The Atlanta Hawks have a lot invested into the 2026 NBA Draft.
Even if it wasn’t an incredibly talented class on paper, the 2026 draft was always going to be the first offseason that really mattered for general manager Onsi Saleh. He did an excellent job last offseason by signing Dyson Daniels to a big extension and trading for Nickeil Alexander-Walker on a new contract. If the lottery goes their way, they’ll be able to add one of the four best players in the country in Duke forward Cameron Boozer, Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, BYU wing AJ Dybantsa or North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson.
However, none of those teams are playing in the Final Four. Instead, tonight’s set of games might determine the Hawks’ contingency plans. If they fall out of the top-four and have to settle for a top-eight selection, there are several players that might make sense for Atlanta to select. Furthermore, they also have a late-round swap with the Cavaliers projected at the 22nd overall selection. There’s a good chance that the Hawks can land a franchise star and a rotation contributor with their two first-round picks and that one of those players is playing tonight.
Brayden Burries, G, Arizona