After finally trading franchise point guard Trae Young in a salary-dump deal to the Washington Wizards, the Atlanta Hawks now face several options before the February 5th trade deadline.
The move shows the Hawks’ confidence in their young group of rising players. Specifically, they are very optimistic about the upcoming first-time All-Star Jalen Johnson.
Although Atlanta could definitely make moves before the deadline, rumors are also circulating about the Hawks’ interest in using their newfound cap space to acquire a top player. Shams Charania wrote:
“Moving Young also provides Atlanta with financial flexibility to pursue a large salary over the next several months — with Dallas Mavericks star Anthony Davis a prime trade target.”
Another rumor that has come up alongside the Anthony Davis-Atlanta rumors is the potential inclusion of 2024’s No. 1 overall draft pick, Zaccharie Risacher, in a deal.
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The Frenchman has had a disappointing year in the league so far. He is averaging 12.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in his young career. But even during the draft, he was considered a raw prospect. He was seen as a player in need of development and growth in his early years.
His handle often feels a bit loose, and his jumper can fluctuate in streaky waves. Still, he was drafted into the NBA just two months after turning 19. He is only 20 years old now. Of course, Risacher’s Hawks journey was never going to be smooth or straightforward.
The last thing the Hawks should do is give up on him now for a costly veteran like Davis.
The Case for Risacher
In the January 7th matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans, Risacher looked like the ideal two-way supporting player he was eventually drafted to be.
This game, especially his efficiency (8–13 FG, 7–9 3PT), showed promise for the Hawks. While single-game results can sometimes mislead about a player, this performance felt like a glimpse into Risacher’s future.
That being said, his career has been somewhat disappointing so far. This is especially clear when comparing his results to those of his fellow first-overall draft picks from the 2020s. For example, he’s in that conversation with Anthony Edwards, Cade Cunningham, Paolo Banchero, Victor Wembanyama, and Cooper Flagg.
So yeah, it’s safe to say the Hawks and their fans got the short end of the stick there.
While 2024 was arguably the worst year to win the lottery in the past 10–20 years, Atlanta’s front office should not overreact to Risacher’s limited production. Hawks fans need to stop comparing him to other top draft picks and instead focus on the fact that he is a 20-year-old, 6-foot-9 versatile rookie on a rookie deal.
He’s a promising talent and still very young. Although he’s been out with a knee injury for a week and is likely to miss another week, his trade discussions have slowed down a bit. The Hawks have at least two untouchable trade assets. They are Jalen Johnson and the New Orleans 2026 first-round pick.
And Zaccharie Risacher definitely deserves to be on that list.
As trade season heats up, teams will become more desperate. Incoming calls will be more tempting. If the Hawks don’t quickly rule out any trades involving Johnson, Risacher, or the Pelicans’ pick, it could be a grave mistake for the franchise’s future success.
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