Hawks GM addresses failed attempts to schedule private workout with top prospect

The Atlanta Hawks are learning that you cannot always get what you want, even in a draft in which you might hold the No. 1 pick.

That is their current situation as they have encountered roadblocks in their attempts to secure a private workout with Perth Wildcats big man Alexandre Sarr. The 7-footer was long projected to be the top talent in the draft.

However, his French countryman, Zaccharie Risacher, has risen as Sarr has fallen.

Speaking with 92.9 The Game in Atlanta just one day ahead of the draft, Hawks general manager Landry Fields explained their failed attempts at bringing Sarr in and more.

“He was scheduled to come work out, we had it on the books, and then he declined to workout,” Fields said on “The Steakhouse” on June 25. “I do know [whether or not Sarr worked out for other teams], but I can’t share.

“I don’t take a large offense to that, because it’s nothing novel This is something that agents do. What we’re doing is making sure you’re accounting for that. So you always make sure that you;re doing your work early so that if you do get into situations like that where you can’t get a piece of information, you hopefully already have that in order to make a good decision.

“Of course, they gave us an explanation. And it kinda just is what it is. So at that point, it’s the information that we’ve got, and we show up tomorrow with the best decision.”

Fields was mostly coy about his plans, both for the draft and the current roster.

He said that he would not get into such discussions during the interview amid swirling rumors about Trae Young and Dejounte Murray. But he insisted that they would continue to build out the roster with players who possess “Hawks DNA.”

Their most pressing item, though, is the draft, and Sarr’s decision has left Risacher and UConn’s Donovan Clingan as the top projected selections.

There is little clarity beyond that, though Fields says they have a decent idea of their choice.

“I have a pretty good sense of who we’ll take. There’s not many other meetings to be had and we’ve done deep dives on a lot of different players. But at this point in time, I have a pretty good feel. So if something changes between now and tomorrow, you’ll know tomorrow.

“We’ve had calls on the No. 1 pick. But as I continue to say, unless something wows me, we’re gonna pick No. 1. And that’s still true today as it was the last time I said it.”

He also said they would be fielding calls up until they make the pick on June 26.