The Atlanta Hawks are looking to French teen Zaccharie Risacher to revive the franchise, making him the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft to join Trae Young, Dejounte Murray, and Jalen Johnson as core players, aiming to advance past their 2021 playoff run.
ATLANTA - The Atlanta Hawks have pinned their hopes on French teenager Zaccharie Risacher to spearhead a franchise revival, selecting him as the No. 1 overall pick in Wednesday night's NBA draft.
The 19-year-old Risacher caught the Hawks' attention with his prowess as a catch-and-shoot scorer and his ideal wing player size standing at 6-foot-9, 215 pounds. He is expected to join forces with guards Trae Young and Dejounte Murray, as well as forward Jalen Johnson, forming the core of a team that hasn't advanced past the first round of the playoffs since reaching the Eastern Conference finals in 2021.
Atlanta opted against selecting another French standout, 7-footer Alex Sarr, who was widely projected to be the top pick, following in the footsteps of last year's No. 1 pick, Victor Wembanyama of France, chosen by San Antonio. Among other candidates considered by Atlanta at No. 1 were UConn's Donovan Clingan, seen as a potential future center for the team, and Kentucky guard Reed Sheppard.
The Hawks, unexpectedly awarded the top pick after entering the draft lottery with only a three percent chance, faced pressure to make a sound decision with their second-ever No. 1 overall selection. The franchise's first came in 1975 when they selected David Thompson, who opted to play for the ABA's Denver Nuggets.
General Manager Fields disclosed fielding trade inquiries for the No. 1 pick and acknowledged considering offers due to Atlanta's lack of additional picks this year and few in subsequent drafts. The team's future draft capital was diminished by a 2022 trade with San Antonio involving Murray, which saw the Hawks relinquish first-round picks in 2025 and 2027, along with a 2026 pick swap.
Looking ahead, Fields must determine whether to continue relying on guards Murray and Young for offensive leadership. Despite speculation, Murray remained with the team past the February trade deadline amid discussions involving potential draft pick trades.
The offseason also poses decisions concerning veteran players like center Clint Capela, entering the final year of his contract, and forward De'Andre Hun
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