Originally projected to be a late first-round pick even falling to the second round in some final mock drafts like ESPN, Drake Powell was selected as the No. 22 overall pick by the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night. The Hawks then sent Powell to the Brooklyn Nets.
The deal that landed Brooklyn the No. 22 overall pick involved the Boston Celtics as well, moving Kristaps Porzingis.
Powell will head north in the Eastern Conference, where he will team up with star guard Cam Thomas and fellow Tar Heel Cameron Johnson. The team also boasts De’Angelo Russell, Drew Timme, and Keon Johnson. Last year, the Hawks drafted Zaccharie Risacher with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft before going 40-42 this season.
They ended last season in the No. 12 spot in the Eastern Conference with a 26-56 record. They have already drafted BYU guard Egor Demin with the No. 8 pick.
Powell will add much-needed two-way play for the Jordi Fernández-coached team that lacked much resemblance of defense last season.
The 6-foot-5 forward averaged 7.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game last season while shooting 48.3% from the field and 37.9% from behind the arc. Still very much raw talent, the right organization could take Powell and mold him into the potential of a star two-way player like Mikal Bridges or Norman Powell.
Time will tell how Powell will fit into the rotation and what kind of player the Nets can groom him to become, but they obviously saw something great in him.
