When the Atlanta Hawks landed the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, two prospects were seen as the favorites: Alex Sarr and Zaccharie Risacher.
The Hawks ended up taking Risacher, perhaps in part because Sarr refused to workout for them. Many fans were initially excited about the pick, enticed by his 3-and-D skillset. However, after Risacher and Sarr’s performances in the Las Vegas Summer League, neither one of them look like they should’ve been selected No. 1.
Told by All The Smoke Production’s Stephen Jackson that people are skeptical about Risacher, Hall of Fame forward Dominique Wilkins defended the Frenchman.
“He’s young, man,” Wilkins says. “I mean how old is this kid, 19? He’s skilled, but you’ve got to be able to give him time. Give him time, he’s going to be just fine, believe me, he’s going to be just fine.”
Whether he was being diplomatic or genuine is difficult to tell due to his ties to the Hawks. Frankly, it may have been both. However, when co-host Matt Barnes asked his perspective on team’s drafting for potential, Wilkins responded quite candidly.
“It’s a gamble. It’s a big gamble,” the nine-time All-Star admits.
“Because as players, we know if a guy can play or not… we’ve done this our whole lives. I can tell you, right up front, after watching a guy (for) a couple of games if he’s ready to help you or he’s not the right move.
“And we’ve seen that time and time again,” he continues. “But I think the teams that win early are the teams that get guys who can contribute now instead of later.”
Hawks’ Dominique Wilkins Candid About Team’s No. 1 Pick, Direction
Before digging into Wilkins’s comments, it’s worth noting that playing experience doesn’t make a player infallible. An NBA veterans’ perspectives are invaluable, but even they must be taken with a grain of salt.
LeBron James, arguably the greatest player of all-time, has went to bat for players like former UConn standout Shabazz Napier. In fact, James considered him the best point guard in the 2014 NBA Draft. While Napier is talented, he had a forgettable NBA career that lasted six years.
No way u take another PG in the lottery before Napier.
— LeBron James (@KingJames) April 8, 2014
NBA demigod Michael Jordan is associated with the decision-making of the woeful Charlotte Hornets. The Hornets have a franchise winning percentage of .433, the fifth-worst in league history.
Cam Reddish and Harry Giles are beloved by their NBA peers. In fact, the affinity between them and their colleagues has likely kept them in the Association. However, for all the fascination about their potential, neither of them have lived up to the hype. Last season, they averaged a combined 7.8 points per game.
The Hawks, with front office led by two former NBA players (Landry Fields and Kyle Korver), selected the very same player he’s saying needs time.
Is Zaccharie Risacher Ready?
As far as Wilkins’s assessment of Risacher, there are two methods of analysis at play.
For those that utilize the eye test, his length, defensive agility, quick shooting stroke, playmaking upside, and potential to score off-the-dribble are tantalizing. At 6-foot-8, his ability to play 2 through 4 gives him a floor as a plug-and-play 3-and-D archetype.
Yet, the numbers tell a different story.
Though his jumper is pretty, her personality was ugly, as he shot just 25.0 percent from 3. This contributed to him shooting a paltry 39.3 percent from the field. Though it wasn’t a pre-draft concern, him making just 42.9 percent of his free-throws is worth monitoring. The supposed correlation between free-throw efficiency and 3-point efficiency adds to the importance of this.
An Unfitting Fit Pick?
A major factor in the Hawks drafting Risacher was his 3-ball, particularly with the team looking to alter their backcourt.
Whether they kept Trae Young or Dejounte Murray, a catch-and-shoot specialist would be able to mesh with the remaining star better than another on-ball scorer and playmaker. So, when Risacher shot 38.7 percent last season —especially with San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama causing scouts to salivate over French draft prospects —he seemed like a fit.
Risacher’s Summer League showing now puts his entire body of work further under the microscope. With 2023-24 his only season shooting at least 35 percent from 3, it now seems like an anomaly. Though drafted for his potential —his upside and potential readiness —Atlanta may have been mistaken.
The Last Word On Zaccharie Risacher
Risacher’s career certainly hasn’t gotten off on the right foot. The doubt that surrounds his future success isn’t just white noise. Nonetheless, he wouldn’t be the first young player who didn’t hit the ground running. For the Hawks sake, time and practice is all he needs to take flight.
In either case though, Atlanta’s decision-makers may not have put their team in the best position in the short-term.
