does it as well like Elite this this just what happen with Shooters play playoff playoff PE yes even like you know Elite Shooters go through stretches where they they’re hot and cold like Trey young does it no that’s a I’m glad you said I’m glad you said you know what that was a positive Point by you thank you for that too Nega what what if I’m if I’m a Zach ree doubter is the volume wasn’t there but I would only counter from me watching about five or six of his games is that his role was never going to be in a he was never going to be put in a situation where he’s gonna get over 10 plus threes per 100 possession no he wasn’t in a b that’s just not not the not the role he was in and also that’s not how they play in the French league like the the offense they were running this isn’t the offense they’re gonna run in the NBA so like this is where this is where I get bothered by like a lot of people just downplaying his talent because I’m like guys the offense they were running in France ain’t the offense they’re gonna run in Atlanta or you know anywhere in the NBA no team Brad um because I I was watching Sam Sam and um why am I blanking on my man’s name for the Detroit was it Bryce Bryce S Bry yes apologies um when they were breaking down his game they were talking about how the defense was was basically ignoring him or whatever like how he got 28 points large part because they weren’t really they were helping off other players but my only counter is that the European game that’s how they play defense they always help off the shorts side corner you know how I know that because bogy does it every damn time in the NBA and I lose my mind I’m like bie this is the NBA this is not EUR League son you can’t leave the guy open in the short Corner the NBA if teams and also he would he would be open and they wouldn’t pass him the ball I’m like look yeah if if if Trey young is playing with somebody who with the shooting Talent of Reay and teams were willing leaving him Trey was would hit aead pass teams out of oil Oblivion like he would getting better shooting rhythms if he’s playing in the NBA based on the level of talent of shooter that he to me he’s shown just based on the shot like to me I don’t like I really don’t care about the what guy shoots I care about the shot form the shot release how fast he gets it off and that’s what impresses me about reee that’s why I’m like okay the shots there I’m impressed by the functional athleticism on a on on a basketball floor the combine numbers don’t bother me no I don’t care about that either he had no time to train for that no really that’s something the league by the way not to say that not to appeal to Authority because the league you know the league is sometimes wrong but I haven’t talked to anybody around the league that’s worried about that like no no one thinks he’s a great a like a great athlete because he’s not he’s not a super Twitchy guy but he is um functionally athletic he’s a fluid athlete and he’s fast and like I’m like he’s willing to jump off either foot for dunks like that’s that’s a level of functional athleticism most guy most basketball players do not have totally he’s a totally fine athlete I’m not worried about that really at all um you know the count the counter would be on offense and look if you think he’s gonna shoot doesn’t really matter I think he has to shoot is the only the only thing I’m a little bit I’m a little scared of is that I don’t know what I don’t know what pivots if he’s only an okay shooter you know what I mean like I don’t the secondary skills are not non-existent like I think that uh his passing’s kind of been downplayed I think he feels the game pretty well um not going to be like a huge hell of a creater but I think he he makes the right I to me I think in a in a different context I think a lot of his skills will pop more I do understand the concerns because like the the the metrics aren’t there but like well he’s also not he’s just let’s just be real yeah he’s not he’s not an on ball player no he’s not and that that alone and I’m intentionally doing that broadly but that alone will turn a lot of people off at this at this high of a place in the draft and even I don’t know about I don’t know about gavone because he loves him but like even people that love Ray will acknowledge he is not a typical number one overall pick he’s just not like and that’s okay this class is a curve at the top it just is for all these guys but like you don’t often see a guy that is now flat out projected to go number one on the mock that I’m seeing in the Betty Market Etc who is not an onall player how often does that happen Tyler not very often it’s a very very rare thing to have happen and it’s funny because you you know me very well I’m kind of prone to appreciate R’s game More Than A lot of people are like I I don’t I’m not like the yay Points Guy I’m not the like you have to have a bag to succeed guy like I like the little things he does a lot and it’s just weird because this is not the play it’s like my brain can’t allow me to think this is a number one overall pick it’s not it’s not it’s not a problem with him it’s just it’s this class and the adjustment and there is a premium to be had though on these six nine Wings who can shoot and defend and I’m I always use that little phrase but it is 100% true if you’re a 69ine wing and people like your shooting and you can hold defensively that is going to be a good play yep that’s the appeal Today’s Show is brought to you by FanDuel sports book and summertime means baseball basketball and much more you can bet it all at FanDuel sports book fandel was americ America’s number one sports book and this summer fandel was picking up all customers with a boost or a bonus daily yes daily that’s right there’s something for everyone every day all summer long but on all your favorite players and team with quick bets and live same game parlays exclusive props and much more FAL Sportsbook app is really easy to use and they have everything that you’re looking for in the sports betting space over unders point spreads money lines player props future bets and much more the app is safe it’s secure and they cover the entire range of sports as well that includes the NBA of course WNBA NFL college football MLB golf tennis soccer auto racing boxing MMA and so much more and now is an awesome time sign with the folks at fandel Sportsbook and the place to go is fanduel.com lockon one more time just visit fanduel.com locked on and start making the most out of your summer with FanDuel official Bing partner of Major League Baseball I’m I’m G be honest ISO ball can like ISO ball I don’t care for but also on ball shot creation can be developed like that especially if in a proper like environment I think he can get there I I I I I’m not I do get the concerns about it it’s just just like it like to me I would have liked to seen more out of the FEA 19 if if I’m gonna be concerned about Ray he wasn’t show he wasn’t dominating FEA 19s and he wasn’t Domina he did he’s never dominated his age group a year ago people I wasn’t there I wasn’t there but hoop Summit people that were there at the uh the annual uh game in is it Portland I think it’s Portland yeah uh people were very unimpressed by him that’s only a year ago but that’s to your point against his age group his level competition like we just said he he had a really good year after that but that’s only a year ago people like that I trust like I think Sam said on the show he was like I didn’t like him at poop something like at all like he was just like out there even this even like less than a year ago he played some games like in J you know earlier this year where people were like watching like oh that’s supposed to be a prospect and not not in a bad you know not in a like he was terrible way but more like he was kind of in an invisible way and that’s kind of that’s more the concern yeah and like that’s the role that he was in but like right no I agree with I get it and I and I get Hulk’s fans being like adverse to this type of player um I you know I’m not you’re you’re gonna love this Tyler you’re gon you’re gonna love this I got a question I got a question today in my DMs that was basically like my Hawks group chat keeps comparing Reese trated DeAndre Hunter what can I tell them and he’s a real athlete one well he’s he’s an actual NBA athlete not whatever the hell DeAndre Hunter thinks I didn’t mean to I didn’t mean to trigger you no no no I’m triggered now I’m triggered now because I I hear this to it I’m like yeah yeah y y’all seen DeAndre Hunter jump for alyu before yeah that’s a they’re they’re also and even Beyond even Beyond I know this triggers you about DeAndre even beyond that they’re just very different players I understand like they play the same position and they’re both like not on ball creators I get they’re just very different players like for instance here’s one example right Ray is an off ball player I don’t mean that a negative way but like he moves well off the ball like he’s used to playing off the ball he’s used to making these catch and shoots on the Move Hunter do Hunter’s never done that even when I liked Hunter a lot as a prospect he never did that it’s always been the robotic thing with him he catches he holds he he’s still doing that now um defensively right ret and Hunter both had good defensive pedigree coming in ret is way more like slithery like he’s shown a lot of like Get Around screens and like he can be a little bit more of a Team Defender R is I think for me anyway one of his one of my favorite trits about R is his team defense like he he just knows where to be he reads especially early on his career Hunter had no clue what to do two defense he was built as the on ball stopper guy so as prospects I get it same range same position same team which is why it’s coming up hawks fers just they’re thinking PTSD of this guy that they that’s on their team that now they don’t like very much but if you go a half step away they’re really not similar I know and I get the positional thing they’re really not similar players like at all cam reddish would probably be a better I I think that it’s better I think it actually is better although cam cam did more of the on ball cam did more of the I think I’m an on ball player thing than R does um to his detriment by the way cam couldn’t do that at the NBA level but he thought he could and Cam’s biggest issue is that he can’t shoot like that’s just it’s he never it never came for cim I agree I mean it might one day come but like he just isn’t yeah I should say it hasn’t yet his inability to consistently make open jump shots is what’s it’s what’s really hampered his career because like defensively he’s kind of gotten there uh and I feel like re is kind of similar similar build similar like that slithery that’s more Hunter again not to trigger you uh Hunter is that more bu more bulky he’s got the shoulders it’s it’s more boxy re is much more slithery and functional and fluid hun no one has ever said the hunter is fluid no one ever I’ve seen Reay also like do things like tip rebounds to his teammates un unheard of concept within the Atlanta Hawk organization I don’t I want to stick I the rebounding thing from Hawks fans I don’t get this I don’t get dismissing rebounding like well and you and I are both old enough remember this you remember the when people really really really did not like Al Horford because he couldn’t rebound because I remember that vividly I mean what sucks about Al Horford is he was a good rebounder until the two P but but you know what I’m saying though there was this whole like fiveyear discussion about Alford playing Center and that he couldn’t rebound and it’s like okay that happened for a guy who was a proven All-Star at that point people people were but now you’re right people don’t seem to bring it up anymore number one I’m not going to do the capella thing but capella great rebound Cap’s on the team because Capella’s on the team we just we just me we just don’t realize when Capella’s out the game they so we’re gonna talk about SAR I guess we could probably do that now a little bit SAR right now I’m not saying he can’t be a rebounder but right now is a bad rebounder he just is he’s not a great rebounder and how much do you care about that uh positionally all that stuff and correct me if I’m wrong Tyler I don’t think you dislike s I’m sure people that read your Twitter people that read your Twitter are gon think you’re out on that’s the funny thing I I would be fine the Hawks pick him you and I have talked more offline I think if you only look at Twitter people be like wow he’s not really high on S at all and I think you like him uh but okay I know you like flinging more we’ve already s we we sort of alluded to that already uh what do you make of this whole sard thing because I intentionally held this off with you until now there’s so many things going on here between the Wizards thing they reportedly want the wizards and no sense but there’s that there’s the positional thing he if you even if you watch him he does not act like a center on offense at the very least on the floor he plays like he plays like he wants to be a perimeter player there’s that uh everyone agrees I think for the most part the defense is potentially special potentially abolutely not saying he’s gonna be there but it’s the the traits the traits there are really really good I’m being broad but like what do you think of him and look you already sort of gave it away and that I was going to ask you what you would think if the Hawks picked him number one kind of out of not out of nowhere but in a mild surprise as of right now it would be a mild surprise if he was if he was the pick based on all the Intel out there not because of the player what do you think of that if they did it I I would think the Hawks are comfortable with him coming off the bench and maybe uh playing some g-league games at least if they want to develop him offensively like I I people gonna flame me for it but I need offensively he is a mess like I I would use the term work in progress there are um there are things he does on offense where I’m like well this no real team is trying to win games is gonna let him do this like I have a secret for you that might be why he wants to go to Washington exactly and that’s this is why he wants to go to Washington because like I’m like okay he’s only come comfortable like and the the the primary issue with him on the offensive end he’s truly only comfortable with the ball in his hands at the top of the key where he’s get where he’s able to go downhill on a player and beats them with speed to the rim or like he’s able to like get on balance and take a a a mid-range jump shot like a lot like a lot of it honestly like his um mid-range jump shooting kind of reminds me a lot of LaMarcus Aldridge uh just how he’s able to rise up over his Defender and constantly like as long as he’s on balance his issue is like he strug he really does struggle with balance like I I that’s something that’s something Andrew Kelly um really brought to my attention with John Collins Way Back win where he always talked about how John’s always on the floor because he’s always falling down and I had considered that it’s not not that he’s getting foul is just that he has a hard time maintaining his Core Balance when he’s up in the air and it’s to knock him back back you know away the difference between John Collins Alexs John Collins had truly Elite Touch where SARS touch is like it’s not the best right now like not that can’t be better it’s it’s pretty it’s honestly pretty good well I should say it’s pretty good touch but it’s not a elite touch it’s not Elite it’s not and it’s important that it’s not a leite touch for him because he doesn’t dunk the ball like or like he doesn’t he doesn’t like he doesn’t catch Ali oops and he doesn’t like this is one of those things you’re not see you’re not gonna see highlights of alexar just going full length of the floor dunking it like Mo gay does I’m so glad you w this up so not to cut you off but it’s it’s it’s part of this conversation right I see this all the time and I’m not picking on fans because I’m sure they haven’t watched a ton of them they’re seeing highlights I get all that and and they see the measurables if you watch out he doesn’t really run pick and roll and dive to the rim like there’s this thought about this there’s this thought out there that I get all the time I mentions that’s like oh he’s just G he’s gonna be this lob finisher and all this Rim Runner no he’s he’s not a rim Runner now he could he be in the future sure but he’s not a honestly given what his rep is he’s not a fantastic vertical athlete no like he’s a pretty good athlete and obviously he’s 74 Wings SP all those things but he’s not a like go to the to the square and catches High lob from Trey young kind of guy right now or nor is he like an endtoend like game wrecker like in transition like Jaylen you know what I mean he’s not doing that kind of stuff it’s functional on on the bright side he can kind of finish when he does when he has these he has these kind of special looking finishes that are really really really encouraging when they happen but they’re not Above the Rim finishes they’re like multi move it’s very Pascal sakami yep where it’s like he gets the defender off balance and then he lays it up around or or or above them with his well and and the the the more lofty comparison that I’ve heard is it can kind of look like Giannis does sometimes now he’s not Giannis nor is he jannis physically that’s what I mean the time what I was gonna say is it’s the times when Giannis can’t get all the way there and dunk yeah when he makes those like twep moves and he covers so much ground given how long he is but jannis is stronger of course SAR is gonna get stronger he’s 19 years old he’s gonna get stronger but Giannis ballooned to the point where his shoulders will he’ll just knock you off your spot that’s a huge development that he had but also to your point you just said jannis is dunking those and maybe SAR will but right now there’s this thought process of like he’s gonna be this this pick and roll threat and all no he doesn’t really play pick and roll as what he does he pops he’s not a roll guy at all right now consistent popper and I don’t like I don’t like his catch and shoot jump shot right now like it’s I think the form is bad he’ll He he’ll take them which I’m encouraged by but I generally agree with you I I I’m like but and I think John Hollinger because John and uh Nate Duncan podcast I I think he brought the point up that he felt like Sor shot so much because he had to shoot it just because he wasn’t doing anything else in the half court you know it’s like if he’s not gonna be a a role man uh though again like he flash he flashes skill as as like in the short role but like rolling to the rim because like they they had Bryce cotton like Bryce Cotton’s a very good three-point shooter guard you know operating the pick and roll with and I’m like I’m watching these games they’re never running just straight pick and roll with Bryce cotton who who will bomb from like 28 plus feet diving to the rim like they don’t do that and honestly I think especially Hawks fans it’s a hawks podcast of course people are kind of envisioning what Trey and JN used to look like or what Trey and a younger capella looked like when it was like spam pick and roll and those guys were rolling into the rim all the time that’s just not the way star plays and he might he might become that eventually but I think people are kind of projecting that onto him because of Atlanta and look I have made this point and I I think you’ll agree I I understand more than you do why he want to go to Washington for the blank slate aspect now that’s that could be a red flag too like when I think they might know it’s a red flag to me it’s a red flag to me when you I get let me let me bring why why I think it is go ahead so you reading up on SAR one he was in the real M Real Madrid like development system then he left for OT for two years and like his OT like numbers weren’t that good I mean they were you know I it’s hard to gauge what OT is is those numbers are largely useless but but I’m like I’m just say I’m I’m like you know I felt like NBL was the first time he was finally playing like real basketball for a change where he’s in a real role what what’s going to look like at a professional level um and running you know professional you know offenses and he just look he just looked he looked like somebody who hadn’t been doing it for his like Who had who had not been a center which is you know whatever uh but like it it to me it felt like his agency and his team kind of knew knew what his strengths and weaknesses were and they put they put him in a location where he’d be coming off the bench playing less than 20 minutes a game for a good team but he wouldn’t be he would never play center by the way like he didn’t play center that often for Perth NOP so he’s always in these two big lineups where he’s kind of insulated on both ends from the physicality that you need from your Center so like that that’s kind of my thing with SAR is like and I would still be okay with taking him one that’s how special I think his defense is I want to be clear here I would still even with all these if you were willing to meet with the Hawks him not willing to like him not willing to even talk to these you know to the hulks like there’s a level of do you not want to improve on your weaknesses do like do you not want to face like hey if if you can do the big man things well then your your win skills will truly pop like at a higher level if you’re able to like just do the set hard screens roll to the rim be a threat there then teams have to defend you differently now all of a sudden you’re you’re um your dribble packages your your you know your drive packages will will play up better like at least that’s that’s how my thought process is and then on on the defensive end you know you more would be demanded of you you wouldn’t just be in the Robert williamss Ro which respect to Robert Williams who is a very good player for the Celtics he was never anchoring their defense like he was always playing off of Al hor for or another Center and it is a little bit easier I mean that’s the thing like it’s just easier to do it’s easier to make that type of imp that’s why like like when when jiren Jackson won that DP I was like what are we doing here yeah like respected jiren but Stephen Adams was the one doing all the hard work he’s and and off and offensively too like there’s this I know you mentioned it but like yes and it because they don’t they don’t I don’t think that his Camp believes that he’s gonna be a long-term Center that’s part of this and if he’s a if he’s a four long term which I’m not ruling out but if he’s a four long term his offense is even further away yeah to me like his offense works better if he’s a center Absolut if he’s a full-time four unless you’re playing him with like the best possible you know let’s just say Brook Lopez like the the the two guys in league porzingis and Brook Lopez bomb centers honestly yeah por you know what I mean one one are the two three guys in the leag that are actually like bomber shooters from Center which is like yeah same with John Collins a guy that we both like it would have been great if John could play with could play with Brook Lopez or could play with porzingis but but he can’t there’s only two or three only two or three guys that that can actually do that role so it’s just weird to me I and I think also I know I’ll be accused of being a Trey Bay that’s fine wouldn’t you want to play with Trey young I I feel like Trey young for all his look no matter what you think about Trey young and I know people have kind of given up or whatever it is his people have soured that’s for another discussion one thing I think we can agree on if you’ve watched a lot of Trey young in his career is that every single big man he has ever played with has had better numbers with try young every single one every single one Alex Lynn Dwayne deadmond Damien Jones Clint capella Ana kongu John Collins I can go on Clint capella play with James by the way guys and like I thought Clint offense like the pick and rolles with Trey and Clint are were just better statistically than anything he and James Harden were doing I mean the be the best the best I know I know it’s a long time ago now people weren’t paying attention that that much back then but the best argument is the guys I mentioned at the beginning of that you’re Alex Len Dwayne Deb and Damen Jones types Trey got them second third contracts because they were so good in the pick and role Damen Jones was able to play probably two more years in the NBA than he probably should have because some Trey and I don’t mean that like in a way where you have to we don’t have to be silly about Trey I’m not saying he’s the best part in League he’s not but if you’re a big a limited offensive big man and you’re you’d rather go play with a with not Trey young in a situation in in Washington where they have some guys I like but they don’t have a point guard or anything close to a point guard that you are that they’re building with long term if I’m Alex are like I think I’m an I would hope that someone’s told him like hey Alex you might need to Anchor yourself to a guy who can who could give you the ball set you up well and I mean look okay while we’re here you like Jaylen I like Jaylen you mentioned start coming off the bench um that’s a if they draft him we’ll talk about it even more but I do not believe and I said this before that if uh opening night in October if the Hawks draft alexar that he will be one of their two best bigs to be starting on opening night he would because that’s the reality now there are politics involved number overall in a way that they’re not at number 10 overall I get that too uh but you know who like alexar is not going to be better than than a kongu in October he’s just not no matter put Clint to the side they might trade Clint Clint’s a whole different but even just on the team right now aong and Jaylen jaylen’s obviously a lot better than SARS right now today so like you okay you want to start him that’s fine but it’s maybe that’s why maybe it’s as simple as that and I I don’t agree with it could be it could be as simple as am might start and you’re like probably not just because we don’t trust you at center right now well and credit to the Hawks for not lying about it if they if that conversation happen because that would be a lie yeah I mean I feel like they Pro the agency and the hwks probably been like he wouldn’t he wouldn’t start over jayen there’s just no CH like well no chance I hear I hear you know it’s one of those things where it’s like you hear Sam talk about like he thinks a saw would be a great parent I’m like I agree I agree when s is coming off the bench for Jaylen Johnson because no I liked uh just for everybody that missed it by the way you should listen to this podcast that I had s we’ talked about we’ve talked but we have we have but I just to reference that as you brought it up Sam’s Point was basically you could have a heck of a three-headed front Court monster with jayen sawar and a Kong wo where you could play a lot of your minutes with those three guys and I agree that would work but the politics involved if he drafts Alex AR number one is he going to be okay coming off the bench for a year or two like maybe not and also you know even with not to go back to kinging who you I know you love I don’t know if they’re going to start clinging at Center on opening night I assume they probably will I think just to get back to kingan only reason why I think they will is because I think cing if they draft kingan they’re able to trade their cers for non- centers also a lot more this is something say they’re just able to do more stuff that but that’s a power for another day I don’t want it no it is but it’s also it’s a lot more projectable which I’m not saying this is why you draft him because I am a big proponent of you do not draft for rookie Seasons but kingan is so much more likely to be pretty good as a rookie than hawks are it’s not even a discussion in my opinion but but beyond that there’s no like Middle Ground if the Hawks love kinging to the point where they draft him number one or trade down a spot or two and take him on purpose and that’s their guy there’s no mystery he is your long-term starting center from that moment on the moment he is drafted he is the guy you write pen at Center doesn’t mean doesn’t mean it’s going to work but you are hitching Your Wagon to Don cling as our center Long Term what does that mean for a Kongo that’s a whole different discussion we’ll have later on if it happens but wasar it’s way less clear it’s like we might be drafting him thinking he’s our long-term Center we might be drafting him thinking he can do a little bit of both um there’s this thought that I don’t think is crazy about jayen playing more at the three that’s not impossible to see but the Hawks to this point view I’m GNA be honest with you I would rather Jaylen play the centered position than the three I said that I said that on P I said that on patreon one night when there was this whole discussion happening online and we won’t do it now about Jaylen playing the two and I was like okay put this put this to the side Jaylen has played considerably considerably more Center in his professional career than he has played at the three even the three because ibody I know nobody watched it but in the g- league he was playing Center like regularly and I think the hulks can’t construct lineups with Jaylen at Center that could work potentially but again that’s a power for another but but but they probably won’t anyway it doesn’t matter but we said a lot those are the three guys that we talked about and again I think everyone in the league will be shocked if it’s not one of those three unless it’s a trade down to at least three or four um we don’t have to keep going super long but anything else you want to hit on before we get out of here I want Reed Shepard just real quick just because um that would be the pick where they might that’s if they take Reed shepher I’m like okay they might be serious about trading Trey young I was gonna say the only way that that that’s my my point to every every time I do a pod that’s not my own and it comes up I’m like okay I like Reed Shepard quite a bit the only reason why I’m not more actively talking about Reed Shepard is because of Trey I don’t think they can I don’t think they can take Reed Shepard with the plan of Trey Young still being here I think I think they but you know I say that but I think they might be able to but they’re going to have to revamp this roster considerably well well yeah maybe there’s a way and look just to be clear re defense is actually gonna be fine I think I’m not it’s not about Reed’s defense it’s the fact that Reed’s 6’2 and you’re we just we’ve already seen the the small back court thing defensively it’s just so hard to overcome you got to be so good everywhere else defensively for but you know what a small back and I’ve said said this before a small back court can work if one of the guys is willing to do the hard work of rebounding playing with physicality playing with effort and I think re based on like what I’ve seen from RE shepher I think he has the build to do that like uh pod um pinski from the Warriors like not to compare him to another white guy but um it’s the only thing you’re allowed to do I mean another another player who does this is Derek white even though he’s B but my point is is like if if you’re able to do some of like some of the stuff that bigger players can and I think with his functional athleticism talking about functional athlete I think he’s a very good a like borderline great athlete honestly um I think he can be in the re like get rebounds um be in the passing Lanes play with more effort and physicality in a way like the reason why train dejonte sucks is honestly dejon doesn’t hold up his end of the bargain as a physical Defender he’s just not very physical well that that was the the yeah we talk about aot what I’ve said this before I think Jon is one of the fakest rebounders in NBA history like no contested rebounds no tip rebounds like just just if he’s getting these one-handed highlight rebounds but he’s not competing with bigger players for for these like but these are the type of plays that you need if if you’re G to play two small guards you need one of the guards to be able to do this and like I think Reed might be able to do that whereas uh uh that’s why I think it might work combined with Reed Superior shooting like like I don’t want to dismiss not taking somebody who shot 50% from the three-point range no and that’s the thing off TCH and shoot off the dribble like off everything like that that that’s such a that three-point shooting is such a like Difference Maker it might not matter like if he’s a small guard like I I said it ear shoot 13 threes for 100 possessions at like 43 plus perc it won’t matter you team it’s not the same thing but you and I have both been on this before where the Hawks have been at their best for the last four years when bie on when boog’s on the court and Reed Shepard and Bo not the same player but they do a lot of similar things and Garrison bogy dominated last season Trey Garrison Matthews small smaller guard by the way people but Garrison puts his life Garrison literally puts his life on the line no but and the reason and I I be clear I say this I think re sheer is clearly a top five guy in this class clearly the challenge is I think you are limiting yourself a little bit taking him at what you would have to probably take him in either one or two he might go he might go to Houston at three that’s very very much possible and I think that I wouldn’t take him number one on a team with is my best player I just wouldn’t but if they if they did it I could make the case we just kind of talked about it but like I said earlier but uh Kevin pelton’s model has Reed as the number one player on the stats only model that knows nothing about anything else that’s that doesn’t know that he’s a that he’s a white guy that’s a legacy from Kentucky any of that stuff it’s just the numbers dad played for the Hawks Hawks Legacy R Shepard but he’s number one ahead of kinging ahead of Ed ahead of any of those guys on the St projection model so um I think it’s highly unlikely that he ends up being on the Hawks but I agree he’s like the one guy that’s like consistently for the people that do the numbers way up there and you know if it’s not kingan’s Rim protection that’s the best single skill set in the in this draft it might be read shooting shooting yeah and like that’s look man if you want if the hwks want to win some damn games they got to get more shooting period Well you and I J I shared on Twitter I think it was Tom H did a study somebody did a study about three-point shooting in the playoffs this year and it was like extremely highly correlated as to who shot the ball read from three and I kind of jokingly in my snarky fashion was like this is why I talk about three-point shooting all the time but it’s true like all all number of stats and people always get mad at me for focusing on heav on that on these recap podcasts I do but it’s like guys it correlates with winning it just does like you have to make shots and by the way not just make shots take threes take them take them take who contest that’s that’s Quinn Quinn preaches Quinn preaches that all the time it’s not just threes but you got to take a lot of them and uh I track that for a reason if they trade down you know C’s probably probably yeah C’s probably the target but like we should at least mention the names you got Steph Castle Reed Shepard um Modis melis who was in for a workout the last few days in Atlanta I was reported I think if it wasn’t reported I’m reporting it somebody reported it that happened I heard that um maybe a little bit further down you get into like the Doon connect Ron Holland uh yeah lots of names there I still think it will surprise me if the Hawks trade down and trade down Beyond like four or five at the absolute most I think they they do want a premium pick in this class from what I’ve heard and part of that that they seemingly want clinging I do think that still right now as of Monday Night 8:30 Eastern as we’re recording this the hawk dream scenario might be an extra asset and clean yeah I think I’m say that’s definely the case but that that kind of rings true not reporting br’s not reporting and I’m just going off Vibes and T PES you know I’m I’m kind of reporting I’m not saying that’s like definitive but like I have heard that they like reach sorry that they like clinging and they also don’t want to take number one and that means that they kind of want him but they understand that they might be able to get him later I I I tweeted a long Thread about this uh on Twitter I feel like the Wizards want SAR SAR wants Wizards CLE and the HW W each other uh just based on honestly Dan Hurley gave up the goose I think that is accurate yes uh and then um the Rockets unclear I think they want but I think they want Reed Shepard I I I think they’re gonna take Reed if I had to guess they’re and like to me and just like game theing it a bit shout out to sanini like I understand uh the Grizzlies are like dangling orzes we should say and like people are people are talking about that I’m like but why would the Rockets help the Grizzlies get a center you know they’re direct these teams are in direct competition of each other and like what is what is Marcus Smart doing for the Outlook of their team that honestly Reed Shepard wouldn’t do well I I would imagine that is that that rumbling is maybe tied to udoka being there yeah I mean I respect to udoka but I’m like Marcus Smart is on the downturn of his career why are you yeah he’s not he’s not and also they got other yeah I don’t think that’s gonna plus they have a men already they have they have their defensive they have got like they have guys in Marcus Smart role like like I’m just I’m just gameing with the Rockets like and like they’re not going to trade with OKC like well and then there’s and then there’s re I mean I think youve said this too but then there’s there’s a lot of thought that the Spurs want ree re and or or or Wy would like to play with r or both um you know or whatever they are they want to play and look and that doesn’t mean the Hawks are going to be able to get a normal trade package from four to one in this class I’m not expecting that to happen necessarily but uh it shouldn’t surprise anyone if the Hawks first find a deal at some point maybe maybe it’s conditional that’s one of the things that’s been talked about that I think is very practical is that all right the Hawks take Reet at one in coordination with the Spurs and they have an agreement of some kind that says if kinging gets to four we do the trade if not re we’re we you and we’re moving on from there and I think another possibility is the Hawks take s at one and the they and they stare him down and I don’t know if I don’t know if the Hawks had that in them maybe they do I don’t know that’s where that’s where one of those things where I’m like you know I wish this front office had more experience just in general like there and there’s some messaging out there like again it was reported the Hawks might just do it over and like I said we’ll bring it full circle if they think Alex R is the best Prospect in the class take him take him yeah if they and by the way same thing applies to Clingan while yeah it would be great in theory to get cute and get your guy and move down Allah draft day as Sam on my podcast but in the end if they really think kingan’s the guy just take him just take and and if you want more picks trade one of your a billion other players that you’re trying to I mean we should to be to be fair I wouldn’t do this but like if they think ree is the guy just take him like that it shouldn’t be that big of a discussion and I have advocated for trading down in this class because in in a vacuum and look it’s not a vacuum life is not a vacuum these These are human beings talking on calls in a vacuum my tier is not like hugely separated which is why I would in theory be in favor of a trade down if I was the Hawks but I’m not the person making the decision uh and if Landry Tony whoever is convinced that they that they have their guy in this class you have the number one pick that’s the number one appeal of that is just that’s the value of the first pick and like just in general like you know the Hawks cannot operate this first round pick as a like um as a way to get back the assets they lost in the jontay Murray trade that is a sun cost decision if they can get if they can get some of those picks back from the Spurs awesome but like that should not be Priority One they gotta get they gotta ACR maximum value from this pick if they’re going to trade back because because you’re you’re risking losing out on the player that you actually won and that’s you’re risking you’re risking that and and secondarily we act like this doesn’t matter but you know it does in Practical terms you’re also risking the pr the pr if you are number one and look even I as some I just said I just said 10 seconds ago that I would be totally fine moving down but I don’t have to make the decision and if they let’s just say alexar for for probably the prime example of this right if they trade number one or just don’t pick alexar and alexr becomes the 95th perenti version of alexr people will be talking about that like they did Marvin Williams and Chris Paul and whatever else for years decades like that’s the risk and Landrew got a question he kind of smiled about it but about like the pressure of being number one and look Landry played in the NBA it’s a different makeup the guy was a professional athlete he’s a confident guy but at the same time like man there is a little bit of external noise pressure at number one overall that because the spotlight is just on you and if you miss or if you trade back and the guy that you traded hits that is extra pressure like extra rile up it’s also job pressure Landry Fields is not an established GM if he misses this pick even if it’s not his pick he gets blamed for it gets fired yeah that’s what happens that’s the NBA it’s not it’s not uh we’re not we’re not fooling around we’re not fooling around here so uh yeah it’s gonna be wild I I don’t know what to expect 48 hours away Tyler I know you’re doing lots of ATL 29 which which is why I’m going to let you go now also plug it we talked about it earlier but it’s it’s my favorite Hawks podcast that I listen to I don’t listen to my own show unless I have to for editing purposes but go ahead plug plug away my friend uh so yeah ATM 29 uh podcast with me Kevin and uh Glenn Willis Kevin um Kevin I think is we’re gonna do a couple more podcasts um I know we’re doing one um we’re gonna have one later today so after you watch this lock on on YouTube on iTunes all the other stuff thank you catch us on iTunes as well at29 uh we’ll be we’ll be having a podcast out later today as well so we’re not in direct competition it’s all part of the bigger hwks lore guys there is there is plenty of time to listen to both shows you also showed your age Like I Do by by using the word iTunes I really appreciated that I say that wow you and I you and I you and I you you and I are washed and stay the word iTunes on this podcast anyway I’m just giving you grief thank you for being your Tyler uh in a in a little bit I’ll bug you again to talk about whatever they do whatever they actually do between the draft and trades and all that stuff we we’ll you and I will reconvene in the near future I don’t know exactly when but we’ll talk again I appreciate you’ve always been willing to jump on people should be listening at29 follow Tyler on Twitter if he let you at Jonesy 2×4 he may not let you it’s protected account not my fault might say no he’s got he’s got a he’s got a real job you can’t just be open like I am on the Twitter machine uh oh we got to do it we’re late in the show any any any recommendations I I forgot to ask you this is the well uh delicious in Dungeon uh just ended on Netflix so give that a watch uh new Rex though I haven’t uh konos subba season 3 is out I mean if you’re a konosu fan you already know know what the deal is but I don’t really have like any new I had to ask I mean it’s it’s tradition primarily because it’s number one big has taken so you’re watching basketball you’re watching basketball I got I got my chart I got my imaginary chart in my head where I’m like I’m I’m plotting what the Hawks can and can’t do so um everybody’s uh shout out to Sam everybody’s game theor out here about what the hulks can do with this number one overall pick so that’s really been taking a lot of my time that’s why I need this draft to hurry up and get over it yeah it’s almost over look so I can get back to watch my anime and mega more there you go uh and of course as a reminder free agency begins l on Sunday so it’s less than a week from now free agency starts and never stops aless all right thank for being they at least leak that they’re not leaking a little bit yeah that’s that’s true all right thank you sah for being here as for everybody else please subscribe I will have I promise you barring injury to myself another episode on Tuesday evening into Wednesday after this one to kind of preview final stuff before the draft and then of course I’ll be back after the draft is over on Wednesday stay tuned subscribe see you all next time

Brad Rowland (@BTRowland) hosts episode No. 1748 of the Locked on Hawks podcast, and he is joined by Tyler Jones (@jonesy2x4) for Part 2 of a 2-part discussion. The discussion centers on the Atlanta Hawks before the 2024 NBA Draft, including the No. 1 overall pick, Zaccharie Risacher, Donovan Clingan, Alex Sarr, Reed Sheppard, the rest of Atlanta’s roster, and much more.

Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms…
🎧 https://link.chtbl.com/LOHawks?sid=YouTube

Locked On NBA League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Draft, WNBA & More
🎧 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnNBA

#AtlantaHawks #NBA #TraeYoung

Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!

eBay Motors

For parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit at eBayMotors.com. Let’s ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply.

PrizePicks

Go to PrizePicks.com/lockedonnba and use code lockedonnba for a first deposit match up to $100!

Gametime

Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase.

FanDuel

FanDuel, America’s Number One Sportsbook. Right now, NEW customers get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS BETS with any winning GUARANTEED That’s A HUNDRED AND FIFTY BUCKS – win or lose! Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started.

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)