The Atlanta Hawks made just one pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, selecting former Georgia Bulldog Asa Newell with the No. 23 overall pick. However, the draft was only the beginning of the influx of rookie talent for the Hawks.
Hawks general manager Onsi Saleh did not rule out a trade for a second-round pick after they traded the No. 22 pick for Kristaps Porzingis and dropped from 13th to 23rd in a different deal.
Instead, several other rookies are joining Newell on the Hawks after the draft.
Hawks 2025 UDFA signings:
Kobe Johnson -G/F - UCLA
Eli John Ndiaye - F - Real Madrid
Lamont Butler - PG - SDSU
The Hawks had a modest haul compared to some of their rivals.
Kobe Johnson is an easy early headliner, joining his brother and former No. 20 overall pick, Jalen Johnson, on the Hawks. Butler and Ndiaye ranked 90th and 92nd, respectively on ESPN draft analyst Jonathan Givony’s draft big board.
Johnson was 77th on that list, giving the Hawks a trio of prospects who were buzzworthy before the draft.
Johnson averaged 7.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.6 steals for the Bruins last year.
He finished his collegiate career as a two-time Pac-12 and one-time Big 10 All-Defensive team selection. Johnson also knocked down a career-best 36.2% from beyond the arc as a senior and is a career-76.7% shooter at the free throw line.
Ndiaye tied his career-high with 4.3 PPG and set a new personal best with 3.0 RPG for Real Madrid in league play last season. He also has a budding three-point game, averaging 2.2 3PA.
The biggest plus is that Ndiaye already has four years of international professional experience.
Butler worked out for the Hawks before the draft. Like Johnson, he comes with an extensive defensive track record, earning All-Defensive honors in the Mountain West three times and the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2023-24.
All three players flirted with second-round projections before the draft. So, what the Hawks’ UDFA class may lack in volume, it could more than make up for in value.
The Hawks had two open two-way contract slots.
Both Jacob Toppin and Keaton Wallace are restricted free agents this offseason, giving the Hawks the right of first refusal if any team signs them to an offer sheet. Daeqwon Plowden occupies the third two-way slot.
Teams can bring up to 21 players with them into training camp before they must whittle that number down to 15 by the regular season. Unless Plowden is cut, Johnson's deal is likely only for camp.
Most of the top roster spots are spoken for, making the back end a source of intrigue.