Hawks trade up to 4, get UVA’s De’Andre Hunter


Adrian Wojnarowski
NBA

The Atlanta Hawks have acquired the No. 4 pick, Virginia forward De’Andre Hunter, in Thursday’s NBA draft from the New Orleans Pelicans for the No. 8 (Texas center Jaxson Hayes), 17 (Virginia Tech guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker) and 35 picks, league sources told ESPN.

The Pelicans are also sending Solomon Hill, the No. 57 pick and a future second-round pick to Atlanta as part of the exchange. Atlanta is also sending a heavily protected Cleveland first-round pick in 2020 to the Pelicans, sources said.

Hunter, who was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year last season, would shore up an Atlanta team that struggled on defense last season, posting the fourth-worst defensive efficiency in the league. No player under contract with the Hawks for next season ranked in the top 150 in ESPN’s defensive plus-minus this past season.

The move marks the second year in a row that Atlanta general manager Travis Schlenk has made a big move in the lottery. Last year, it was to trade down two spots to select Trae Young while also acquiring the No. 10 pick in this year’s draft.

The Pelicans acquired the No. 4 pick from the Lakers last week in the deal that will send Anthony Davis to Los Angeles. The trades can not become official until July 6 at the earliest.

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