As 2019 began, the identity of the NBA’s best rookie wasn’t in doubt. Luka Doncic of Dallas had indeed appeared to be what his ardent supporters insisted he was – a tremendously useful player, perhaps even a generational talent. And what team had famously traded away its chance to draft Doncic No. 3 overall? Why, the Atlanta Hawks.
As much as the Hawks insisted that deal wasn’t an A/B comparison of Doncic to Trae Young, whom they wound up taking with the fifth pick, that was always how it was going to be perceived. (We say again: That trade wasn’t just Doncic-for-Young but Doncic-for-Young-AND-a-top-five-protected-Round-1-pick-this-June.