Atlanta is increasingly expected to choose between Alex Sarr and Zaccharie Risacher for the top pick

The 2024 NBA Draft is less than five weeks away and the Atlanta Hawks will be on the clock with the first pick. Atlanta surprisingly won the 2024 NBA Draft Lottery and now gets the first pick. In what should be an offseason of big changes for Atlanta, this is likely the first domino to fall.

Since the Hawks won the NBA Draft Lottery, Atlanta has received French forward/center Alex Sarr in most mock drafts, but they have shown interest in French winger Zaccharie Risacher and according to NBA Insider Marc Stein, Atlanta is “increasingly anticipated.” choose between Alex Sarr and Zaccharie Risacher” For the first choice

Atlanta has struggled on the defensive end in recent seasons and lacks size, athleticism and length, which Sarr brings in spades. He is 7’1, 220 LBS and has a wingspan of 7’4. He uses his athleticism well and would immediately be an impact guy on that side of the floor. He’s arguably the highest prospect in the draft at a position of need for the Hawks. He is the presumptive favorite to be selected No. 1 for a reason.

SPN’s Jonathan Givony released his new mock draft yesterday and he calls for the Hawks to take Sarr, while also acknowledging that most around the league don’t really have an idea of ​​the Hawks’ plans:

“The Hawks moved from 10th to 1st overall in the draft lottery, a rare stroke of luck that gives the team a chance to select a prospect of a different caliber than the one their front office was preparing to pick all year season during an interview at the combine, general manager Landry Fields said he plans to “cast wide” in evaluating the Hawks’ options at No. 1, which makes sense in a class with no consensus on the best. prospects. Fields flew to France at the end of the election, but was not present for 14 points with 6 rebounds. Risacher’s breakout game two days later, when he had a career-high 28 points.

At this point, NBA executives don’t have a clear idea of ​​what the Hawks might ultimately do, as reports from their front office indicate they are still at a very early stage of the decision-making and they have a lot of work to do. gather information and find alignment. Many around the league expect the Hawks to select Sarr with the top pick, as there are compelling reasons to view him as the top prospect in this class with his elite physical tools, mobility, defensive versatility, his finishing ability and his potential as a perimeter shooter. He would fit well in a frontcourt alongside Jalen Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu, and should become a formidable rim protector who can also cover ground on the perimeter, which is attractive for minimizing Trae Young’s defensive shortcomings.

We expect Fields and the Hawks front office to consider other options here as well, including Risacher, Donovan Clingan and trade opportunities.“

While Sarr is the more popular pick, Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman had the Hawks select Risacher with the No. 1 pick in his new mock draft:

May 12 Mock Draft Spot: No. 2

Team: JL Bourg-en-Bresse

Position: SG/SF

Height: 6’8″, 204 lbs

Age/year: 19

French nationality

Professional comparison: Harrison Barnes

“With lottery teams paying close attention to the LNB Pro A playoffs, Zaccharie Risacher picked the right time to explode for a career-high 28 points on Saturday.

The big decision-makers of the Atlanta Hawks had traveled to France for the previous JL Bourg match.

While scouts continue to debate Risacher’s ceiling height, there is also a perceived level of certainty related to his positional size, athleticism, shooting and defensive tools/speed. And in a draft where there isn’t an obvious, sure-fire All-Star at the top, Risacher’s floor and 3-D archetype could give him an advantage with a team that has seen AJ Griffin struggle with injuries and Saddiq Bey. going down late due to a torn ACL.

The Hawks will be doing their due diligence over the next few weeks when it comes to who they might take No. 1, but there appear to be two favorites emerging.