If Zaccharie Risacher - the 2024 first-overall pick - had remained with the Atlanta Hawks beyond this past summer, his future still would've been uncertain.
On top of the strong possibility he eventually would've been dealt, he had a looming team option - one that was absolutely no guarantee Atlanta would pick up.
Well, his new destination clearly has faith in his development, as they've exercised his $17.3 million deal for the 2027-28 season. He'll now be earning significant money in his fourth NBA season, and it appears him being traded away was the best possible opportunity for his career.
Risacher hasn't been perfect in Dallas, but he's shown glimpses of excellence
That's all that's needed out of a young player, right?
SItuations matter. In Atlanta, there was a clear urgency to win towards the end of his final season there. With a developing Risacher in the nightly rotation, playing the minutes expected out of a first-overall selection, their likelihood of climbing up the Eastern Conference standings was low.
It's nothing on the player himself, as he was given unfair expectations after the Hawks took him at the start of the 2024 NBA Draft, but Atlanta knew they needed to quickly reach a new level after trading away franchise star Trae Young.
If they suffered in the immediate, nothing was off the table regarding the direction they'd take.
Dallas, however, understands exactly where they're at in comparison to many of the Western Conference giants. They'll be a force to be reckoned with a few years from now, but a developing young core will take a reasonable amount of time to unlock their fullest potential.
Even someone as incredible on both ends as Cooper Flagg needs time to become himself. He can now do so alongside another former top pick, as Risacher seems to already complement him well.
Atlanta's controversial deal with Dallas is aging as a win-win
Risacher gets to make mistakes and show glimpses of excellence, while Atlanta aims to compete at the top of their respective conference.
It's never easy to essentially give up on a promising young player, but looking at how Dallas wasted no time accepting his looming team option, it feels like it was the correct move for each side.
While the Hawks still could've opted in - in a reality where Risacher remained in Atlanta longer than he did - it certainly wasn't likely.
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