Hawks may regret 'surprising' decision if executive poll proves true

There have been many reasons given to doubt the Atlanta Hawks in 2024-25 after an offseason of significant changes. 

One they had seemingly moved past was selecting Zaccharie Risacher with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2024 NBA Draft. Rischer flashed his versatile skill set during his two-game showing in NBA 2K25 Summer League and built off that with a strong preseason debut.

Questions about Risacher were prevalent before the draft, though, and remain in some circles.

NBA.com’s John Schuhmann shared the annual survey of general managers around the league on October 8, GM selected Risacher among the “most surprising moves of the offseason.”

He finished fifth behind Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges’ trades to the New York Knicks – which ranked first and fourth, respectively – Paul George signing with the Philadelphia 76ers, and DeMar DeRozan’s sign-and-trade to the Sacramento Kings.

It gets more ominous for the Hawks.

Hawks passed on projected top player of 2024 draft class

The GMs voted Houston Rockets rookie Reed Sheppard as the most likely best player out of the class in five years. 

Risacher finished second. But Sheppard gained steam as a potential top pick in the lead-up to the draft. The Hawks were also rumored to have explored trade options for Trae Young. Sheppard could have been a potential replacement in that scenario.

That is not to say the Hawks will regret picking Risacher.

His length and skill set are ideal fits in today’s NBA. But with questions about Young’s future persisting, Sheppard makes more sense as a potential top target now than he did then.

The potentially good news for the Hawks is that Risacher finished as high as he did, unlike the other often-rumored potential top pick, Alexandre Sarr. Sarr had a rough summer league and preseason debut but hit his stride in the Washington Wizards’ second game.

Still, he checked in tied for fourth with teammate Bub Carrington, the No. 14 pick of the draft.

Blockbuster Hawks trade ranks among ‘most surprising moves” list

Risacher was the only Hawks representative to rank on any of the lists in the 50-question survey. But he was not the only Hawks note in the piece.

The Murray trade also made the “most surprising” offseason moves list.

That it made the list is mildly surprising itself given the rhetoric around the Hawks, Murray, and Young coming out of the 2023–24 season. The Hawks missed the playoffs for the first time in two years and changes seemed inevitable.

The trade sending Murray to New Orleans was nearly two years to the date from the Hawks acquiring him from the San Antonio Spurs.

They do not have control of their draft picks thank to the trade for Murray.

But they also reloaded somewhat with players and picks in the second deal, giving themselves flexibility if the stick with Young as the face of the franchise of decide to go in a different direction.

That decision is not likely to come until the offseason. But the Hawks are prepared to act if and when it does.