Hawks Weigh Guard Prospects at No. 8; Jakucionis Eyes Growth; Magic Face Tight Offseason
hawks-draft-options-jakucionis-magic-offseason
The Atlanta Hawks are expected to have a group of high-profile backcourt options available when they make the eighth overall selection in the 2026 NBA Draft, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Atlanta could target Darius Acuff, Kingston Flemings, Keaton Wagler, Mikel Brown or Brayden Burries if the front office opts for a playmaking guard to eventually succeed Trae Young.
If the organization prefers size or versatility, the paper notes that wings or big men such as Nate Ament, Aday Mara, Yaxel Lendeborg and Jayden Quaintance are also under consideration.
Additional Hawks Picks
Atlanta owns two more selections on draft night. At No. 23, prospects linked to the team include Houston forward Chris Cenac, Iowa guard Bennett Stirtz and Texas Tech guard Christian Anderson. The Hawks also possess the 57th pick in the second round.
Jakucionis Carves Out Role in Miami
Miami Heat guard Kasparas Jakucionis began his rookie campaign in the G League but secured a regular rotation spot roughly one-third of the way through the 2025-26 season, The Miami Herald reports. The 20-year-old Lithuanian has impressed head coach Erik Spoelstra with his work ethic and now plans to focus on strength training, ball-handling, paint penetration and off-ball spacing during the offseason.
Magic’s Limited Options
The Orlando Magic’s primary task this summer is hiring a new head coach to replace Jamahl Mosley, but roster upgrades may be harder to achieve, writes the Orlando Sentinel. After last summer’s Desmond Bane trade, Orlando holds fewer draft assets, and salary-cap constraints likely restrict the club to minimum-salary signings in free agency.
Source: Hoops Rumors
