Though there seems to be debate about who the Hawks will select tomorrow, there’s a consensus among NBA mock drafts that Atlanta will make Zaccharie Risacher the No. 1 overall pick. The biggest names in the game — Jonathan Givony, Michael Scotto, and Sam Vecenie — all have the Hawks drafting Risacher in their latest mock drafts.
ESPN’s Jonathan Givony
Risacher, as he has for much of the pre-draft cycle, continues to hold firm as the choice at No. 1 after a positive workout with Atlanta. The feedback from those who have seen him in the United States is that he is a better passer and does a better job of initiating contact and playing through physicality than is expected with his lean frame.
HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto
French forward Zaccharie Risacher is gaining further momentum to be the No. 1 overall pick by the Atlanta Hawks, with eight of the 11 mock drafts polled listing him first overall.
The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie
I have Risacher for now if Atlanta keeps No. 1, but buckle up for a wild ride. If the Hawks do trade down in some fashion, Clingan would be a potential target, and they couldn’t move down all that far to secure him. At the same time, league sources tell The Athletic it may be difficult for Atlanta to move off the pick, if only because the talent differential among the top six or so picks is considered to be minimal.
If the Hawks were to trade Dejounte Murray, surrounding Trae Young with three 6-foot-8+ wings in Jalen Johnson, De’Andre Hunter, and Zaccharie Risacher is a pretty ideal starting five if you ask me.
The French wing can immediately plug into Atlanta’s starting lineup and be a plus defender, especially on the perimeter at the point of attack, where the club is the weakest. He can sit in the corner while Young works, able to knock down threes and slash if need be.
The Hawks’ roster construction is the most important task after making the pick, and if it’s Zaccharie Risacher, I’d love to see Jalen Johnson move to the 2 to replace Dejounte Murray. At that point, shooting may be Atlanta’s biggest problem, but at least the defense would dramatically improve around Trae Young, which has been the single biggest factor in the Hawks shortcomings in recent seasons.
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Photographer: Glenn Gervot/Icon Sportswire
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