How Drafting Zacharie Risacher Affects the Atlanta Hawks in the Long Term

On the night of June 26, the Atlanta Hawks made a historic decision for their franchise by selecting Frenchman Zaccharie Risacher as the first overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft. Nearly 50 years in the making, it was a momentous occasion for the Hawks and their fans. During a post-NBA Draft press conference, general manager Landry Fields answered questions from the media, one of which concerned Risacher’s fit with the team.

“This pick wasn’t necessarily about any direction. I think we took the opportunity to get who we thought was the best player in the draft,” Fields told reporters on June 26. “He’s a player that we’re not going to sit back and project what the roster is going to look like at the end of the day. We think he’s a guy that we can build around, regardless of what the roster looks like.”

Given the lottery odds, Risacher’s impact on the team will be a boost the Hawks weren’t expected to get. He needs to dispel any doubts about his abilities, as he’s arguably one of the most disdained first-round picks in recent memory.

A successful rookie season will earn him respect and get Hawks fans excited for the future. Fortunately, playing alongside Young will accelerate Risacher’s development, especially on the offensive end. His skill set benefits the Hawks in a number of ways. And at 19, he has plenty of room to grow in the coming years, which promises a bright future for the team.

Risacher is an excellent shooter with the potential to become an elite player and has excellent perimeter defense. He can defend several positions on the field with his wingspan of 2.05 m.

He’s a big wing at 6’6″ so his jump shot will be tough to block, and he’s very athletic, especially on the fast break when he finishes at the rim. His style of play, especially his shooting and defensive abilities, next to Young will make for some electric moments, but that will come at the expense of De’Andre Hunter, who will likely see his role evolve to fit Risacher’s strengths.

Hunter would be a great replacement if management wants to pay his contract

Risacher’s performance in the NBA Summer League and the 2024 Summer Olympics will dictate his playing time in the rotation. If he plays at a high level, there’s a good chance head coach Quin Snyder will include the 2024 EuroCup rising star in the starting lineup come October. However, it’s important to note that his development will require patience and strategic planning from the coaching staff.

Even though it will be a draft, Hawks fans should be excited about what happens at State Farm Arena.

Over the next few years, Head of Player Development Reggis Onwukamuche and the rest of the staff will do whatever it takes to ensure Risacher maximizes his potential to become a star. Especially now that management has parted ways with Dejounte Murray, Risacher’s organizational role has become more important and will dictate the fate of the franchise. With Jalen Johnson taking over the role of second option, Risacher will need to develop into a solid third option.

Risacher, Young and Johnson are the only untouchable members of the squad. Usually, Risacher would be expected to carry a franchise at a young age in a traditional first overall pick situation, but the Hawks already have a franchise centerpiece, making him the final piece of a long-term core. He has more potential at the wing position than Hunter ever had and the Hawks need to take advantage of that.

Over time, we will see how the trio plays together and forms its unique offensive tandem. Johnson and Risacher will provide excellent defensive coverage on the wings while also being Young’s two main offensive weapons. Both have the potential to become stars in different ways.

If Risacher reaches his full potential in Atlanta, the Hawks will have three star players acquired in the draft. Young will finally earn the respect he deserves as one of the best point guards in the league as he flourishes in a system built for him. While it can be stressful, fans can’t help but applaud from the sidelines as the front office does its best to improve the team, and the hiring of Risacher was a big step in the right direction.