The Smoking Cuban
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NBA Draft: 2019 Mock 2.0: If the Dallas Mavericks land in top 4

By Kohl Rast

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 31: Zion Williamson #1 of the Duke Blue Devils looks on against the Michigan State Spartans in the East Regional game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 31, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 31: Zion Williamson #1 of the Duke Blue Devils looks on against the Michigan State Spartans in the East Regional game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 31, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – APRIL 06: De’Andre Hunter #12 of the Virginia Cavaliers shoots against the Auburn Tigers during the second half of the semifinal game in the NCAA Men’s Final Four at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 06, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – APRIL 06: De’Andre Hunter #12 of the Virginia Cavaliers shoots against the Auburn Tigers during the second half of the semifinal game in the NCAA Men’s Final Four at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 06, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) /

. . F. Virginia. De'Andre Hunter. 6. 125

The wing from the new National Champions, the Virginia Cavaliers, played a very important part to the team throughout the entire season. De’Andre Hunter helped set the tone for perhaps the best overall team across the country with his solid shooting numbers and his stellar defense from start to finish.

The Atlanta Hawks appear to be nailing their rebuild efforts so far, adding John Collins in the 2017 NBA Draft followed by Trae Young in 2018, the team already has a point guard and a power forward/center for the future. Next up, they need a wing that can complement these two guys without taking too much away from their necessary touches.

Hunter was the ultimate 3-and-D guy from this year’s NCAA, shooting the long ball at a ridiculous 43.8% for the year while also helping lead the defensive efforts for a top three defensive team across the country. At 6’7″, 225 lbs., Hunter is an ideal size for a wing in today’s NBA and the NBA of the future.

Hunter is a catch and shoot player who does not have the ball-handling skills or passing skills to run an offense in any way. His job on the team will never be to create his own shot or really to create shots for his teammates, which would actually fit perfectly with the Atlanta Hawks and what they are doing right now.

Player Comparison: Robert Covington

I think this is one of the better player comparisons out there. Covington is known as a gritty defender and a plus shooter in the league and with his size and speed, he plays a lot like Hunter. Covington has some more of the intangibles right now, but Hunter could become a player like Covington before long.

Next: Washington Wizards