Atlanta Hawks: 5 options for pick No. 31 in the 2017 NBA Draft
Nov 17, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Southern Methodist Mustangs forward Semi Ojeleye (33) puts up a shot during the second half against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Madison Square Garden. Southern Methodist won, 76-67. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
The Atlanta Hawks have the first pick in the second round of the 2017 NBA Draft, placing the team in perfect territory to land any talented players that unexpectedly slip outside of the first 30 selections.
Part of the reason Travis Schlenk was appointed as the general manager for the Atlanta Hawks last month was for his ability to identify talent.
Schlenk opted to immediately resign from Golden State, bypassing the opportunity to be part of the championship run for the team, to better prepare for both free agency and the 2017 NBA Draft.
Among the pressing concerns for Atlanta this summer are the six unrestricted free agents on the roster, including Paul Millsap, an All-Star in each of the past four seasons. Tim Hardaway Jr. is likely to generate plenty of interest as a restricted free agent this summer after leading the Hawks with 149 made shots from three-point range last season.
Only Schlenk will have an opportunity to round out his roster, or add potential replacements in the 2017 NBA Draft with three selections.
Schlenk was partially responsible for Golden State landing Draymond Green with the 35th overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. Since then, Green has been named to the All-Star team in each of the past two years and is one of three finalists for the 2017 NBA Defensive Player of the Year.
Atlanta will select 19th in the first round, along with the first and last selections in the second round. The 31st overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft went to Atlanta as part of the Joe Johnson trade, a deal completed five years ago.
Perhaps no choice is more coveted outside of the lottery than the 31st overall pick, as second round selections are free to negotiate any contract, unlike first round selections.
The NBA's collective bargaining agreement negotiated a scale for first-rounders between the league and player's union. Any player selected outside of the lottery is more in control of their earnings if selected in the second round.
For any player that unexpectedly slides at the 2017 NBA Draft, Atlanta will be waiting to capitalize. Here are five players the Atlanta Hawks are hoping last until the second round later this month.
Mar 12, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Michigan Wolverines forward D.J. Wilson (5) celebrates after dunking the ball against the Wisconsin Badgers in the second half during the Big Ten Conference Tournament championship game at Verizon Center. The Wolverines won 71-56. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
5. D.J. Wilson, PF, Michigan
2016-17 statistics: 13 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 3.5 APG
Few players can offer the Atlanta Hawks the versatility of D.J. Wilson.
The two basic attributes that define Wilson are the key ingredients modern power forwards need to possess, as he is a viable long range shooter and has a penchant for collecting rebounds.
Wilson completed his junior season with averages of 11.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game while knocking down 37.3 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc.
Numerous projections have Wilson landing with an organization late in the first round, but his struggles in the NCAA Tournament could lead to him slipping to Atlanta. During his 76 minutes on the floor in tournament play, he totaled just five defensive rebounds and registered one assist.
With his 6'10" frame, Wilson made one three-pointer per game, knocked down 83.3 percent of his free throws and blocked two or more shots in 16 of his 38 games.
Consistency is going to be the key for Wilson going forward and Atlanta could be the team an opportunity to prove he is capable of producing on a nightly basis.
Dec 7, 2016; Boulder, CO, USA; Colorado Buffaloes guard Derrick White (21) during the first half against the Xavier Musketeers at the Coors Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
4. Derrick White, PG/SG, Colorado
2016-17 statistics: 18.3 PPG, 4.3 APG, 4.1 RPG
The Atlanta Hawks are hoping to cast a wide net to find talent early in the second round of the 2017 NBA Draft. Few players were able to impact the NCAA in the array of ways Derrick White did in Colorado.
He was one of just 14 players, and only four in the power conferences, to average at least 18 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game.
Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of his game is his patience, as he routinely wore opponents down before creating scoring opportunities for himself or a teammate.
Taking care of the ball was problematic for Atlanta last season, as the team ranked 28th in turnovers, giving it away 15.8 times per game. Only Brooklyn and Philadelphia had more turnovers per game than the Hawks, while the 16 turnovers per game they averaged were the most of any team in the postseason.
The fifth year senior added another dimension rarely displayed among guards, as he was a potent shot-blocker, as he used his 6'7″ wingspan to reject 1.4 shots per game.
Atlanta will have trouble finding a player more NBA-ready than White.
Nov 16, 2015; Stillwater, OK, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Jawun Evans (1) shoots in front of Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions guard Ghiavonni Robinson (23) during the second half at Gallagher-Iba Arena. Oklahoma State won 86-72. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
3. Jawun Evans, PG, Oklahoma State
2016-17 statistics: 19 PPG, 6.5 APG, 1.7 SPG
The Atlanta Hawks have a pressing need to add depth to the point guard position. Only two players backed up Dennis Schroder last season: 27-year-old rookie Malcom Delaney and Jose Calderon, a veteran with 12 years of experience slated to enter free agency this summer.
Delaney played just three minutes for Atlanta in the playoffs, while shooting just 37.4 percent from the field and 23.6 percent from 3-point range during the regular season.
For a team that ran the pick-and-roll on 17.7 percent of their possessions this year, Jawun Evans could be targeted with the 31st overall pick.
At Oklahoma State last season, 56.3 percent of his derived possessions ended with Evans serving as the ball handler in the pick-and-roll. He became particularly adept at converting floaters, as he sank 46.2 percent of his runners in the lane.
During his sophomore season, Evans proved to be one of the most effective players at drawing fouls, as he went to the line 7.9 times per 40 minutes per game. If the Hawks determine a backup point guard is a necessity in the draft, Evans could be the choice at pick No. 31.
Apr 1, 2017; Glendale, AZ, USA; Oregon Ducks forward Jordan Bell (1) blocks the shot of North Carolina Tar Heels guard Joel Berry II (2) in the second half in the semifinals of the 2017 NCAA Men's Final Four at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
2. Jordan Bell, PF, Oregon
2016-17 statistics: 11 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 2.3 BPG
While Jordan Bell is listed as a power forward, the intrigue from the Atlanta Hawks stems from his ability to anchor the interior of the defense, a role currently held by Dwight Howard.
As the 31-year-old Howard enters the second year of a three-year, $70.5 million contract, Atlanta has publicly stated there is a place for him on the roster, but he could be on the move if the team enters rebuilding mode this summer.
Howard likely won't command much in the trade market, but if he is moved, another strong presence at the rim would be a necessity. Atlanta finished fourth in defensive efficiency this season and the addition of Bell in the second round would be a perfect option to help maintain its elite status shutting down opponents.
The 6'9″ forward dominated the NCAA Tournament, leading Oregon to its first Final Four appearance since 1939 as an exceptional rebounder and shot blocker. His finest performance came against Kansas at the Elite Eight, as he totaled 11 points, 13 rebounds, eight blocks and four assists.
In each game during the tournament, Bell pulled down 12 or more rebounds, as he posted averages of 13.2 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game during the Ducks' run to the NCAA title game.
The Hawks could immediately use him as a pick-and-roll partner for guard Dennis Schroder, as his speed and athleticism enabled him to shoot 63.6 percent from the field.
Atlanta Hawks
Nov 18, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Southern Methodist Mustangs forward Semi Ojeleye (33) looks to shoot during the championship game of the 2016 2K Classic against the Michigan Wolverines at Madison Square Garden. Michigan won, 76-54. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
1. Semi Ojeleye, SF/PF, SMU
2016-17 statistics: 19 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 1.5 APG
The biggest flaw exposed during the Atlanta Hawks' playoff run this season was the inability to generate consistent offense outside of Paul Millsap or Dennis Schroder.
Tim Hardaway Jr. was inserted into the starting lineup throughout the postseason, but failed make the desired impact. In six contests, Hardaway Jr. averaged 12.8 points per game while shooting just 32.9 percent from the field and 26.2 percent from three-point range. He was outscored 155-77 by Bradley Beal in the team's first round series.
For a team with multiple needs, including three-point shooting and perimeter defense, SMU forward Semi Ojeleye could be an ideal selection atop of the second round. Ojeleye enters the league with a 6'7″, 235-pound frame, projecting to blossom into a power forward in the NBA.
During his junior campaign at SMU, Ojeleye showcased his ability to shoot off the dribble or a catch, burst to the rim or operate in the post.
The 22-year-old led the Mustangs in scoring, averaging 18.2 points per game while converting 42.4 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc.
For a Hawks team in desperate need of a scoring punch, Ojeleye could wind up as the steal of the draft if he slips past the first round.
More from Hoops Habit
This article originally appeared on 
