The Atlanta Hawks took Zaccharie Risacher with the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Just two years later, they are moving in a different direction. ESPN's Shams Charania reported that Atlanta is trading the 21-year-old and two second-round picks in exchange for Luguentz Dort and Ryan Nembhard in a three-team deal.
Why would the Hawks give up on a player they put so much faith in just two summers ago? Fans must look at Risacher's contractual details and on-court skill set to understand Onsi Saleh's latest move.
Hawks likely did want to accept Risacher's 2027-28 team option
Risacher signed a four-year, $57.0 million rookie contract in 2024, but his final two seasons included team options. The Hawks accepted his $13.8 million option for the 2026-27 campaign last year, but they did not pick up his $17.4 million 2027-28 option. Atlanta would have had to make this decision before Oct. 31, 2026.
The Hawks will no longer have to make this decision once the deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder and Dallas Mavericks becomes official. However, this trade hints that Atlanta was going to decline Risacher's final contract year. The Hawks now get back some value in Dort and Nembhard instead of letting Risacher walk as a free agent for nothing.
Dort's contract gives them more financial flexibility because his deal automatically expires after this season. He makes $17.7 million in 2026-27 before hitting unrestricted free agency next summer.
Dort now joins a busy guard room of Dyson Daniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, CJ McCollum, Kingston Flemings, Devin Carter and Ryan Nembhard. If the Hawks do not see a long-term future with Dort, they can trade him at the 2027 deadline or let him walk in free agency.
Saleh has made several process-driven moves to create financial flexibility during his tenure. The Risacher trade comes straight out of this playbook.
Risacher's role diminished ever since the Trae Young trade
The Hawks drafted Risacher when Trae Young was still the center of the franchise. Atlanta's offense was much different when the four-time All-Star carried most of the playmaking responsibilities. He consistently had the ball in the halfcourt to set up his teammates. Without him, the Hawks need more ball handlers, playmakers, and shot creators, but Risacher does not fit this mold.
Risacher excels as a shooter and cutter who starts plays off the ball. He averaged 12.6 points in his rookie campaign with Young setting him up, but his scoring decreased to 9.6 points per game last season.
After the trade deadline, Head Coach Quin Snyder replaced Risacher with McCollum in the starting five, and the Hawks saw much better results. Eventually, the sophomore forward fell completely out of the rotation.
Atlanta entered the 2025-26 campaign as one of the youngest teams in the league. Risacher certainly formed part of their young core last summer, but situations can change quickly in the NBA. Unfortunately for Risacher, he fell victim to the business side of sports.
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