Atlanta, GA
Atlanta and Washington give the Southeast Division a 1-2 punch at the top of the NBA draft
The Southeast Division controlled the top two selections in the NBA draft, with Atlanta and Washington picking 1-2.
Those were rare spots for those two franchises.
The Hawks won the lottery after having only a 3% chance of landing the top pick. They had picked No. 1 only one other time, in 1975.
Washington had the top pick in 2001 (Kwame Brown) and 2010 (John Wall), but those were the only times in the past half-century the team had selected in the top two.
Elsewhere in the division, the Orlando Magic were also in an unusual spot after making the playoffs this past season. They picked Colorado forward Tristan da Silva at No. 18 — their lowest first-round pick since 2012.
The Hawks and Wizards may have been in close proximity in the draft, but on the court the teams are in very different positions entering this offseason. The Hawks were in the play-in round last season, with Trae Young and Dejounte Murray averaging over 20 points a game. Now they add French teen Zaccharie Risacher to the mix.
The Wizards, meanwhile, lost a franchise-record 67 games, and expectations figure to be low again even after taking French 7-footer Alex Sarr one spot after Risacher.
Atlanta Hawks
Needs: Defensive help at every level.
Who they drafted: Risacher at No. 1.
NBA comparision: Risacher said he and Golden State shooting guard Klay Thompson have “the same game.” Risacher then quickly added Thompson has the advantage of being a veteran while he must improve. Risacher is quick and athletic at 6-foot-9, 215 pounds and should provide both scoring and defensive skills on the wing.
Charlotte Hornets
Needs: The Hornets had plenty of issues across the board last season, none bigger than their defense. Charlotte finished second-to-last in the league in defensive rating. The Hornets also need to add more 3-point shooting and rebounding.
Who they drafted: Forward Tidjane Salaun of France at No. 6.
NBA comparison: Salaun has plenty of length and intensity and reminds some of a more athletic version of Otto Porter Jr. or Jonas Jerebko. The big question will be how he develops as a shooter. Just 18, he played very well at the Basketball Without Borders camp and was named MVP of the 2023 Trophy of the Future tournament, averaging 17.7 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. The Hornets passed on UConn center Donovan Clingan to take the 6-9 Salaun.
Miami Heat
Needs: Size
Who they drafted: Indiana center Kel’el Ware at No. 15.
NBA comparision: He might be considered a Myles Turner type, a 7-footer with serious offensive skills, a knack for rim protection and outstanding in the pick-and-roll. Ware also will immediately benefit from playing alongside Heat captain Bam Adebayo, who could get more minutes at power forward if Ware can take center minutes.
Orlando Magic
Needs: Perimeter shooting. The Magic were last in the NBA in 3-point field goals and 24th in 3-point percentage.
Who they drafted: Da Silva at No. 18.
NBA comparison: Philadelphia’s Tobias Harris because of his size, all-around game and maturity.
Washington Wizards
Needs: Washington is only a year into its rebuild, so the Wizards didn’t necessarily have to be picky about fit — but it happened that some of the top players available also had good size, which the team can use after dealing Kristaps Porzingis and Daniel Gafford in the fairly recent past.
Who they drafted: Sarr with the No. 2 pick, Pittsburgh guard Bub Carrington at No. 14 and 6-8 Kyshawn George of Miami at No. 24.
NBA comparison for Sarr: He says he admires Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo, although his defensive impact may make him more comparable to Jaren Jackson Jr. initially.
___
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
An Atlanta nonprofit is asking the public for help after it was the victim of a brazen theft earlier this week.
Propel ATL said that thieves cleared out an entire trailer of bicycles meant for underprivileged kids sometime on Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning.
Jeremiah Jones, the nonprofit’s advocacy manager, said that someone broke into the trailer and took 26 bikes and 24 helmets.
The equipment was part of a program that gives bikes to children from low-income schools and teaches them how to ride.
“My heart sank when I got the call that all the bikes were gone. I said, ‘Surely not all of them.’ And all of them are gone,” Jones said. “This class is solely for kids, and this crime is affecting them.”
Atlanta police are reviewing security footage from the area. Jones said you could see people taking the bikes out of the trailer, carrying them down a hill, and bringing them into a nearby parking lot.
The nonprofit is now trying to raise more than $10,000 to replace the bikes.
Propel ATL is also asking who may have information about the theft to contact them at programs@letspropelatl.org.
A man was arrested at a concert last week after he shoved two kids off their bicycles, causing one of them to fall into a fountain, Sandy Springs police said. FOX 5 Atlanta’s Brittany Edney reporting.
Photo by Luke Beard
When Muchacho first opened along the Atlanta Beltline and Memorial Drive, it became known as a place shaped as much by its surroundings as by its menu. That site, housed in a 100‑year‑old train depot, set the tone for how the brand approaches expansion: start with the bones of a building, then let the space tell the story. The newly opened Muchacho West Midtown follows that same philosophy.
“We like to celebrate unique attributes of each property and work with the palette we’re given,” says founder and owner Michael Lennox. While the original Muchacho is defined by its long, narrow footprint and Spanish tile roof—features reminiscent of its former life as a train depot—the West Midtown location leans into an industrial past rooted in automotive culture: a former Meineke car care shop. Big windows reference former garage doors, while retro racing details appear inside.
Photo by Luke Beard
Still, the connective tissue between the two locations is clear. Both spaces draw heavily from Muchacho’s Southern California skate‑and‑surf roots. At Muchacho West Midtown, familiar playfulness appears via a blue‑orange‑yellow racing stripe pattern, a three‑dimensional pegboard gallery wall used to hang art and plants, and vintage Meineke signage. A life‑size cardboard cutout of George Foreman, once the pitchman for Meineke, underscores Lennox’s willingness to lean into humor and nostalgia. “It’s a playful brand,” he says.
A functional halfpipe for skateboarding anchors the outdoor experience and will double as a performance space for bands and DJs. In about a month, a 4,000‑square‑foot “tropical secret garden” with tall bamboo lining the perimeter will open on the south side of the property. Another 1,500 square feet of patio space wraps the west and north sides, currently welcoming about 80 guests. Altogether, the West Midtown location will accommodate about 215 guests, making it comparable in size to the original, with a little more outdoor space.
Photo by Luke Beard
Muchacho West Midtown opened with the same core menu that made the Beltline location a staple: tacos, breakfast burritos, coffee, cocktails, and beer. Standouts like migas, chilaquiles, carne asada, and al pastor continue to be available. Over time, however, Lennox says each location is expected to develop its own personality, driven by the chefs who have “a pretty wide creative latitude.” Chef Betty Aparicio, formerly of Chido & Padre’s, steers the kitchen on the Westside.
“We want to nurture some immediate familiarity while providing space for some special moments you can only have at each location,” Lennox says.
Photo by Luke Beard
One of these special moments will take place April 4 at a grand opening party dubbed MuchachoFest. Expect bands, a fortune teller, a mini skate park in parking lot, food and drink specials, and giveaways. “It’s going to be a fun day in West Midtown,” Lennox says.
A third Muchacho location will debut in the old Revival space in Decatur this summer. In addition, the Electric Hospitality team is bringing Ladybird Grove & Mess Hall to the Westside. Slated to launch in May on 11th Street, the convivial restaurant and bar will feature a 5,000-square-foot courtyard with an airstream bar, stage, and Crepe Myrtles, and a 45-seat island bar inside. Formerly a single-story warehouse from 1950s or ’60s, Ladybird West Midtown will offer the same food and beverages as its Eastside sibling with room for the chef and mixologist to add their unique touches.
Advertisement
5-seed Oklahoma knocks off Florida 82-64 to advance to the SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament quarterfinals
Oregon Lottery Pick 4 results for March 5
Pennsylvania man arrested for allegedly feeding pet parakeet marijuana and beer
RI Lottery Numbers Midday, Numbers Evening winning numbers for March 5, 2026
South Carolina Lottery Pick 3, Pick 4 results for March 5, 2026
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Indiana Members Credit Union announced as new anchor tenant at Bottleworks District
DOJ continues Biden autopen probe despite former president unlikely to face charges
Fact check: Did French border guards mock influencers returning from Dubai amid Iran war?
Iran’s fight for survival / The widening war / Trump’s nebulous goals : Sources & Methods
Map: 4.9-Magnitude Earthquake Shakes Louisiana
Paxton vows he’s ‘staying in this race’ even if Trump backs Cornyn in Texas GOP clash
-
World1 week agoExclusive: DeepSeek withholds latest AI model from US chipmakers including Nvidia, sources say
-
Wisconsin4 days agoSetting sail on iceboats across a frozen lake in Wisconsin
-
Massachusetts1 week agoMother and daughter injured in Taunton house explosion
-
Massachusetts3 days agoMassachusetts man awaits word from family in Iran after attacks
-
Maryland5 days agoAM showers Sunday in Maryland
-
Florida5 days agoFlorida man rescued after being stuck in shoulder-deep mud for days
-
Denver, CO1 week ago10 acres charred, 5 injured in Thornton grass fire, evacuation orders lifted
-
Oregon7 days ago2026 OSAA Oregon Wrestling State Championship Results And Brackets – FloWrestling