Trae Young's comments set Zaccharie Risacher up for Jayson Tatum-like start with Hawks

Trae Young seems ready to play with No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher. The Atlanta superstar recently joined Paul George on his “Podcast P” show to talk about the future of the Hawks along with other topics related to Young and his team.

When discussing the types of players that best complement Ice Trae, George suggested that Risacher could be one of those players. Young fully agreed, listing the different ways Risacher can make an impact right off the bat. The rookie’s physical gifts and intangibles could go a long way in helping the Hawks have a bounce-back season.

“To be honest with you, I see that in his game,” Young told George in an episode that aired on August 12. “He’s taller in person, he’s 6’10” with frame, he’s a defender, he doesn’t have to do much. He can knock down open shots, get stops … I mean, we’re gonna have a taller team with him on the wing.”

Many No. 1 picks enter the league having to carry the weight of a franchise on their shoulders. In the case of Risacher, he will have plenty of top-notch talent to play off of. Having Young as his first point guard in the NBA will especially make life easier for the 19-year-old Frenchman. 

As Young explained, Risacher can simply play his role as he begins his NBA career. While the rookie has a high ceiling, he won’t have as much pressure to reach that ceiling so quickly. His long frame and wingspan will give Atlanta increased size on the perimeter, which can only help a Hawks defense that ranked bottom-five last season.

Risacher has a chance to do what a player like Jayson Tatum did when he entered the league. Playing next to quality talent right away, Tatum developed more mature skills early on. He honed key abilities such as defending at a high level, rebounding the ball well, setting good screens, and knocking down open jumpers. These abilities turned Tatum into the winning player he is today and armed him with one of the most versatile skill sets in the league.

Risacher can do the same thing Tatum did and adopt a more patient playstyle as a rookie. Surrounded by elite playmaking and shooting in Atlanta, Risacher could emerge as one of the most controlled offensive rookies in a long time. The teenager can truly let the game come to him, which is a luxury lottery picks don’t always have.

Trae Young also believes Dyson Daniels will have a great season

Young continued to preview Atlanta’s defensive potential by shouting out Dyson Daniels. The 6-foot-8 combo guard played phenomenal two-way basketball for Australia at the Olympics, and he looks poised for a breakout season with the Hawks.

“Dyson Daniels is a bigger, taller guard,” Young said. “He plays defense. I saw him playing for Australia, picking up at 94 (feet) … Not a lot of people necessarily know who he is, but I feel like he’s gonna have a really good year too.”

With young defensive threats like Risacher and Daniels joining Atlanta, the sky is the limit for the Hawks’ defense moving forward. The beauty of a Trae-led offense is that the players surrounding him don’t have to do as much work. That includes Risacher.

As Risacher gets older, he will surely develop his ability to score at all three levels. His jump shot is pure, and his offensive instincts are solid. He also does a great job moving without the ball, something the Hawks could use after a season that was characterized by stagnant offense.

For now, Risacher can feel comfortable playing an off-ball role next to the playmaking wizardry of Young and the additional talents of Jalen Johnson, Bogdan Bogdanovic, and other key cogs in the Atlanta offense.