Top players to watch in Atlanta this summer

The Atlanta Hawks kick off their Summer League schedule this Friday with a game against the Washington Wizards. It will be a matchup between the top two picks in this year’s NBA draft, Zaccharie Risacher and Alex Sarr, and eyes will be on both players. After the game against the Wizards, the Hawks will play games against the Spurs, Lakers and Bulls, and perhaps more.

Earlier this week, Atlanta released its Summer League roster and Risacher was of course on it.

Other players on the Hawks roster include Miles Norris, 2023 first-round pick Kobe Bufkin, 2024 second-round pick Nikola Durisic, Jordan Bowden, Jarkel Joiner, Emmitt Matthews, 2024 second-round pick Mouhamed Gueye, Dylan Windler, Keaton Wallace, Moses Wood, Nick Ongenda and Rob Baker.

So who are the guys to watch this summer in Atlanta?

Zaccharie Risacher

This one is a no-brainer. Any time the first pick plays in Summer League, there will be eyes on him. This will be the first opportunity to see what Risacher can bring to the Hawks this season, and I’m especially interested in seeing what he does with the ball in his hands. One of the criticisms of Risacher throughout the draft process was that he wasn’t very good with the ball and wasn’t much of a playmaker. He’s praised for his defense and shooting, but I think he’ll have a chance to do some things with the ball in his hands this summer. While this is a great opportunity for Risacher, I wouldn’t recommend overreacting to anything good or bad about Summer League.

Kobe Bufkin

Bufkin spent most of his rookie season either in the G-League or injured, but he showed serious two-way potential when he was on the court. Unless the Hawks make another big change, Bufkin could be considered the team’s backup point guard after Murray leaves. Summer League will be his chance to show that he can do that, and I’ll be keeping an eye on Bufkin especially on offense. Bufkin’s defensive abilities showed when he got some playing time, but he still needed to work on his shot. Bufkin could be a very good two-way player if his offense improves.

Mouhamed Gueye

Gueye was part of last year’s draft class and, like Bufkin, spent most of last season in the G-League or injured. Gueye got some playing time late last season and showed potential on both ends of the floor. It’s too early to tell if Gueye could be a part of the rotation this season, but this will be an opportunity for him to show he’s ready for a bigger role.

Nikola Durisic

The Hawks traded up in the second round of this year’s NBA draft to get Durisic and while it’s unclear if he’ll make the team this year, this will be his chance to show it. Durisic is a very good passer and creator on offense, but what he does without the ball in his hands is the big question. I’ll be interested to see his role this summer for the Hawks.