The Atlanta Hawks selected Kevin Huerter with the No. 19 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, using the first-round selection acquired from the Minnesota Timberwolves as a result of the Adreian Payne trade. The pick was protected in case Minnesota did not make the playoffs, but on the last day of the 2017-18 NBA season, the Timberwolves beat the Denver Nuggets to secure the eighth seed in the Western Conference playoffs, thus sending the pick to the Hawks.
Hawks fans probably hope the fortunes similarly fall that way as the 2018-19 season unfolds, as Atlanta owns protected first round picks of the Dallas Mavericks (top-5 protected) and the Cleveland Cavaliers (top-10 protected).