Hawks Select French Teen Zaccharie Risacher with 2nd Highest Pick in Franchise History

The Atlanta Hawks are pinning their hopes on French teenager Zaccharie Risacher to rejuvenate the franchise after selecting him as the No. 1 overall pick in Wednesday night's NBA draft.

The 19-year-old Risacher, known for his catch-and-shoot abilities and ideal wing size at 6-foot-9, 215 pounds, joins foundational players like guards Trae Young and Dejounte Murray, as well as forward Jalen Johnson. The Hawks, who haven't advanced past the first round of the playoffs since 2021, see Risacher as a pivotal addition to their roster.

In a draft without a clear consensus top player, the Hawks opted not to trade down and instead capitalized on their unexpected lottery win to secure Risacher. They passed on other highly touted prospects, including 7-foot French star Alex Sarr, who was a top contender for the top pick.

General manager Landry Fields fielded trade offers for the No. 1 pick but ultimately decided to keep it due to Atlanta's lack of additional draft capital in upcoming years, owing to previous trades. The Hawks' future drafts were significantly impacted by their 2022 trade with San Antonio, which included multiple first-round picks and a pick swap.

Looking ahead, Fields faces decisions on how to shape the team around the scoring leadership of Murray and Young, while also addressing the futures of veteran players like Clint Capela and De'Andre Hunter, who are entering pivotal stages of their contracts.