After spending 12 seasons with the Warriors, Hawks GM Travis Schlenk is clearly trying to replicate the Golden State mold with his choices in the 2018 draft. Judging from the first-rounders they had by the end of the night, the Hawks seem to be producing a "Next Gen" version of the Warriors with Oklahoma point guard Trae Young starring as Steph Curry, Maryland shooting guard Kevin Huerter playing the role of Klay Thompson, and Villanova small forward Omari Spellman channeling Draymond Green. “When you look at the league today, you need guys who can shoot, dribble, and pass. All three of these guys can,” Schlenk said at the end of the night. “We’re looking for multidimensional players that can play the way we want to play: on the both sides of the court.

But how close can a replica come to the genuine item? Curry and Thompson are all-time-great shooters, while Young and Huerter are just starting in the NBA. Huerter is a better ball handler and passer than Thompson was at the same stage of their careers, however Thompson isn’t used as an leader in Golden State’s offense, but Huerter certainly will be for new Hawks head coach Lloyd Pierce. There will be less pressure on Young to do everything on the ball like he had to do with the Sooners, which should lead him to running around more screens and having more open 3 pointers.

A Hall of Fame case can be made for Green because of his defense, and i just cant see Spellman reaching that level. But Spellman is a smart defender who plays with energy and enthusiasm. With a 7-foot-2 (218cm) wingspan, he’s a capable shot blocker and a competitive rebounder who does all the little things on offense as a passer, screener, and floor spacer. Spellman lost almost 50 pounds (22.68 Kg)during his redshirt season at Villanova, which improved his mobility defending the perimeter, but he was still sluggish moving his feet on switches against guards. Even if he isn’t an strong defender like Green, he’s at least a far superior shooter. Spellman shot 43.3 percent on nearly four attempts per game at Villanova. Schlenk is credited for Golden State’s selection of Green. It’s unlikely Spellman will be a 3× NBA All-Defensive First Team like Green, but even a single or double would suffice.

The best young player on the Hawks roster is forward Taurean Prince, who is like Harrison Barnes in Dallas: a hard-nosed defender with untapped offensive potential. The Hawks have amassed an intriguing blend of talent, and they’re not done building. There were trade talks heading into the draft involving guards Dennis Schröder and Kent Bazemore, per league sources.

The situation is complicated by Dennis Schröder, who the team has made available in trade talks, according to league sources. He has been difficult for the Hawks to deal due to concerns about his attitude and the $46 million remaining on his contract through 2021. Perhaps packaging their other draft picks could help convince a team to take Schröder, given he’s just 24. But keeping him on board and also selecting Young would effectively kill Atlanta’s leverage, and make it that much harder to secure a passable return.

The Hawks also selected Kansas guard Devonte Graham at no. 34, but traded him to the Charlote for two future second round picks in 2019 and 2023. Orlando Magic had promised Graham with the no. 35 pick, per a source, so Charlotte had to find a way to jump ahead, which allowed the Hawks to continue stockpiling future assets from a Hornets team that won’t be good for years. That’s the logic Schlenk used in the biggest trade of the night: trading the no. 3 pick (Slovenian point forward Luka Doncic) to the Dallas Mavericks for no. 5 (Young) and a top-five-protected 2019 first-rounder that will become fully unprotected in 2023. However, based on Dallas’s desire to pursue free agents like DeMarcus Cousins or Clint Capela this summer, per sources, there’s a chance that protected pick conveys next year. The Hawks will likely have three first round and three second round picks in the 2019 draft, which will give them immense flexibility.

But trading Doncic was a monumental risk for Schlenk. Doncic also fits the Warriors mold: He’s a transcendent passer who can comfortably play with and without the ball, and at only 19, has excelled at the highest possible level a non-NBA player can. My boss Bill Simmons always asks this question about draft prospects: “Could he play in the NBA Finals?” Doncic could. If there’s such a thing as an it factor, Doncic has it. It takes much more bargaining to get there with Young. The Oklahoma star is tiny (178 pounds/80.7kg, with a 6-foot-3/190.5cm wingspan and a skinny frame) and gets bulldozed on defense. There’s a lot of pressure on Young’s offense; he’ll have to become a truly great offensive player  something like Lillard so he can compensate for lack of defence.

Kings fans wanted to see Doncic in LA, but so too did Hawks fans. They weren’t happy when rumors broke that Atlanta might trade down from no.3 to select Young, and they were furious last night when it became a reality. But Schlenk did what he felt was right instead of succumbing to the critique of fans.The Hawks came away with three talented prospects who fit the type of team they want to build, with some extra assets to help them in the future, and Hawks showed that they won’t let public opinion dictate their choices.New season starts in October and we will have to wait and see if the Schlenk's risk will pay off.