Hawks’ 3 top targets for No. 8 pick in 2026 NBA Draft from savvy Pelicans trade

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Hawks’ 3 top targets for No. 8 pick in 2026 NBA Draft from savvy Pelicans trade

Malik Brown, ClutchPoints · ClutchPoints

Mon, May 11, 2026 ·

4 min read

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The Atlanta Hawks were in a unique position this season , as they became a playoff team while still having the luxury of getting a lottery pick. That was because of the trade they made on last year's draft night, acquiring the New Orleans Pelicans ' No. 23 pick and 2026 first-round pick in exchange for the No. 13 pick. At the time, many people considered it the biggest finesse of the draft, and it turned out to be that way, as the Pelicans finished near the bottom of the Western Conference this past season.

The pick ended up landing at No. 8, and the Hawks will now have the chance to add another key player to a young core that made strides this past season.

With how deep this draft is, there are several options the Hawks have at their disposal, and it seems hard to make a bad pick in the range they're in. It'll all depend on what happens ahead of them, but there are three players that they should keep an eye on, and they could possibly be there at No. 8 when it's time to pick.

Mikel Brown Jr. – Louisville

Mikel Brown Jr. is one of the handful of guards who are projected to go in the lottery, and he may have the biggest upside of them. The first thing that jumps off the screen when watching Brown is his 3-point shooting, and he can pull up from 30 feet and knock it down. Not only that, but he's shown the ability to create his own shot, which is what teams are looking for in the NBA.

His length allows him not to be a liability on defense, and he seems to have the IQ to make the right play on both sides of the ball. Brown's draft stock should probably be higher than it is, but he dealt with a back injury late in the season that teams should keep an eye on. If his back clears out, Brown could be a special talent in the league.

As for the Hawks, they had some of their weaknesses exposed in the playoffs, and one of them was their lack of shot creators. Yes, CJ McCollum had it going for the first two and a half games against the New York Knicks , but after that, they shut off his water. Nickeil Alexander-Walker also couldn't get much going in the series, which led to the Hawks flaming out in six games. Brown could be the perfect addition to the team for what he does on offense.

Kingston Flemings – Houston

Kingston Flemings is another guard who can find himself picked before the Hawks select at No. 8, but it wouldn't be a surprise if he was still there for the taking. Flemings may be the most athletic guard in the draft, and his speed is one-of-one. What he's able to do with that speed makes him a top prospect, as he knows how to get behind the defense in transition, and he can finish at the rim at a high level.

Flemings can knock down the 3-point shot, but the mid-range shot is where he makes his money. He still has some room to go defensively, as he isn't the biggest guard, and putting on some weight should do him well. For what he can bring on offense, he's a guard that can fill the void that the Haws needed in that category this past season.

Aday Mara – Michigan

Aday Mara is considered the best big in the draft, and it's not just because he's 7'3. The Michigan center has an offensive game that could be beneficial in any team's system. He has a nice touch at the rim and knows what to do when he gets the ball in his hands. He seems to always make the right decision, and his passing at his position is probably what stands out the most about it. Of course, on defense, he's a good shot blocker, and the cherry on top is that he doesn't get called for fouls much.

Just like most big men, the free-throw numbers could be better, and it's uncertain if he could become an option to space the floor. If Mara is doing all the other things on the court right, then the shooting might not matter, but with a Hawks team that likes to space the floor, it would definitely be a plus.

The biggest issue the Hawks had this past season was their center depth, and it's something that they should definitely consider fixing in the offseason. It's hard to know if Mara would be the best player available at No. 8, but there's no doubt that he would fix the biggest need on their team.

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