Hawks draft pick grades (Jalen & Sharife)

[Spud2nique]

What grades to you give us for Jalen and Sharife? 
 

Feel free to add a +/- as well to your grade if you want. There weren’t enough choices available to add that.

[NBASupes]

When the last time the Hawks had a draft below an A?

[Threezus]

I don't see how it can be anything other than an A+ he destroyed this draft and got twice as good value as the player was expected to go with each pick. 

[ATLHawks3]

We got two lottery talents without having lottery picks. Hawks won this whole draft.

[gurpilo]

This is probably one of the best drafts for Travis, first time he gets outstanding value at 2nd round. As usual he got good talent at 1st rd, Jalen Jones is a good backup F, capable of playing PF position, an insurance for Collins and Gallo, a point forward that is a solid defender but needs to learn shooting, until he learns that he is probably having a hard time finding minutes.

Cooper is the steal of the draft, a dynamic PG with some size issues but is fantastic at passing and shooting. I thought he was worse defender that he really is but he could be decent after all.

As a summary, really good value where we pick, more talent and depth for future, the only disadvantage is that although they fill position needs they do not fit much our roster but is true that we don’t need inmediate contribution from them, we are deep. I have the feeling that Cooper might finish with bigger role than expected, really eager to see some summer league action.

[thecampster]

Riddle me this...how do you get a top 5 talent and a top 16 talent without making a trade when you own picks 20 and 48?  With crazy eyes.

I'm not really sure where I am right now.

[Peoriabird]

Just woke up..How did Cooper drop so far?

[Gray Mule]

36 minutes ago, Peoriabird said:

Just woke up.  .How did Cooper drop so far?

Because he's like Trae, he's too small to play in the NBA!

 

(He's only 6'1")

Edited July 30, 2021 by Gray Mule

[kg01]

55 minutes ago, thecampster said:

Riddle me this...how do you get a top 5 talent and a top 16 talent without making a trade when you own picks 20 and 48?  With crazy eyes.

I'm not really sure where I am right now.

How do you not fall into those beautiful azure pools of wizardry ........

[JayBirdHawk]

Based on where the 'um experts' had both these guys slotted vs where we selected them, taking BPA while filling specific needs nothing but an A.

[hazer]

A++, Colonel Schlenk a damn WIZard

[EazyRoc]

Schlenk simply is exceptional. I have never seen a guy nail so many draft picks the way he has. No matter where he picks..

[Atlantaholic]

7 hours ago, NBASupes said:

When the last time the Hawks had a draft below an A?

I'd rather not think back on those days Supes

[Atlantaholic]

2 hours ago, gurpilo said:

This is probably one of the best drafts for Travis, first time he gets outstanding value at 2nd round. As usual he got good talent at 1st rd, Jalen Jones is a good backup F, capable of playing PF position, an insurance for Collins and Gallo, a point forward that is a solid defender but needs to learn shooting, until he learns that he is probably having a hard time finding minutes.

Cooper is the steal of the draft, a dynamic PG with some size issues but is fantastic at passing and shooting. I thought he was worse defender that he really is but he could be decent after all.

As a summary, really good value where we pick, more talent and depth for future, the only disadvantage is that although they fill position needs they do not fit much our roster but is true that we don’t need inmediate contribution from them, we are deep. I have the feeling that Cooper might finish with bigger role than expected, really eager to see some summer league action.

Hey, remember last year everyone was saying we had too many people at the same positions? Can never have enough depth and talent, we are another injury or two away from having an opening for a big time role for these two guys to fill if they are up to it.  

[Sothron]

I gave A and B respectively because I couldn't give Cooper an A-. 

Some other draft grades from around the media landscape:

 

Atlanta Hawks

20. Jalen Johnson (6-9, 220), SF, Duke
48. Sharife Cooper (6-1, 180), PG, Auburn

The Hawks made a surprise run to the Eastern Conference finals on the strength of their recent draft picks, so they have earned the right to take a big swing at No. 20. Johnson might have been a top-10 pick had he not abruptly left Duke 13 games into his freshman senior (after leaving IMG Academy midway through his senior year of high school). If he pans out as a 6-foot-9 playmaker, he could be a home run for the Hawks.

A-

20. Atlanta Hawks: SF Jalen Johnson, Duke

Everybody has used different phrases for how Johnson's Duke tenure ended. "Quit" is what it was. That's not a good look. But I can't overstate this enough: We are now at the 20th pick in the draft. What are you going to do? Take the big swing on the player who might have some issues, the same way Denver did with Michael Porter Jr. a couple years ago. If you can tap into Johnson's talent, you're going to be very happy. Grade: A+

Bleacher report:

 

 

Johnson’s ceiling is higher than this draft slot. Between his limited track record and holes in his game, though, this feels about right.

When he gets out in transition, his game is very easy on the eyes. The 6’9” forward can grab rebounds and go, flashing a drool-worthy blend of handles, vision and finishing.

But when the game slows down, so does his impact. He needs plenty of polish to find a half-court niche. His shooting is erratic, he shies away from contact, and his defensive motor comes and goes.

He’s worth a shot here for the Hawks, who have enough depth to take a risk.

Grade: B+

 

Sporting news:

 

20. Atlanta Hawks — Jalen Johnson, Duke

He departed IMG Academy while in high school and left Duke with roughly half the college season still remaining. This wasn't the dreamiest Duke basketball season ever, but not many simply walk away from "The Brotherhood," as Duke calls its alumni base. I cannot shake the words of the NBA personnel executive who told me about Johnson: "This guy has created issues at his last two stops. If that doesn't give you pause, I don't know what will." 

The Hawks have a winning culture now, and a rookie is not going to destroy that. He has an NBA body with his strength and length. But he struggles as a shooter and, as we said, has struggled with commitment.

1. Grade: B-
2.  
3. SBnation:

 

20. Atlanta Hawks - Jalen Johnson, F, Duke

Johnson was supposed to be the next one-and-done star at Duke before becoming a lottery pick. Instead, the Blue Devils turned in an uncharacteristically poor season and Johnson left the program midway through the year to focus on the draft. While his freshman season was a disappointment, there are few players in this class more talented than Johnson.

A 6’9 forward with huge hands and long arms, Johnson is a dynamic threat in the open floor. He loves playing with the ball in his hands and utilizing his passing ability to find shooters around the arc. While he has an impressive combination of strength and explosion, he’s also a stiff athlete who often struggles to get past bigger, slower defenders on the perimeter. Johnson’s biggest weakness is his three-point shot. He won’t be expected to space the floor for Atlanta early in his career. At this point in the draft, however, Johnson feels like a great upside bet because of his size, speed, power, and passing.

Grade: A

 

[BangHolman]

The talent taken at their draft slot for each is clearly an A grade.

[Peoriabird]

How is shooting 43% from 3 struggling with his shot? I'm calling it right now...The other gms in the league blew it again. Schlenk should never do these guys a favor by even consider trading up ever again in drafts in the future.

[AHF]

9 minutes ago, Peoriabird said:

How is shooting 43% from 3 struggling with his shot? I'm calling it right now...The other gms in the league blew it again. Schlenk should never do these guys a favor by even consider trading up ever again in drafts in the future.

I think they are looking more at his high school play and his form.  

He was 32 for 120 in his junior and senior years in high school for 26.7%.  At Duke, he shied away from taking many 3's and only took 18 attempts in 13 games.  On the plus side, he shot 44% on 18 total attempts but the reality is with less than 20 attempts you are talking an extremely small sample size in college (and those numbers could look very different with just a couple additional attempts).  We'll need to see more like 100 attempts from him before we get a better sense for his stroke just from a numbers perspective.  He will be two years removed from HS when he plays for the Hawks so lots of time for development even though his game time has been limited from quitting IMG and Duke.  I do like that the Hawks have shown help in getting big men to flesh out their range as most notably noted with JC.

He is a pick for the long-term for me.  Probably will play a very limited role his rookie year while we develop his skills given our depth at SF and PF.

[Sothron]

4 hours ago, Peoriabird said:

How is shooting 43% from 3 struggling with his shot? I'm calling it right now...The other gms in the league blew it again. Schlenk should never do these guys a favor by even consider trading up ever again in drafts in the future.

He barely shot the 3 and was clearly hesitant to shoot from outside. His percentage is far too small a sample to draw upon to conclude he'd shoot like that in the NBA. 

That being said we clearly took BPA at #20 and if Jalen applies himself to his game we could look back at this in two years as a runaway grand slam pick just like Collins was at #18.

[Sothron]

3 hours ago, AHF said:

I think they are looking more at his high school play and his form.  

He was 32 for 120 in his junior and senior years in high school for 26.7%.  At Duke, he shied away from taking many 3's and only took 18 attempts in 13 games.  On the plus side, he shot 44% on 18 total attempts but the reality is with less than 20 attempts you are talking an extremely small sample size in college (and those numbers could look very different with just a couple additional attempts).  We'll need to see more like 100 attempts from him before we get a better sense for his stroke just from a numbers perspective.  He will be two years removed from HS when he plays for the Hawks so lots of time for development even though his game time has been limited from quitting IMG and Duke.  I do like that the Hawks have shown help in getting big men to flesh out their range as most notably noted with JC.

He is a pick for the long-term for me.  Probably will play a very limited role his rookie year while we develop his skills given our depth at SF and PF.

I fully expect him barring injuries to spend most of the year in the G league. Which is fine. He needs playing time and development.