NBA Draft 2021: Biggest needs for all 30 teams ahead of draft day

Atlanta Hawks – No. 20, 38

Biggest needs: Power forward, scoring guard

Making it to the Eastern Conference Finals is a tremendous accomplishment for the Hawks, who have a franchise player in Trae Young and a solid overall core. They’ll likely lose forward John Collins to free agency, who’s set to get a massive pay raise. The other looming free agent is Lou Williams, the only other player on the roster that can create their own shot besides Young.

Former top-5 pick Onyeka Okongwu showed flashes in the playoffs and both Danillo Gallinari and a healthy De’Andre Hunter can take the minutes at the four-spot. But providing help for Young is the most important for Atlanta, so finding a shot-creator at 20 should be the goal. Jared Butler of Baylor could work now that he’s been cleared, as a combo guard that can shoot the lights out.

Brooklyn Nets – No. 27, 44, 49, 59

Biggest needs: Center, shooting guard

With a healthy Kyrie Irving and James Harden along with Kevin Durant, the Nets will enter next season as favorites to win it all. But the lack of depth they had after the Harden trade proved to be their downfall, particularly in the frontcourt after LaMarcus Aldridge retired due to a health condition. We’ll see if Blake Griffin resigns for cheap this offseason but it’s already a given that DeAndre Jordan isn’t playable at this point.

Brooklyn doesn’t need a scoring big man thanks to its “Big 3”. So a perfect option if still around would be Day’Ron Sharpe, a 6’11 center from North Carolina who has great energy and hustle and can be a good two-way rotational piece. Assuming Spencer Dinwiddie is gone as a free agent, a scoring guard could also work there as well.