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NBA: Predicting the 2019 draft lottery teams

By Colin Cann

SPRINGFIELD, MA - JANUARY 15: R.J. Barrett #5 of Montverde Academy dribbles during a game against Mater Dei High School during the 2018 Spalding Hoophall Classic at Blake Arena at Springfield College on January 15, 2018 in Springfield, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
SPRINGFIELD, MA - JANUARY 15: R.J. Barrett #5 of Montverde Academy dribbles during a game against Mater Dei High School during the 2018 Spalding Hoophall Classic at Blake Arena at Springfield College on January 15, 2018 in Springfield, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /
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Now that the busy portion of the 2018 NBA offseason is pretty much in the books, we predict the 2019 NBA Draft Lottery teams

After the 2018 NBA Draft and ensuing Free Agency period, most teams feel pretty optimistic. There is a lot of talk about making a playoff push, even if it isn’t exactly realistic. It’s time to put a damper on some high expectations and predict which teams will miss out on the postseason next year.

We predict the 2019 NBA Draft Lottery teams.

(Note: This prediction is based on current rosters.)

1. Atlanta Hawks

The Atlanta Hawks only won 24 games last year. That was with former Coach of the Year Mike Budenholzer on board. The same man who had the Hawks overperforming to 60 wins in 2014-15. Coach Budenholzer has since resigned. Lloyd Peirce was then selected to helm Atlanta moving forward.

Coach Peirce is a perfectly fine replacement for the rebuilding Hawks, but he does not have the experience or resume of coach Bud. Expect some growing pains next season while Peirce implements his system.

The Hawks snagged Trae Young and a future 1st rounder with their 3rd overall draft pick this year. Young may eventually end up an all-star, but the transition from college to the NBA has never been a smooth one for undersized guards. Don’t expect any different for Young.

Losing Marco Belinelli and Ersan Ilyasova hurt the Hawks. They only won six games after shipping them to Philadelphia, two of them against fellow bottom dwellers Orlando and Phoenix. Another coming to a Boston Celtics team resting before playoffs.

Picking up Kevin Huerter and Omari Spellman in the draft will help in the future, but like Young, they will need some time to get acclimated to the league. Leaving the Hawks with the worst record in the association.

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