Atlanta Hawks Radio Network's Mike Conti joined the Midday Show to preview tonight's NBA Draft and what the Hawks are likely to do with their No. 6 overall pick.
There have been many rumors surrounding the Hawks leading up to this year's unique draft. The team, of course, has the most amount of money of any team in the NBA to spend during the offseason. With free agency set to begin just two days after the Draft, the Hawks have options with that No. 6 pick.
If they don't find a trade partner by the time they select tonight, Conti believes the Hawks could use whichever player they draft as a piece once the free agency market opens.
"I think it's more likely tonight that they use the pick," Conti told Andy and Randy. "But what happens after tonight with the guy they pick, I think, is very uncertain."
Hawks GM Travis Schlenk mentioned earlier this week that trade conversations have been slow to pick up because teams didn't know what the salray cap was until last Friday.
"I wouldn't be shocked if the Hawks went out, took the best available player tonight at No. 6, and maybe shopped him."
With that said, what's the most important thing the Hawks need to accomplish before the season starts?
"I think they need to find complimentary veterans who not only help them with the 3-point shooting, not only help them with defending but also a steady voice in the locker room."
If you look at the average age of the Hawks, they're going to be among the youngest teams in the league this season.
"You need to find players who have been winners in this league, who can help be the voices and the players that you're going to lean on when you start hitting adversity...If they Hawks want to find that type of player, they're probably going to have to do it in a trade."
