Hawks projected depth chart after taking Zaccharie Risacher with No. 1 pick

Zaccharie Risacher said he is ready to do whatever the team needs next season.

After their campaign last season, they just need him to be himself. Risacher stands 6-foot-10 in shoes and figures to at least provide an immediate boost to the Hawks’ moribund perimeter defense.

The Hawks allowed opponents to shoot 2.2% above their season average on defended field goals last season. 

They were also one of the smallest teams in the league, headlined by Trae Young.

Building a sustainable defense around the three-time All-Star would feature as many players who profile similar to Risacher – offering positional versatility on that end while offering a variety of ways to finish plays on the other end.

And if the Hawks do decide to undergo a full-on rebuild – which they have yet to indicate is the plan – then Risacher hopefully gives them another foundational piece alongside Jalen Johnson.

As it stands, Risacher will have to blend into a group that returns most of its parts from 2023-24.

Hawks depth chart projection with Zaccharie Risacher in the mix

PG: Trae Young, Kobe Bufkin
SG: Dejounte Murray, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Garrison Mathews
SF: Zaccharie Risacher, De'Andre Hunter, AJ Griffin
PF: Jalen Johnson, Mouhamed Gueye
C: Clint Capela, Onyeka Okongwu, Bruno Fernando

The Hawks have several players who could return in free agency, most notably Saddiq Bey, who will be a restricted free agent so long as the Hawks extend the qualifying offer to him before June 29.

Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer reported on the “Hawks Report” podcast on June 17 that there was word Atlanta might not put up much resistance if teams pursued Bey.

The lack of a qualifying offer could speak volumes in that regard.

Risacher further makes Bey’s future unclear, especially with the latter recovering from a torn ACL suffered in March. Risacher could come off the bench. But that is hopefully a mere formality before seeing him perform in summer league and the preseason.

Hunter has been bandied about in trade speculation since the deadline, which could open up a starting spot for the No. 1 pick quicker.

Either way, do not expect him to stay out of the starting five for long.

Rischer – who stands 6-foot-10 in shoes – could help unlock some interesting lineup combinations for Hawks head coach Quin Snyder, particularly if they keep Hunter and Murray which would put groups also featuring Johnson, Risacher, and Onyeka Okongwu in play.

The Hawks have been unable to put a lengthy, versatile group out like that on the floor together for some time.