NBA Draft 2013: Atlanta Hawks Select Dennis Schroeder
By Josh Hill
The Atlanta Hawks are in the running to land Dwight Howard but they have taken a considerable backseat attitude towards signing him now that the Lakers, Mavericks and Rockets are considered favorites over them. The Hawks were reportedly in last minutes talks with the Mavericks to move up to the 13th overall pick but the Boston Celtics ended up beating htem to the punch and offering a much better deal in terms of what Dallas was willing to take on in their pursuit for Howard.
So with the 17th overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, the Atlanta Hawks selected Dennis Schroeder
The team really is in transition as Josh Smith is on the trading block and the future is really uncertain across the board for Atlanta. There was hope that they could tank, get a high draft pick and make a run at both Dwight Howard and Chris Paul but both of those plans have seemingly been flushed down the toilet. Paul lobbied hard for and succeeded in getting Doc Rivers to be the next head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers and Howard can get more money from the Lakers, Mavericks and Rockets.
That leaves the Hawks were they’re sitting right now and it’s really not a bad spot to be. They traded up with the Mavericks and while they didn’t get the guy they wanted at 13th overall, they got him at 16th overall and the team couldn’t be happier.
But Atlanta brilliantly traded their 18th overall pick to the Dallas Mavericks which means not only did they get Jared Cunningham and the rights to Lucas Nogueira, but they now also can add Dennis Schroeder to that mix after taking him with the 17th overall pick.
It’s complicated business but the Hawks seem to be very happy with their strategy and it looks like it might pay off in producing a contender in Atlanta.