Hawks to get 1st look at potential No. 1 pick in private workout: Report
The Atlanta Hawks are set to become the first team to get their hands on French wing Zaccharie Risacher, an increasingly popular choice to be the No. 1 overall pick of the 2024 NBA Draft.
Risacher went on a tear in the postseason, which the Hawks had front-row seats for the start of with General Manager Landry Fields joined by Assistant GM Kyle Korver and Head Coach Quin Snyder in attendance. He got even better after that.
That adds intrigue to how much more they could like him after a private workout.
“What are the Atlanta Hawks gonna do at No. 1,” Givony said on “NBA Today” on June 18 when host Malika Andrews asked what his biggest question of the draft was. “They’re working out Zaccharie Risacher tomorrow (June 19). That’s the first time an NBA team will get a look at him live in their building.”
Risacher, in the estimation of NBA insider Brian Windhorst, is no better than the “third or fourth-best player” at best, presumably meaning on a contender.
Givony said the Hawks “loved” what they saw in their workout with Donovan Clingan.
“They’ve worked out Donovan Clingan and they loved what they saw there. Quin Snyder put him through a detailed film session, he shot the three-ball really well. He had a great interview, he showed some real ability out of short rolls.
“They have a tough decision there at 1, and the question is do they slide back possibly to 4? The San Antonio Spurs own their pick next year. It’s unprotected. Can you get the best of both worlds? Slide down to 4, maybe get Donovan Clingan or Risacher, get your pick back, and really possibly allow yourself to go into this rebuilding process by trading Trae Young down the road. They have a big decision there to make.”
Related. Fields on trading No. 1 pick. Hawks GM delivers strong statement on potentially critical draft decision. dark
Alexandre Sarr was notably absent from Givony's assessment. But Andrews noted that Givony put the panel on watch for Young. He has been at the center of trade speculation since the deadline.
He also has three years and $138 million left on his five-year, $215.1 million contract.
However, Young has a 48.9 million early termination option for the 2026-27 season. He can also sign a three-year, $157 contract extension until October 21, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks, who spent 20 years in the Brooklyn Nets front office.
He isn’t the only former executive-turned-analyst to weigh in on the Hawks’ outlook, either. And others have pointed out more sensitive subjects.
Former NBA exec takes jab at Hawks over Celtics championship
Hawks fans showed grace in wishing nothing but the best upon Al Horford after he and the Boston Celtics beat the Dallas Mavericks for the NBA championship. But the Hawks found themselves on the wrong end of one sentiment.
Horford spent his first nine NBA seasons with the Hawks helping them maintain a presence in the postseason.
Those teams were never able to get over the hump, though.
They topped out in the Eastern Conference Finals just like the current Hawks. The former went in 2014-15 while these Hawks went in 2020-21. The chance of history repeating itself is at the heart of one league insider’s playful derision.
“worried that this Al Horford moment is the closest Hawks fans will come to seeing a championship,” The Athletic’s John Hollinger posted on X on June 17.
Hollinger spent seven seasons in the Memphis Grizzlies front office.
He has made Atlanta his home base and has kept relatively close tabs on the team since before that. His sentiments are also not hard to argue for given the Hawks have just one championship in franchise history, and that came while they were still in St. Louis.
As they tread into offseason waters, getting their next iteration right is paramount and Hollinger’s post is a gentle reminder.
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