Atlanta Hawks General Manager Landry Fields is resolute on retaining the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming NBA draft, despite fielding numerous trade inquiries. Following their unexpected win in the draft lottery on May 12th, the Hawks, with just a 3% chance, secured the coveted top spot despite a challenging season that saw them finish 10th in the Eastern Conference.
“I think we’re really excited by the draft,” Fields remarked on Monday, emphasizing his commitment to their advantageous position. “I keep joking around like I’m not giving it back.”
Fields, responsible for making the draft choice himself, indicated ongoing evaluation of potential picks, including prominent names like Alexandre Sarr, Zaccharie Risacher, Reed Sheppard, and Donovan Clingan.
The Hawks’ decision-making process includes assembling tiers of draft prospects and assessing the possibility of trading down for additional picks if a clear standout does not emerge. “Eventually you’ll narrow down to your guy, for sure,” Fields noted.
With no other selections in this year’s draft, the Hawks are focused on utilizing their top pick effectively to bolster their roster, which faltered in a first-round play-in tournament loss to Chicago.
Fields acknowledged the evolving nature of their draft board, stating, “The board is definitely shaping up, tearing itself out.”
Throughout the process, Fields has remained actively engaged in discussions with other executives, with his phone “continuously ringing.”
The Hawks’ postseason strategy is complicated by decisions looming over key players like center Clint Capela and forward De’Andre Hunter. However, Fields stressed that their immediate priority is solidifying their stance on the No. 1 pick.
“We as a group looked at a ton of different scenarios,” Fields explained. “With where we are right now, we’ll pick one. … We’re planning on picking one.”
