Despite the skepticism surrounding them, the Atlanta Hawks are shaping up to be one a potentially underrated team in the NBA this season. While many see their decision to trade Dejounte Murray as a sign of a rebuild, the reality is that the Hawks …
Despite the skepticism surrounding them, the Atlanta Hawks are shaping up to be one a potentially underrated team in the NBA this season. While many see their decision to trade Dejounte Murray as a sign of a rebuild, the reality is that the Hawks have taken a more strategic approach to roster-building. Trae Young, who is often over-criticized, remains the centerpiece of the team, and with Quin Snyder – considered one of the league’s top coaches – at the helm, the Hawks have the potential to exceed expectations.
Snyder’s coaching has already brought improvements, and as he enters his second full season, he’s poised to continue developing the young talent on the roster. Players like Jalen Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu are expected to take on larger roles, and the team added Zaccharie Risacher with the No. 1 pick and Dyson Daniels, both of whom bring versatility and two-way potential. Okongwu may even step into the starting lineup with Clint Capela in the final year of his contract, signaling a possible transition to a younger core.
However, despite the talent and Snyder’s leadership, the Hawks face tough competition in a stacked Eastern Conference. With several teams ahead of them in the pecking order, expecting more than a play-in spot this season may be a stretch. The development of their young players will be crucial to their future success, but for now, Atlanta’s best bet might be aiming for a play-in berth as they continue to build for the long term.
Young, speaking with Paul George, doesn’t believe there are very many franchise cornerstones in the most recent NBA draft.
In the weeks leading up to the 2024 NBA draft, the conversation centered on how there was no clear choice for the No. 1 overall pick and how it may lack future star power.
Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young agrees with that notion.
Young appeared on “Podcast P” with Paul George this week and discussed various topics, including the incoming rookie class. The former top-five pick surmised that many players drafted may not develop into franchise cornerstones.
To be honest with you, and no disrespect to the guys that got drafted, from the (outside) looking in – and some guys may surprise us – a lot of us look at them as role players coming in anyway. The last three No. 1 picks, you got Victor (Wembanyama), you got like Ant Edwards, you got some big-time names. None of these guys – whether it’s Reed (Sheppard), who’s going to be a hell of an NBA player, or Alex (Sarr), who didn’t play well in summer league, but who’s going to be a hell of NBA player – but a lot of these guys could be just role players.
The Hawks were awarded the top pick in the draft and selected Zaccharie Risacher, who last played with JL Bourg in France. Young revealed that he welcomed Risacher to the team shortly after the draft, though he hasn’t been in the gym with him yet.
Sarr, who was also in contention at No. 1, went to the Washington Wizards with the second pick, and Sheppard was selected third by the Houston Rockets. Young previously gave Sheppard a shout-out on X, formerly Twitter, after excelling in summer league.
The class, overall, had a productive showing last month on the court, though it is far too early to determine how the group will ultimately pan out in the long run. However, it is clear the players will have to prove themselves to their peers starting next season and beyond.
The 20 individuals polled were asked a number of questions about the incoming rookie class, such as the best player and the biggest steal of the draft. They were also asked about the draft expanding to a two-day format, which received a positive reaction.
Sheppard debuted with the Rockets in the NBA Summer League, averaging 20 points, 5.3 assists, 4.8 rebounds, 2.8 steals and 1.3 blocked shots on 50% shooting from the field in four games. He was named to the NBA All-Summer League first team and finished ninth in scoring.
The third pick is second in odds to win Rookie of the Year, narrowly trailing only Risacher. He looked to be one of the top rookies on the court in the desert and proved himself as a high draft pick in a small sample size with the Rockets.
The odds will certainly continue to fluctuate over the course of the upcoming season, which tips off on Oct. 25. However, Sheppard and the rest of the players on the list established themselves as the top players thus far and should be in store for strong rookie campaigns.
Sarr finished with 12 points, seven rebounds, four assists, four blocked shots and one steal in the 94-88 win at the Thomas & Mack Center. The second pick went 4-of-12 from the field, including 2-of-5 from 3-point range, in 32 minutes.
The Wizards also received a strong performance from 14th pick Carlton Carrington, who neared a triple-double with 19 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. The group outscored the Hawks 54-46 in the second half to pull out the win.
On the other side, Risacher produced a team-high 18 points, five rebounds, two assists and one block. The No. 1 overall pick went 7-of-16 from the field, including 3-of-9 from 3-point range in 29 minutes of action.
The Frenchmen had solid debuts with their respective teams, showcasing what made them high picks this year. They had some strong moments on offense, from shooting to passing, and displayed their defensive versatility, as well.
The matchup finished off the first day of action in the desert and proved to be a very entertaining contest. They will certainly look to build upon their efforts on Friday and continue to build positive momentum throughout the rest of the tournament.
He will make $10,474,200 next season as the No. 1 pick.
Risacher was named the 2024 EuroCup Rising Star after averaging 11.1 points and 3.9 rebounds on 38.7% shooting from 3-point range in 65 games in France. He joined Kristaps Porzingis and Jonas Valanciunas as recipients of the award.
The 19-year-old emerged as the front-runner for the top pick after the Hawks won the draft lottery in May. He worked out with the team prior to the draft and established himself as its choice over the likes of Alexandre Sarr and Reed Sheppard.
We have signed our No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher
Risacher is the Hawks’ first No. 1 pick since David Thompson in 1975 and is their highest-drafted player since Marvin Williams was selected fifth in 2005. His selection marked the first time in history that a player without college experience was chosen first in consecutive years.
The Hawks announced Friday that Risacher will play with the team in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, Nevada. The team will play at least five games, starting with the Washington Wizards on July 12 (9:30 p.m. EDT, ESPN).
Risacher will be joined by fellow draft pick Nikola Djurisic, along with roster players Kobe Bufkin, Mouhamed Gueye and Dylan Windler, among others.
France is really taking over the league, folks. It’s incredible to watch. This year, Zaccharie Risacher made a bit of history as the fourth international prospect in the league’s history to go No. 1 overall. Say what you want about the guy, but he played (and dominated!) in the same league his predecessor, Victor Wembanyama, played in. That’s impressive.
But the French connection didn’t stop there. Overall, in the 2024 draft, three Frenchmen were picked in the top six. That includes Risacher, Alex Sarr (No. 2 to Washington) and Tidjane Salaün (No. 6 to Charlotte). When you throw in Pacôme Dadiet (No. 25 to New York), that’s four French players taken in the first round of this draft.
That’s already impressive, but it becomes even more so when you look at last season. Two Frenchmen, Wembanyama and Bilal Coulibaly, went in the top seven of the draft. That means five of the top 14 NBA draft picks over the last two years were from France.
France has long been a staple in basketball. Since the days of Tony Parker and Boris Diaw, who played roles as key cogs for the Spurs, plenty of French talent has gone through the NBA. But I’m unsure we’ve ever seen anything like this.
These players aren’t just talented — they’re expected to be some of the best players in the league. Wembanyama might actually be the best player in the league soon. That’s an exciting thought.
At least until it’s time for Team USA to play France in the Olympics and World Cup. Then it becomes a bit terrifying.
Just call him AI Michaels from now on
Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
The more technology advances, the less human things are beginning to feel.
First, Al Michaels is still alive, folks. Why not just … ya know, use him instead of Siri him?
Second, is this something we’re going to see moving forward in our sports and in our media? It certainly feels like a precursor of what’s to come.
Our Robert Zeglinski has more on why this is so disheartening here:
“It’s dispiriting that NBC is content to imitate one of the biggest sports voices it has ever had, especially since he is still alive and kicking. Michaels does a pro football game every week on a streaming service during the NFL season. He couldn’t have come back to NBC to record a few lines for a worldwide sports event? I find that hard to believe.
It’s troublesome that these kinds of decisions might soon define our sports-watching and sports-consuming future, which is only a microcosm of a greater collective. When the human element is even excised from the broadcast booth — the one place where a fan should always reasonably expect dependability and energy — then nothing is off limits.
Most of all, watching companies like NBC willingly hop into bed with these sorts of services without even a second thought is infuriating. And it doesn’t matter why they have decided to do so, either. Be it to cut costs or to invest in a hollow foundation devoid of any real exciting spark, it all comes from the same place of desperation and motivation. It’s all borne of the same brand of business cowardice to “get ahead or get left behind” without ever thinking about potential long-term consequences.”
Hopefully, this isn’t a sign of things to come. But, given our hubris as human beings, it probably is.
Feud is probably too strong of a word to describe it. Taurasi had some criticisms of Clark’s game, just like she does with a ton of other rookies, and some folks just took it to heart.
Now, we can talk about the basketball of it all. The two will play each other for the first time this Sunday. Taurasi was asked about it and she had what our Cory Woodroof described as a “delightfully blunt” answer about facing the rookie.
“As Clark and Taurasi finally square off in Phoenix this weekend, Taurasi was asked how she feels ahead of the marquee matchup. Her response was predictably fantastic and delightfully blunt.
“Yeah, it’ll be fun,” Taurasi told reporters, via Desert Wave Media.
If that’s not the perfect Taurasi answer, we’re not sure what is.”
I cannot wait to watch this game, man.
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With the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NBA draft, the Hawks selected Frenchman Zaccharie Risacher out of JL Bourg.
With the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NBA draft, the Atlanta Hawks selected Frenchman Zaccharie Risacher out of JL Bourg from the French League and EuroCup.
Risacher was named the 2024 EuroCup Rising Star after averaging 11.1 points and 3.9 rebounds on 38.7% shooting from 3-point range in 65 games in France. He joined Kristaps Porzingis and Jonas Valanciunas as recipients of the award.
The 19-year-old emerged as the front-runner for the top pick after the Hawks won the draft lottery last month. He visited the organization last week and likely established himself as its choice after a strong showing in his workout and interview.
Risacher is the Hawks’ first No. 1 pick since David Thompson in 1975. He is their highest-drafted player since Marvin Williams was selected with the fifth overall pick in 2005. It is the first time in history a player without college experience was chosen first in consecutive years.
Risacher projects to check many boxes for the Hawks at the next level. He is highly touted for his passing, playmaking on offense and shooting ability. He also brings defensive versatility, given his size and ability to guard multiple positions.
Risacher was named the 2024 EuroCup Rising Star after averaging 11.1 points and 3.9 rebounds on 38.7% shooting from 3-point range in 65 games with JL Bourg in France. He joined Kristaps Porzingis and Jonas Valanciunas as recipients of the award.
The 6-foot-10 standout projects to check many boxes for teams at the next level. He is highly touted for his passing, playmaking on offense and shooting ability. He also brings defensive versatility, given his size and ability to guard multiple positions.
While it appears the Hawks are far from making final decisions, many teams say their intel indicates Risacher remains the favorite at No. 1, partially because of the dual-track flexibility he offers of either remaining competitive next season or tapping into his upside as the type of big, versatile wing that is difficult to acquire outside the draft.
Risacher was scheduled to visit the Hawks on Wednesday, his first known workout of the predraft process. He will reportedly also visit the San Antonio Spurs on Friday and could add other teams with picks in the top five ahead of the draft on June 26-27.
With one week to go until the big night, the top of the draft board figures to remain fluid as the Hawks and other teams finalize their plans. In other words: There is much to be decided.
Dillingham conducted his required combine testing on Friday, clearing the way for him to become eligible to be selected in the draft.
Former Kentucky guard Rob Dillingham reportedly conducted his required combine testing, clearing the way for him to become eligible to be selected in the 2024 NBA draft.
Dillingham wasn’t able to participate in on-court testing last month at the combine because of an ankle injury. He was cleared this week from the injury and completed the requirements in front of teams on Friday at the Los Angeles Lakers‘ practice facility.
The 19-year-old was among the second group of prospects who received invitations from the NBA to attend the draft in the green room on June 26-27 at the Barlcays Center in Brooklyn, New York, according to Jonathan Givony of ESPN.
NEWS: Kentucky point guard Rob Dillingham has received a green room invite to attend the NBA Draft with his family, a source told ESPN. Dillingham completed his NBA Combine requirements at the Lakers practice facility this morning, clearing the way for his invite. pic.twitter.com/ylgctQJOaB
Teams with first-round picks each year vote on the players they believe will be drafted early, typically the top 20-25 prospects. Last year, 25 prospects were invited to the green room and only one wasn’t selected in the first round (Rayan Rupert, 43rd overall pick).
If Donovan Clingan is drafted at No. 1 or No. 2, that would leave at least one of Alex Sarr and Zaccharie Risacher available to Houston at No. 3 overall.
For much of the NBA’s 2024 pre-draft process, mock drafts have placed French forwards Alex Sarr and Zaccharie Risacher in the top-two slots. That would leave the remainder of the class available to the Houston Rockets, who are up next at No. 3 in the first round.
But, are Sarr and Risacher (in some order) a lock to go to Atlanta and Washington, and thus be off the board for Houston?
University of Connecticut center Donovan Clingan… is in conversation at No. 1 after working out in Atlanta, which is exploring trade-down scenarios. He is also spending time in Washington, which has the No. 2 pick.
Should Clingan go at No. 1 or No. 2, that could leave either Sarr or Risacher on the board for the Rockets. Or, perhaps Houston is one of the teams that Atlanta could potentially trade down with.
Who's rising, falling from the NBA draft? We updated our top 100 rankings with tons of intel with what's going on around the world of the NBA Drafthttps://t.co/2LkCdpa7bt
There is recent precedent for a prospect outside of the consensus top two making a late jump to the top. In 2022, Paolo Banchero was widely viewed as behind Chet Holmgren and Jabari Smith Jr. during the pre-draft period, yet Orlando decided late in the process to take him at No. 1 (thus pushing Smith to Houston at No. 3).
Maybe there’s a similar dynamic in 2024. Whatever the case, with under three weeks left until the June 26 first round, it feels premature to rule out any option, given the instability at the top.
Clingan and his Connecticut teammate, guard Stephon Castle, are among the most popular mock-draft projections to Houston, as things currently stand. So, too, is Kentucky guard Reed Sheppard.
