Options for the Atlanta Hawks with the No. 1 pick

The ping-pong balls fell on Atlanta on Draft Lottery Day, helping the team move up nine spots and land the first overall pick in the upcoming 2024 NBA Draft.

While there has been a consensus on the No. 1 prospect among experts for some time now — a prospect who fits several of the Hawks’ needs — nothing is set in stone with a draft as fluid as this one.

Here are some options for the Hawks at No. 1:

Clingan gained momentum as a top-three pick in the pre-draft process, with ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski even saying Atlanta could consider him at No. 1.

This makes sense given the size and defensive ability of the 7-foot-3 UConn centers. He’s capable of being a game-changer on defense at a moment’s notice, and some NBA draft circles believe his 3-point shooting could eventually happen.

Regardless, the Hawks are sure to do their due diligence on Clingan.

If Atlanta wants to go in a very different direction, it would be the selection of French winger Risacher.

At 6-foot-9, Risacher projects as a high-feel three-and-D player, capable of shooting and defending the stingy point of attack while capitalizing on defensive breakdowns. It’s not necessarily a full-fledged project, but it would definitely need a few seasons of development to reach its potential.

This potential alongside franchise star Trae Young is certainly salivating, but their timelines are probably too far away.

The most obvious option would be Sarr, who at 7-foot-1 has shown top-notch shot-blocking and rim-running skills in limited minutes in the NBL this season.

Sarr is a perfect fit for Atlanta’s current core, functioning as a vital long piece alongside Young and co. But it could also serve as a launching pad for a rebuild. For now, his ceiling appears to be very different from Clingan’s. Sarr is able to put the ball on the floor much more frequently and has not hesitated to take and score from 3-point range: 30% on 2.0 attempts per game. Solid numbers for a big guy.

Sarr’s versatility makes him a unique pick at No. 1, and all signs point to the team going after him in June if they keep their pick.

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