The Atlanta Hawks entered Tuesday night’s NBA Draft with a clear mandate: add young, versatile talent to a roster in transition without mortgaging the future. By the time the final pick was announced, president of basketball operations Onsi Saleh and his front office had delivered on that promise — three times over.
Atlanta selected guard Kingston Flemings out of Houston with the eighth overall pick, added St. John’s forward-center Zuby Ejiofor at No. 23 and then traded up to grab Estonian center Henri Veesaar with the 52nd pick. Together, the three selections paint a picture of a franchise leaning into youth, defensive versatility and long-term roster flexibility.
Pick No. 8: Kingston Flemings, Guard, Houston
Flemings was the headliner, and for good reason. The 6-foot-3 guard averaged 16.1 points per game during his freshman season with the Cougars, showcasing a dynamic scoring package that includes a reliable pull-up jumper, the ability to get to the rim in traffic and improving playmaking instincts.
“Kingston is the kind of player who can create for himself and others at a high level,” Saleh said during the post-draft press conference. “When you can add that kind of talent at No. 8, you take it.”
Flemings projects as a backcourt complement to Dyson Daniels, whose elite perimeter defense and secondary playmaking could pair seamlessly with Flemings’s shot creation. The Hawks envision a guard tandem that can switch defensively while maintaining offensive versatility.
Pick No. 23: Zuby Ejiofor, Forward/Center, St. John’s
If Flemings was the offensive prize, Ejiofor was the defensive one. The Big East Defensive Player of the Year, Ejiofor was one of the most impactful rim protectors in college basketball this past season, averaging over two blocks per game while anchoring a St. John’s defense that ranked among the nation’s best.
At 6-foot-9 with a 7-foot-2 wingspan, Ejiofor brings the kind of physical tools that translate immediately to the NBA level. His ability to protect the paint, switch onto smaller players on the perimeter and rebound at a high rate made him a consensus first-round talent.
Key attributes that attracted the Hawks:
- Rim protection — Elite shot-blocking instincts and timing around the basket
- Defensive versatility — Capable of guarding multiple positions in switch-heavy schemes
- Motor and intensity — Relentless effort on the glass and in transition
- Upside — Offensive game is still developing, but flashes of face-up scoring and passing suggest room for growth
Ejiofor slots alongside Onyeka Okongwu in what could become one of the league’s most physically imposing frontcourt rotations.
Pick No. 52: Henri Veesaar, Center (Trade Up)
The Hawks moved up in the second round to secure Veesaar, a 7-foot-1 Estonian center whose combination of size, shooting touch and passing ability from the center position made him a coveted prospect in the 50-60 range.
Veesaar is a project by NBA standards, but his skill set — particularly his ability to stretch the floor with his shooting — represents exactly the type of developmental upside that second-round picks are designed to capture.
“Henri gives us another long-term piece at the five,” Saleh said. “We loved his feel for the game and his willingness to compete.”
The Bigger Picture
Tuesday’s draft capped a deliberate offseason strategy centered on what Saleh has repeatedly described as “optionality.” Rather than pursuing a single max-contract star through trade, the Hawks have prioritized accumulating assets, developing young talent and maintaining financial flexibility.
The existing core of Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels and Onyeka Okongwu gives Atlanta a foundation of two-way players in their early-to-mid twenties. Adding Flemings, Ejiofor and Veesaar deepens that foundation and extends the franchise’s competitive window without the risk of a single oversized bet.
“We’re not chasing shortcuts,” Saleh said. “We’re building something that can sustain. These three players fit that vision.”
Whether that patient approach satisfies a fan base eager for a return to the Eastern Conference’s upper tier remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that the Hawks have a coherent plan — and after Thursday night, they have the young talent to execute it.
Devon Patterson is a sports reporter for WACN 21 News. Follow WACN 21 for continuing coverage of the Hawks’ offseason moves.
