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NBA Mock Draft 2012: SI Has Atlanta Hawks Taking Will Barton

With the No. 23 pick in a draft that is still extremely unsettled after Anthony Davis, it's almost impossible for the Atlanta Hawks to target anyone in the first round.

Their selection will in large part be determined by which players draft stock heat up and who ends up getting pushed down to their selection at No. 23.

One player moving up draft boards recently is Memphis SG Will Barton, whom SI.com's Sam Amick has going to the Hawks in his latest mock draft:

Barton's stock appears to be on the rise, and he'll have his chance to make his case for the Hawks when he works out in Atlanta next Wednesday. He averaged 18 points (on 50.9 percent shooting from the field and 34.6 percent from three-point range), 8.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.4 steals last season. His accuracy improved greatly from his freshman season, when he shot 42.8 percent overall and 26.5 percent from beyond the arc.

Barton has an excellent combination of length, athleticism and skill at 6'6 175 with a 6'10 wingspan, but he'll need to put on weight to survive forays into the paint at the next level.

His versatility could be an asset for Atlanta, as he could conceivably play all three perimeter positions offensively, although his lack of bulk could be a problem defensively.

For more coverage of the Atlanta Hawks and the NBA Draft, stay tuned to Peachtree Hoops.

Photographs by coka_koehler used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.