3 reasons Zaccharie Risacher should be a starter to open the regular season

2) Defensive upside

Risacher’s build is perfect for a modern-day two-way wing. His length and versatility should allow him to flourish as a defender as he fills out and gains experience at the NBA level.

While Hunter is no slouch himself, he doesn’t possess the defensive ceiling of Risacher. Risacher’s 8-foot-11 standing reach could make him a game-changer on the defensive end. Meanwhile, Hunter’s 7-foot-2 wingspan has not helped him to anchor Atlanta’s perimeter defense – or avoid the yearly injury bug.

With players like Daniels joining the Hawks to help Young guard the perimeter, Risacher’s positional switchability could provide the final piece to a revamped defensive puzzle. In preseason play, he has displayed serious poise and maturity on both ends.

In his rookie year, Risacher won’t need to play hero for Atlanta. The Hawks will simply need their No. 1 pick to live up to the two-way hype he has flashed this preseason. He could take on an expanded 3-and-D role in Atlanta’s offense, hopefully outdoing Hunter’s previous seasons.

Hunter has scored six points in 39 minutes of preseason action. His lack of involvement in the offense doesn’t bode well for his future with the team. However, it does bode well for Risacher’s chances of starting when the season begins.

Risacher plays defense like a vet, and it showed in his two preseason appearances. He has also scored more than five times as many points as Hunter throughout the contests.