Bold new prediction revealed for Atlanta and No. 1 overall pick

What will the Atlanta Hawks do with the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft? For teams picking in the lottery, that’s the question waiting to be answered. Since the Atlanta Hawks won the NBA Draft Lottery in shocking fashion, speculation has been rife about what Atlanta will do with the No. 1 pick when they go on the clock on June 26.

Most mock drafts since the Hawks won the lottery have seen Atlanta take Alex Sarr, the 7’1 220 LBS forward/center from France. Sarr fills a huge need for the Hawks, as he should be an excellent defender with length and athleticism, although his offensive game must accompany it.

What if the Hawks don’t select Sarr? The Hawks have expressed interest in other prospects, including Zaccharie Risacher and Donovan Clingan, and Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report made a new prediction today that the Hawks will pass on Sarr in the upcoming draft:

“Weak draft classes tend to bring surprises. In 2013, the Cleveland Cavaliers certainly brought one when they selected Anthony Bennett with the first overall pick.

So while most mock drafts on the internet currently have big man Alexandre Sarr’s name called first, consider it a bet that anyone else on the field will receive that honor on draft night.

This seems especially safe considering the Hawks have the first pick. Veteran Clint Capela certainly isn’t the type of young talent who should keep a team from winning a big game, but 23-year-old Onyeka Okongwu might be.

Low classes also make it easier for teams to draft as needed. If there isn’t a surefire, can’t-miss prospect at the top of the rankings, you might as well take the talent that best fits the rotation. And again, that’s especially true with Atlanta, which was competitive last season and had to move up nine spots to get the top pick.

If the Hawks have Murray or Young, Okongwu, Bogdan Bogdanović and Johnson, another wing, like Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman’s top prospect Zaccharie Risacher, makes more sense. »

There has been a lot of speculation about the Hawks and Risacher since the Hawks won the lottery.

According to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony, Risacher is firmly in the race to become No. 1:

“Bourg de Risacher’s team has advanced to the semi-finals of the French qualifiers, where they will face No. 1 seed Monaco, a top Euroleague team that should provide a strong challenge. Risacher had a career-best game with 28 points in Game 2 of the quarterfinals, showcasing his talent as a dynamic 6-10 shooter and versatile defender with elite game sense.

Risacher is part of a group of prospects firmly in contention for the Atlanta Hawks at No. 1 overall, according to sources, and likely won’t have to wait long to hear his name called as he is in consideration for every team selected in the top 5. Risacher is scheduled to participate in the NBA Global Camp in Treviso, Italy, starting June 4, where he will undergo tests, drills, interviews and medical exams; although this might not come to fruition if Bourg qualifies for the final. Risacher is expected to be selective in his preliminary visits among NBA suitors once he finally makes his way to the United States.

Over the past two weeks, it appears Risacher has gained momentum for the No. 1 pick and NBA insider Marc Stein reported that Atlanta “is increasingly likely to choose between Alex Sarr and Zaccharie Risacher” for the first choice.

Givony also wrote that Clingan “has fans among the Hawks constituency at No. 1”:

“Clingan has momentum in June, as he made a strong impression during combine drills, private interviews and his pro day, where he left intriguing glimpses of perimeter shots that many recruiters said will be part of his game in the future – too distant future His measurements – 7-3 in shoes, 282 pounds with a 7-7 wingspan and an outrageous 9-7 standing reach are elite (as we know). already knew).

The draft lottery hasn’t done him too much favor, however, putting teams with established starters at the center position at Nos. 3, 4 and 5, which could drop him a little more than his big-board ranking l ‘noted. It wouldn’t be surprising to see teams like the Portland Trail Blazers or Memphis Grizzlies attempt to move up on draft night to land their starting center of the future. There are, however, rumors that Clingan has fans among the Hawks’ No. 1 constituency, meaning there’s still a lot to play for between now and June 26. »

Clingan is considered one of the top prospects in the draft, but the lottery may not have gone in his favor. Teams that could really use a player like him have fallen in the lottery and while it’s still possible he could go as high as No. 1, he could also fall out of the top five.

Risacher may not have the highest ceiling of the three prospects, but I think his skillset would mesh well with Trae Young and Jalen Johnson. His potential two-way ability is what the Hawks need, although he doesn’t have the defensive ceiling of Sarr or Clingan. Risacher has had some good offensive performances this season, but has not always shown consistency on that side of the field. He averaged 10.9 PPG this season on 38.9% three-point shooting.

Here’s the scouting report on Risacher from Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor:

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