The Atlanta Hawks landing the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft was one of the most unexpected outcomes of the draft lottery. Landing that selection during what was a pivotal juncture for the franchise made it seem like the basketball gods had handed them a lifeline. Because of their status a playoff contender and the trade rumors surrounding them, it was possible the No. 1 pick would be a trade chip. Though he could have just been playing chess, Hawks general manager Landry Fields quickly shut that down.
Atlanta wanted to keep the pick.
Is Hawks’ Belief In No. 1 Pick Zaccharie Risacher Shaken?
What happened after the 2024 Draft Lottery wasn’t nearly as surprising.
Nonetheless, when the Hawks drafted former JL Bourg forward Zaccharie Risacher, they might have went another direction. On the night of the lottery, Fields made mention of former Perth big man Alex Sarr. Just before the draft began, they were linked to former Kentucky guard Reed Sheppard.
Fields recently spoke to The Athletic’s Jared Weiss about the Hawks’ selection of Risacher. High on the Frenchman’s intangibles and ceiling, he doesn’t seem as concerned about Risacher’s rugged start as others.
“Just watching that level of humility while also maintaining a level of work ethic that he has were important for me and us,” Fields says. “And so what he can project out to be, I think he’s got a high ceiling, but I think it’s going to take time. He’s got a longer runway.”
To this point of the season, Risacher is averaging 11.5 points and 3.7 rebounds per game on .394-.267-.704. His scoring average is tied for fourth in the 2024 class with San Antonio Spurs wing Stephon Castle. However, his field goal percentage ranks 29th and his three-point percentage ranks 26th.
Who Is He, Really?
Risacher’s ceiling is undefinable. A lot of prospects’ physical tools help dictate where it will be. Yet, their skill level often outweighs the measurables. Their understanding of the nuances on the game emphasizes their status as a winning player.
In this case, though Risacher admits to feeling like an average athlete in terms of his explosiveness, he knows the advantages of having smooth fluidity at 6-foot-8 with an 8-foot-11 standing reach. This has been of particular use to him as a multi-positional defender. Offensively, his feel stands out. He’s more of a jack of all trades and master of none in terms of his guard skills. Nonetheless, he has enough nascent ability for there to be a real chance he becomes more of a go-to player on offense.
As Fields says, it’ll take time for him to reach his peak. That’s the case for many players, so it’s not a dig or even a sign of doubt. However, it’s a realistic outlook for Risacher, who just isn’t the typical No. 1 pick.
To be frank, it’s fair to say that Risacher has performed below the level of past No. 1 picks. In just the past five years, San Antonio Spurs big man Victor Wembanyama (2023), Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (2022), Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2021), Minnesota Timberwolves wing Anthony Edwards (2020), and New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (2019) have been drafted. Risacher may have notched a 33-point game this season, but he’s yet to demonstrate that level of talent.
No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher had it ROLLING in the @ATLHawks win!
33 PTS (career high)
A career day for a career just underway
pic.twitter.com/b6nYLSM6HX
— NBA (@NBA) November 7, 2024
None of this will stop Risacher from becoming a franchise cornerstone though. Even if he becomes more like Shane Battier than Klay Thompson, that’s still a player who teams will want to keep around.
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