Should Zacharie Risacher be considered the new favorite to be selected No. 1 overall by the Atlanta Hawks?

The Atlanta Hawks certainly didn’t expect to be number one overall this year, but after winning the NBA Draft Lottery, the Hawks are in control of the draft. Those who cover the league and the draft have talked a lot about how this draft didn’t have superstar type talent on the level of Victor Wembanyama, Zion Williamson, or Anthony Davis, but for a team like Atlanta that already has talent. , this draft contains some very nice complementary pieces that have room to grow. Since the Hawks won the lottery, the favorite to go No. 1 has been French big Alex Sarr, a 7’1 220 LBS forward with a 7’4 wingspan who would make an immediate impact on defense. Sarr appears to be the perfect fit in Atlanta and remains among the favorites to be selected No. 1 overall.

But in recent weeks, another name has gained a lot of momentum: French striker Zaccharie Risacher. Risacher is a 6’8, 204 LBS winger who would also fill a big need for Atlanta. He has two-way versatility and has performed well since the lottery. He is a plug-and-play type forward who would suit the Hawks as a starting 2 or 3. While Sarr was the player sent to Atlanta in mock drafts right after the lottery, Risacher was mocked to go No. 1. 1 in Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman’s last two mock drafts and for the first time since the lottery, ESPN’s Jonathan Givony has Risacher going to Atlanta in his latest mock draft that was released today:

“Reports from the Hawks continue to indicate that their front office is at an early stage in its decision-making process and it is likely that it will not be clear which direction the team is leaning with this pick before draft night it’s unclear what appetite the owners have to enter a rebuilding mode, and that could be difficult to avoid depending on what the team does regarding the future of the team. stars Trae Young and Dejounte Murray,

Trading this pick for more immediate contributors or moving down to take multiple swings in this relatively flat lottery class are options. Consider a scenario in which San Antonio trades the No. 4 and No. 8 selections for the right to move up and draft Risacher.

If Atlanta remains in first place, Risacher appears to be an increasingly attractive option. His season ended with Bourg’s semifinal loss to No. 1 seed Monaco, capping a playoff run in which he averaged 15.1 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, shooting 67% from the field and 38% from 3-point range; all exceptional numbers for a 19-year-old at this level of competition. His next stop is the NBA Global Camp in Treviso, Italy, where he will complete a medical exam and participate in draft activity, including interviews with interested teams.

All teams in the top five have significant interest in Risacher, and it seems very unlikely, barring a major surprise, that he will drop out of the top two.”

Here’s what Wasserman had to say yesterday about the possibility of Risacher becoming No. 1 in Atlanta:

“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“.

When you read the latest mock drafts, it might make you think that Risacher is the new favorite to go No. 1 overall to Atlanta.

There are still four weeks left and I don’t think anything is set in stone yet for the Hawks or at least it shouldn’t be. It feels like there’s a lot of momentum with Risacher, but a lot can change over the next few weeks. Atlanta is going through a very thorough process and it could end with Risacher being selected with the first pick. This could also end with Risacher being selected and providing the Hawks with a needed two-way player who would fit in well with the rest of the roster.