With the NBA Draft about a month away, chatter has begun to pick up in regards to who the Hawks will take with the No. 1 overall pick.
The betting favorite and the consensus among most pundits suggest it will be Alex Sarr, the 7-foot Frenchman who resembles last year’s top pick Victor Wembanyama but is far less developed offensively as his fellow countryman.
However, the notion that it’s a foregone conclusion that it will be Sarr might be premature. In fact, NBA insider Marc Stein reported over the Memorial Day weekend that another French prospect is under consideration for the Hawks’ top pick –Zacchanie Risacher.
“The Atlanta Hawks hold the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft on June 26 and are increasingly expected to be choosing between two Frenchmen — Alex Sarr and Zacchanie [sic] Risacher,” Stein wrote.
Most mock drafts have the Hawks taking Sarr, but Atlanta’s brass took in Risacher’s playoff game with the JL Bourg-en-Bresse of the French League. Head coach Quinn Snyder, General Manager Landry Fields, and Assistant General Manager Kyle Korver were all in attendance.
The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor described Risacher as ‘shades of Michael Porter Jr.’ with strengths as a knockdown shooter, a solid ball handler for his size, a quick decision maker as a passer, and a lengthy defender while struggling to score at the rim.
If you’re looking at the Hawks roster as it currently stands, one could argue that Risacher is a better fit right now. Atlanta has two centers in Clint Capela and Onyeka Okongwu with a need for another versatile wing, but that’s not how a club with the top overall pick should operate.
The Hawks should be looking for the best player available, regardless of the position. Which player can contribute immediately, has the highest potential of superstardom and fits Atlanta’s culture? That’s what should be under consideration, not roster fit.
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Photographer: Glenn Gervot/Icon Sportswire
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