Even with prospect of no Millsap, Hawks not focused on big in draft

(TNS) — The Hawks need a big man.

Maybe two or three.

Paul Millsap leads a list of unrestricted free agents that includes Mike Muscala and Ersan Ilyasova. The Hawks roster will have just one center, Dwight Howard, and one power forward, Ryan Kelly, come July 1.

Don’t expect that the Hawks, with what appears to be a glaring need, to select a center or power forward during the NBA Draft on Thursday. Even if the team must replace the four-time All-Star Millsap, it should be noted.

“No,” new general manager Travis Schlenk told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution when asked if the prospect of losing Millsap will affect his draft decisions.

And does he expect to have an inclination of whether Millsap will be back by the time of the draft?

“I doubt it,” Schlenk said.

The Hawks have three selections in Thursday’s draft with picks Nos. 19, 31 and 60. With a roster that returns just eight players, including a partial guarantee for Mike Dunleavy and a non-guarantee for Kelly, there are several needs.

“Right now, we are focusing on draft rather than Paul,” Schlenk said.

In the NBA, the draft is held before the start of free agency. Many think the system is backward and the situation was raised at a recent general managers meeting. If free agency came first, the Hawks would know whether they need to find a replacement for Millsap, or others, through the draft. However, the reality is the draft is first. Schlenk said he is comfortable working in the current environment. Even if nearly every mock draft has the Hawks drafting a power forward.

“All the guys in all the mock drafts you see, there are a lot of 4-men projected there,” Schlenk said of the No. 19 pick. “We are going to take the best player there. We are not going to take a power forward because we might have a huge hole there. If we re-sign Paul, obviously, we have our power forward. If Paul goes somewhere else, we have to go sign a power forward.”

Only two big men appear in the top 10 of most draft eligible player rankings — Arizona power forward Lauri Markkanen and Gonzaga power forward/center Zach Collins. Both figure to be gone when the Hawks select at No. 19. That leaves a number of options if the Hawks do choose to select a big man. The list includes Texas center Jarrett Allen, Wake Forest power forward John Collins, Indiana forward OG Anunoby, UCLA center Ike Anigbogu and SMU power forward/center Semi Ojeleye. Allen was one of the players the Hawks brought in for a pre-draft workout.

However, Schlenk has made it clear he will employ a best player available strategy. He was mentioned, on several occasions, he desire for players with length and athleticism.

“We are looking for a basketball player at 19,” Schlenk said. “There happens to be a bunch of bigs that everyone assumes is going to be available there. We’ll take the best player available.”