Would be “big surprise” if Hawks don’t draft Zaccharie Risacher with No. 1 pick

BASKETBALL: APR 28 French National Basketball League Bourg en Bresse at Paris Basket

With the NBA Draft a little over 48 hours away, the Hawks are the most talked about team in the Association as owners of the No. 1 overall pick.

A new wrinkle has been added to the Alex Sarr saga. Recently, it was reported that Atlanta was unable to get him into the building for a workout, with Jonathan Givony reporting the Hawks are down to two prospects — Zaccharie Risacher and Donovan Clingan — as Sarr going No. 2 to the Wizards is seen as a lock. Then, Givony changed his tune.

“NBA teams say the Hawks are indicating they could take Alex Sarr at No. 1, which some speculate might be more an attempt to force the Washington Wizards to trade up,” Givony wrote.

Clingan or Risacher it seems, right? Well, Brian Windhorst doesn’t see it that way. Clingan is seemingly not in the conversation for the No. 1 overall pick, according to the ESPN insider.

“From what I understand, I really don’t think the Hawks are taking Clingan if they stay at 1. I think if they traded back, I think Clingan would be certainly an interesting player for them,” Windhorst said.

Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer reported something very similar too.

“Clingan remains one of their top choices. But I’m told that the Hawks would ideally prefer to trade down to take the 7-foot-2 sophomore center, rather than do so with the first choice,” O’Connor writes.

So, Sarr prefers Washington over Atlanta, Clingan isn’t seen as a legitimate possibility at the No. 1 overall pick, so where does that leave the Hawks?

Jonathan Givony answered that question in a conversation with Zach Lowe on the Lowe Post today:

“I think if anything but Zaccharie Risacher happens at 1, I think that would be a big surprise around the NBA.”

The Hawks find themselves on the precipice of a monumental offseason, and it begins Wednesday night with the No. 1 overall pick, which is expected to be used on the French wing Zaccharie Risacher, per Givony.

Glenn Gervot/Icon Sportswire

Scroll to Top
%d bloggers like this: