The 2024 NBA Draft is less than an hour away. However, the Atlanta Hawks have been on the clock since they landed the No. 1 pick. With draft day finally here, many are curious about how the pick will be?
Up to this point, JL Bourg forward Zaccharie Risacher and Perth big man Alex Sarr have been linked to the Hawks the most. According to ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski, “the Hawks have gotten down in the final days to two players… Zaccharie Risacher… and Reed Sheppard…”
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 26, 2024
“But I’m told Risacher continues to separate himself in this predraft process,” Wojnarowski adds. “Risacher is closing in at the top of the draft board in Atlanta…”
Hawks Choosing Between Zaccharie Risacher, Reed Sheppard At No. 1
Zaccharie Risacher
In Risacher, the Hawks would theoretically be landing a modern-day forward who excels at shooting from beyond the arc and defending multiple positions. In 2023-24, the 19-year-old averaged 11.1 points in 23.3 minutes per game while shooting 47.0 percent from the field and 38.7 percent from 3. With a 44.2 percent 3-point attempt rate, nearly half of his attempts came from beyond the arc.
Furthermore, combo forward Saddiq Bey will enter free agency just months after a season-ending knee surgery. Due to the timing of his injury, he could miss a substantial chunk of 2024-25. So, ultimately, Risacher can also be a cog in the machine. Even if Risacher didn’t have a chance to be a more effective outside threat than Bey, there’s an inherent value in him coming in to keep Hawks head coach Quin Snyder’s offense running smoothly.
There are concerns though. For one, Risacher’s averages are modest. Though his scoring average per 36 minutes (17.2 points per game) inspires more confidence, it also came against less skilled players than his collegiate counterparts. As much of his shot-creation led to 3-point attempts, there are questions about his in-between game and ability to get all the way to the rim. Lastly, looking at his entire body of work, he’s only made 34.7 percent of his career 3s. If his outside jumper is supposed to be his best offensive skill, he does have bust potential.
Reed Sheppard
If Atlanta drafts Reed Sheppard, it’s not known whether he would start or come off the bench. This could be rectified by the Hawks trading Trae Young or Dejounte Murray. However, if Atlanta moves Murray, the Hawks’ backcourt will be severely undersized. Unfortunately for Atlanta, Murray presumably has higher trade value than Young because he’s more coachable and he’s a better defender. Before even getting into the merits of Sheppard being the No. 1 pick based on talent and skill, the fit is already in question.
That being said, Sheppard could be a solid fit next to Murray in the backcourt. In some ways, he’s the antithesis of Young.
Sheppard won’t dazzle fans with a dizzying dribbling display but he’s a heady, savvy ball-handler who often just makes the right play. He may not be able to play point guard full-time, but he’s a shrewd pick-and-roll playmaker. He moves the ball without hesitation. Furthermore, he’s incredibly efficient, showing great touch inside and outside. At the other end, his intelligence and activity help him cause plenty of turnovers.
