Hawks make French teenager Zaccharie Risacher second No. 1 pick in franchise history

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Hawks are seeking French teenager Zaccharie Risacher to help revive the franchise after making the forward the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft Wednesday night.

Risacher (pronounced Ree-zah-shay), 19, impressed the Hawks as a catch-and-shoot scorer with ideal size for a winger. Risacher — standing at 6-foot-9, 215 pounds — is expected to join guards Trae Young and Dejounte Murray and forward Jalen Johnson as founding players on a team that hasn't won a playoff series since is qualified for the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals.

“I'm really excited about what's going to happen,” Risacher said in an interview with Hawks media. “I just want to do my best to help the team.

“I just feel like I can help a lot.” I'm ready to do whatever it takes to get on the field with these great players.

In a year where there hasn't been a consensus pick as the best player in the draft, the Hawks could have traded for more picks. The No. 1 pick was their only selection in the draft. Instead, general manager Landry Fields didn't pass up the rare opportunity to cash in on the top pick.

“It’s a blessing, you know,” Risacher said. “It’s so exciting. There are a lot of feelings and emotions right now. I don't know what to say, but it's really special. I am so blessed. »

When asked to compare his game to that of a current NBA player, Risacher suggested Golden State shooting guard Klay Thompson.

“I like the way he plays,” Risacher said. “I think we have the same game. He's obviously a veteran. … I can improve this style of play.”

The hawks attracted a large crowd at State Farm Arena to watch the draft, and Risacher's announcement drew an enthusiastic response.

The Hawks have sold another French star, Alex Sarr, 7 feetwho had been projected by many as the first selection, after France's victory Victor Wembanyama, who was San Antonio's No. 1 pick last year. Other options for Atlanta at No. 1 included UConn's Donovan Clingan, who could have been the team's center of the future, and Kentucky guard Reed Sheppard.

The Hawks didn't expect to be the first pick until they were the surprise winner of the NBA draft lottery. Atlanta had only a 3% chance of landing the first pick.

Fields faced pressure to make the second No. 1 overall selection in franchise history. In 1975, the Hawks made David Thompson the No. 1 pick before Thompson chose to play for Denver in the ABA.

Fields said he has fielded calls from executives interested in trading for the No. 1 pick. Fields acknowledged he had to consider offers because the Hawks had no other draft picks this year and few selections in future drafts.

The Hawks' future draft picks were weakened by their 2022 trade to San Antonio for Murray. Atlanta traded the 2025 and 2027 first-round picks to the Spurs and also included a swap of 2026 picks in the trade.

Fields also must decide whether the Hawks will continue to rely on their backcourt of Murray and Young to take the scoring lead. The hawks kept Murray at the trade deadline in February despite speculation that he might be available in exchange for draft picks.

Other key offseason decisions could loom for veteran players like center Clint Capela, who is entering the final year of his contract, and forward De'Andre Hunter.

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