Soaring Down South
Fansided

NBA Expansion Draft: 3 Hawks players to protect, 2 to make available

With NBA expansion seemingly inevitable, which Atlanta Hawks are worth keeping out of a draft?

By Joshua Buckhalter

Atlanta Hawks general manager Landry Fields
Atlanta Hawks general manager Landry Fields / Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 5
Next

The NBA is set to expand and the Atlanta Hawks could look to take advantage if they play their cards right.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver has not provided a specific timeline for inception, but he has left the door open and said the topic would be discussed at some point during the 2024-25 calendar season.

ESPN senior writers report the 2027-28 campaign is an increasingly realistic target.

They do not rule out 2026-27 but noted that league sources indicate the following season is a more realistic timeframe.

While the motivation for such a move is largely financial, there are basketball-related issues.

Teams were allowed to protect eight players in 2004 when the Charlotte Bobcats entered the league. Here are three players the Hawks would be wise to protect when the actual expansion draft happens and two they should expose.

Hawks must protect Zaccharie Risacher from expansion draft

If the 2027-28 season is the target date, then the 2027 offseason is when the Hawks have to worry. The Hawks have three players under contract as of September 18, including 2024 NBA Draft No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher. He would also qualify if a draft happened today.

A 6-foot-10 (in shoes) wing who projects to fit in anywhere from 2-4 on the court, at least in the early portion of his career, Risacher profiles as a fit in any situation.

Even if his ceiling is not a star, he would be highly coveted in a situation like this.

Risacher looked good in limited action during NBA 2K25 Summer League in Las Vegas. But his time was cut short with a quad injury. He has since been in the gym, appearing to put on good mass ahead of his rookie campaign.

He profiles as a good fit alongside Trae Young now with his positional versatility and defensive potential.

Risacher also projects as a solid supporting cast member for the Hawks’ next star, if it’s not him. 

Backup center and former No. 6 overall pick Onyeka Okongwu and veteran reserve Vit Krejci are both also under contract. However, neither player should take priority over the incoming No. 1 pick of the draft.