{"id":556520,"date":"2026-01-23T23:31:14","date_gmt":"2026-01-23T23:31:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/556520\/"},"modified":"2026-01-23T23:31:14","modified_gmt":"2026-01-23T23:31:14","slug":"the-hawks-cant-give-up-on-zaccharie-risacher-the-lead","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/556520\/","title":{"rendered":"The Hawks Can’t Give Up on Zaccharie Risacher \u2013 The Lead"},"content":{"rendered":"

After finally trading franchise point guard Trae Young<\/a> in a\u00a0salary-dump deal to the Washington Wizards<\/a>, the Atlanta Hawks now face several options before the February 5th trade deadline. <\/p>\n

The move shows the Hawks\u2019 confidence in their young group of rising players. Specifically, they are very optimistic about the upcoming first-time All-Star Jalen Johnson<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Although Atlanta could definitely make moves before the deadline, rumors are also circulating about the Hawks\u2019 interest in using their newfound cap space to acquire a top player. Shams Charania wrote:<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cMoving Young also provides Atlanta with financial flexibility to pursue a large salary over the next several months \u2014 with Dallas Mavericks star Anthony Davis<\/a> a prime trade target.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Another rumor that has come up alongside the Anthony Davis-Atlanta rumors is the potential inclusion of 2024\u2019s No. 1 overall draft pick, Zaccharie Risacher<\/a>, in a deal.<\/p>\n

Clip from Shams\u2019 ESPN appearance talking about the Hawks\u2019 pursuit of Anthony Davis. <\/p>\n

He kind of stumbled over his words, but essentially says the \u201cbig name player\u201d the Hawks will be pivoting to with their new flexibility is AD. pic.twitter.com\/L7vz63Dm5s<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Mavs Film Room \ud83d\udc34\ud83c\udfa5 (@MavsFilmRoom) January 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s Hawks journey was never going to be smooth or straightforward.<\/p>\n

The last thing the Hawks should do is give up on him now for a costly veteran like Davis.<\/p>\n

The Case for Risacher<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

This game, especially his efficiency (8\u201313 FG, 7\u20139 3PT), showed promise for the Hawks. While single-game results can sometimes mislead about a player, this performance felt like a glimpse into Risacher\u2019s future.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s in that conversation with\u00a0Anthony Edwards<\/a>,\u00a0Cade Cunningham<\/a>,\u00a0Paolo Banchero<\/a>,\u00a0Victor Wembanyama<\/a>, and\u00a0Cooper Flagg<\/a>.<\/p>\n

So yeah, it\u2019s safe to say the Hawks and their fans got the short end of the stick there.<\/p>\n

While 2024 was arguably the worst year to win the lottery in the past 10\u201320 years, Atlanta\u2019s front office should not overreact to Risacher\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s a promising talent and still very young. Although he\u2019s been out with a\u00a0knee injury<\/a> 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. <\/p>\n

And Zaccharie Risacher definitely deserves to be on that list.<\/p>\n

As trade season heats up, teams will become more desperate. Incoming calls will be more tempting. If the Hawks don\u2019t quickly rule out any trades involving Johnson, Risacher, or the Pelicans\u2019 pick, it could be a grave mistake for the franchise\u2019s future success.<\/p>\n