When the NBA Draft takes place on June 25, the Atlanta Hawks will have the No. 13 and No. 22 picks. Given their young timeline, the Hawks will aim for a game-changing rookie from a deep draft that is loaded with talent.

New reports have surfaced on a potential late-round lottery target for the Hawks. Joan Beringer, an 18-year-old from France, has drawn interest from several teams ahead of the upcoming draft. Ranked No. 17 in ESPN’s draft big board rankings, Beringer is a 6-foot-11 high-flier with a 7-foot-5 wingspan. The teenage prospect can protect the rim and switch onto smaller players in space, giving him the kind of skill set NBA teams look for in a young center.

During his latest season overseas in the Adriatic League and EuroCup, Beringer averaged 1.4 blocks in just 18 minutes per game. The young gun led the Adriatic League in block percentage and shot 61% from the field through 51 appearances in his 2024-25 campaign.

In a May 22 article, RG’s Grant Afseth reported on Atlanta’s interest in Beringer and why the French talent could be a perfect draft pick for the Hawks.

“Sources around the league have indicated to RG that he (Beringer) is drawing interest from teams in the late lottery range, with several front offices intrigued by his defensive instincts, mobility, and long-term upside,” Afseth wrote. “During private conversations with RG, one team many scouts see as a strong fit is the Atlanta Hawks. With veteran center Clint Capela entering free agency, Beringer could offer immediate rim protection and serve as a play-finishing threat in pick-and-roll alongside Trae Young.”

Beringer only started playing organized basketball in the fall of 2021, meaning he has played competitive hoops for less than four years. His raw talent and athleticism will make him tough for the Hawks to pass on, especially with frontcourt veterans Clint Capela and Larry Nance Jr. potentially on their way out of Atlanta.

Back in April, ESPN draft analyst Jonathan Givony lauded Beringer for his fascinating upside. Given his relative lack of basketball experience, Beringer may only be scratching the surface of his potential. 

“Beringer has been more impactful for Cedevita than his raw numbers would suggest. He leads the Adriatic League in block percentage by a wide margin and has the best on/off numbers of any of his team's big men,” Givony wrote. “His tremendous physical tools, combined with his ability to cover ground on the perimeter, switch onto smaller players and protect the rim, give him significant upside, especially since he has been playing basketball for only three years.”

Beringer is still a raw talent on offense, but Trae Young could unlock some untapped potential for the big man. Ice Trae’s past success with athletic play-finishers could open up a world of possibilities for Beringer as a Hawk.

On paper, Beringer would fit seamlessly with Atlanta’s franchise player. Given his bounce and wingspan, the French phenom could develop into an elite rim-runner next to Young. Young just finished averaging 11.6 assists for an entire season, leading the league in dimes across 76 contests.

Youth is on Beringer’s side, paving a potential path to becoming a better version of Capela. Beringer’s ability to guard smaller players already sets him apart from Capela, but the Swiss vet has obviously built a ton of chemistry with Young and his teammates over the years.

The Hawks could feasibly miss out on Beringer before they make their lottery pick, but ESPN’s latest mock draft actually has Atlanta selecting him at No. 13. The pick makes plenty of sense for Atlanta, and Beringer’s upside should have Hawks fans hoping Onsi Saleh pulls the trigger and drafts him.