Who are the Hawks taking with the No. 1 pick in B/R’s latest mock draft?

We’re less than four weeks away from the 2024 NBA Draft and after winning the draft lottery for the first time in franchise history, the Atlanta Hawks are going to set the tone for how the first round goes. After Atlanta won the lottery, Alex Sarr became the favorite to be selected with the No. 1 pick and remains that way today. However, over the past few weeks there has been considerable buzz around French winger Zaccharie Risacher. In the latest mock draft from Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman, he has the Hawks selecting Risacher, which he has done for two consecutive mock drafts.

May 21 Mock Draft Spot: No. 1

Team: JL Bourg-en-Bresse

Position: SG/SF

Height: 6’8″, 204 lbs

Age/year: 19

French nationality

Professional comparison: Harrison Barnes

“Every possession of Zaccharie Risacher in the playoffs is currently under the microscope of the Atlanta Hawks and other lottery teams. And he is coming off back-to-back outstanding performances with a total of 39 points and five threes against AS Monaco .

He still scores with essentially the same shooting regime and an effective one-two punch of off-ball shooting and athleticism in transition. This hints at a very translatable plug-and-play game, especially for a lineup like Atlanta’s that already has two creators in Trae Young and Dejounte Murray..

Alex Sarr may provide more theoretical upside with his defensive versatility and face-up flashes at 7’1″. Donovan Clingan could prove to be more of an impact presence with his rim protection.

While scouts continue to debate Risacher’s ceiling height, there is also a perceived level of certainty related to his positional size, shooting tools and defensive quickness. In a draft where there is no obvious, sure 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 leave. late due to torn ACL“.

Risacher has performed well over the past two weeks and is certainly in the running for the No. 1 pick. I think Sarr has a higher ceiling and would help the Hawks more on that end, but his offensive game isn’t a sure thing and Risacher might be a safer prospect, albeit with a lower ceiling.

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.

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. »

With less than four weeks remaining, it appears the Hawks have zeroed in on a handful of prospects (Sarr, Risacher and Clingan) and will most likely take one of them. The Hawks front office needs to get this pick right to help reshape this roster and put the Hawks back in contention for the Eastern Conference playoffs.