The Atlanta Hawks endured a tough 2012-2013 season finishing 40-42 and missed the playoffs. At the all-star break, the Hawks were 10 games under .500 with a 21-31 record. Atlanta management decided to start planning for next year and the future. They made two trades at the deadline. They started with a smaller scale move. They moved Devin Harris and Deshawn Stevenson to the Toronto Raptors for Landry Fields and John Lucas III. Fields looks to be a part of the future with them acquiring his 2 year contract at 6.25M a year. Lucas also has 1 year left at 1.57M.

Hawks then made a splash and dealt swingman Josh Smith, Louis Williams, and Mike Scott to Milwaukee for the budding big man Larry Sanders, Samuel Dalembert, J.J. Reddick and their 2013 1st round pick. A gutsy move which will clear a lot of cap room considering Dalembert and Reddick's contracts are expiring.

Just yesterday they accepted Larry Sanders team option for 3.05M. Atlanta's cap space now stands at 35.06M. Point Guard Jeff Teague is a restricted free agent and Hawks are expected to match any offer thrown his way. This puts them in a position to be a major player in free agency.

As for the draft, Hawks are also in great position. They drew the 14th pick and 19th pick (via Bucks). The latest rumor has them trading up into the top 10. Offering two picks might be able to get them in lottery position. Lets take a look at some of the top talent in this year's draft.

1. Lonnie Slay - Kentucky
7'0" 247 lbs. 19 yrs.

2. Reinaldo Paciani - Spain
6'6" 223 lbs. 19 yrs.

3. Maurice Dixon - Pittsburgh
6'8" 229 lbs. 20 yrs.

Maurice Dixon made a huge jump from his freshman to sophomore season. He was blessed with a Lebron-like frame and tons of athletic ability. Struggling to put it all together after his freshman year, Dixon worked hard in the off-season and put together an impressive sophomore year. He has good handles for a player his size and has vastly improved his shot. He shot 41% from beyond the arc. Dixon's inside game is also above average.


4. Everett Richards - Michigan
6'5" 187 lbs. 22 yrs.

Everett Richards is considered one of the better pure shooters in the draft. Over his three years at Michigan, Richards shot 44% from downtown. His game does not stop there. He can handle the ball and get to the rim with ease. Many scouts have mentioned Ray Allen when studying him.


5. Isaac Peeler - Louisville
6'7" 202 lbs. 21 yrs.

Rick Pitino turned Isaac Peeler into the best on-ball defender in college basketball. He helped Pitino and Louisville beat Jake Stribling and Indiana in the National Championship. He held Stribling to 14 points on 5-16 shooting from the field. Peeler is continuing to work on his offensive game. He struggles to shoot from outside but slashes to the hoop impressively.


6. Scooter Bailey - Arizona
6'1" 194 lbs. 20 yrs.

Scooter Bailey is the best scoring point guard in the draft. Bailey paced Arizona all year and led them to an NCAA tournament berth. He averaged 17.4 points per game. The downside is his lack of court vision and inability to run an offense.


7. Hariss Erhan - Romania
5'11" 196 lbs. 22 yrs.

The Romanian has the best court vision of all point guards in the draft. Many compare his style of play to Ricky Rubio. He will dazzle you with quickness and flashy passes. Many are questioning his ability to score in the NBA. With the right team, he could lead an offense.


8. Jake Stribling - Indiana
6'8" 223 lbs. 20 yrs.

Stribling grew up and went to school in Indiana. People in Indy have been calling him an "athletic Larry Bird" since his high school days. People outside of the state seem to disagree. His father has coached him all the way through high school. Dad has turned him into an all-around player. After losing to Louisville in the National Championship, he decided to come out after his sophomore year.


9. Angelo Kersey - Cincinnati
6'10" 215 lbs. 21 yrs.

Kersey is an athletic defensive-minded player from Cincy. He was second in rebounding (11.6) and blocking (2.7) to Lonnie Slay. Kersey showed to be a strong finisher at the rim with many highlight dunks this year. He had the second best vertical at the combine.


10. Drew Hardy - Ohio State
6'2" 213 lbs. 21 yrs.

Buckeye point guard Drew Hardy is the most well-rounded point guard in this class. Scooter Bailey can score but lacks vision. The Romanian Hariss Erhan has vision but cannot score efficiently. Hardy has both but is ranked slightly under the two. Many believe that he has reached his potential which sets him back.


11. Dedric Powers - Louisville
6'11" 235 lbs. 19 yrs.

The big man Dedric Powers was an essential element to Louisville's championship run. While he lacks athleticism like Lonnie Slay and Angelo Kersey, Powers has a terrific low post game. He is a very fundamental player that is reminiscent at times of Tim Duncan.


12. Marshall Sutton - Wisconsin
6'11" 244 lbs. 22 yrs.

The Wisconsin Badger had a terrific four year career. His experience is one of his best assets. He has developed each year and created a solid name for himself. Sutton bangs down low with the best of them. Not only does he have a good inside game, he can step back and knock down the mid-range shot. He has been compared to a Carlos Boozer type player.