Fansided

2018 NBA Draft: 5 best fits for Luka Doncic

By Brandon Jefferson

Real Madrid Luka Doncic during Liga Endesa Finals match (1st game) between Real Madrid and Kirolbet Baskonia at Wizink Center in Madrid, Spain. June 13, 2018. (Photo by COOLMedia/Peter Sabok/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Real Madrid Luka Doncic during Liga Endesa Finals match (1st game) between Real Madrid and Kirolbet Baskonia at Wizink Center in Madrid, Spain. June 13, 2018. (Photo by COOLMedia/Peter Sabok/NurPhoto via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 6
Next
CHICAGO, IL – MAY 15: Actress, Jami Gertz represents the Atlanta Hawks during the NBA Draft Lottery on May 15, 2018 at The Palmer House Hilton in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL – MAY 15: Actress, Jami Gertz represents the Atlanta Hawks during the NBA Draft Lottery on May 15, 2018 at The Palmer House Hilton in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Atlanta Hawks (No. 3 overall)

Before Mike Budenholzer and the Atlanta Hawks agreed to part ways at the end of the 2017-18 season, Doncic’s top fit would’ve easily been here. Budenholzer was with San Antonio when Manu Ginobili exploded onto the scene, and his motion-heavy offense would’ve been tailor-made for Doncic’s game. Lloyd Pierce is now calling the shots in ATL and while his background in player development will likely help anyone the team drafts reach their full potential, the unknown of what system Pierce will bring with him makes Doncic’s fit less of a guarantee.

However, Pierce is still a branch off of the San Antonio/Gregg Popovich tree and it would seem that some type of ball movement-first offensive play style would be favored. The Spurs’ “Beautiful Game” team that ran through the NBA in 2014 played a very European-style of basketball on offense. The transition into the NBA could be very less stressful for Doncic given a situation like what Atlanta offers.

Dennis Schroeder looked to be the next man up in terms of running the show for the Hawks, but the rumor now is that Schroeder is on the market if a team makes the right offer. Switching from a German to a Slovenian could be just the kickstart that the Hawks need to revitalize a franchise whose lone claim to fame in the modern NBA is having five players voted as co-players of the month.

The Hawks struck gold last year when they snatched John Collins with the 19th pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. Collins looks the part of a high-level starter on a good team if he continues to develop at the pace he showed a season ago. Pairing a future big man of Collins ilk–screen-setting, rim-running, athlete–with a guard as adept of finding the open man and threading the needle as Doncic could give Atlanta a twosome that could be the lighthouse to attract future talent.

Home/NBA