If the Atlanta Hawks are going to prove their detractors wrong, they are going to need some surprise key contributors.
We know – or have a pretty good idea – of what to expect from the likes of Trae Young, Jalen Johnson, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Clint Capela, and De’Andre Hunter. Much of the other projected contributors are unknowns to the team if not to the league.
None more so than rookie No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher.
The top pick in the most unheralded draft class in recent years, Risacher is a “pretty easy call” to be the Hawks’ “biggest x-factor” according to Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes.
“To a greater extent than most top selections, the 19-year-old is something of a blank slate. He stands 6'9" and has legitimate tools on both ends, but nobody seems certain he can become a star,” Hughes wrote on September 21. “While that's one way to describe a low-ceiling player, the more charitable interpretation of Risacher's game is that he's so theoretically malleable and so skilled in varying areas that he has several pathways to being an impactful player.
“It's possible the Frenchman will provide high-end shooting and secondary facilitation as a combo forward, and his length and intelligence suggest he'll develop into a quality defender. It remains to be seen how much self-sufficient shot creation he'll provide, but with a three-and-D floor, it's hard to imagine him going down as a bust.”
Risacher had a brief but encouraging stint in 2K25 Summer League in Las Vegas. He averaged 14.5 points, 5.0 boards, and 2.0 assists per game. His efficiency was not there – 39% FG and 4-for-16 from 3P – but he was fluid and aggressive.
A quad injury knocked him out of the slate after two games.
Risacher has hit the gym and looks to have added some good mass to what was a slight frame that should serve him well in his first NBA season.
What that means for the Hawks’ is key. They are in between a pivot, still building around Trae Young but having moved on from most of the players from the most successful season in his career.
Rischer could play a significant role in what the Hawks decide after the 2024-25 season ends.
Zaccharie Risacher could have big impact on Hawks’ plans for Trae Young
If Risacher can prove effective immediately, it could prolong the three-time All-Star, Young’s tenure. If not, the Hawks could rekindle their offseason exploratory trade talks.
“The Hawks may not be interested in prolonging the Trae Young era for another several years...unless Risacher becomes the kind of gap-filling, low-usage second star who augments Young's one-way game,” Hughes wrote.
“On the other hand, if Risacher is actually something more than a role player, he could be the reason Atlanta warms to the idea of turning the page.”
Young has three years and $138 million left on his five-year, $215.1 million contract. But he has a player option for the 2026-27 season, so the Hawks only have two years of control and/or to convince him to stay.
Having Risacher prove to be the x-factor Hughes projects could go a long way toward that.