When the 2024 NBA Draft came around, it was unclear who the first-overall pick would be. But the Washington Wizards knew they would get second choice. So, when the Atlanta Hawks selected Zaccharie Risacher, the Wizards were able to take Alex Sarr. Now, Risacher has already been traded, and it looks like the Wizards got a gift from the Hawks.
The Hawks traded Risacher to the Dallas Mavericks in a three-team trade. They got back Lu Dort and Ryan Nembhard in the deal. The Mavs got Risacher, and the Oklahoma City Thunder got three second-round picks and – more importantly – cap flexibility.
Just two years into his NBA career, Risacher has been dumped, and the Wizards look like the luckiest team of the bunch, as the Hawks passed on Sarr – who is the better player.
Hawks passed on Alex Sarr for Zaccharie Risacher
At his best, Risacher should be the type of plug-and-play guy that any team should love to get its hands on. That feels like part of the reason the Hawks were comfortable takint him No. 1 overall.
Unfortunately, thingshaven’t exactly panned out like that. The three-point shooting Risacher was supposed to have hasn’t been there, and neither has any part of his game.
So, for the first time since Markelle Fultz and the Philadelphia 76ers back in 2018, a first-overall pick spent just two years with the team that drafted him. That’s all it took for the Hawks to realize they are done with him.
And the Wizards should be feeling pretty good about themselves right now. They got away with a steal, as the Hawks left Sarr on the board for them to take at No. 2.
Up to this point in their careers, Sarr has been the much better basketball player. Not only is he beginning to develop a more well-rounded offensive game, but his defense is as impressive as advertised.
He’s turning into the type of player who should be a core part of what the Wizards are building moving forward, even with their additions of Trae Young and Anthony Davis.
Had the Hawks chosen Sarr with the first pick back in 2024, who knows who the Wizards would have taken. But they didn’t. They took Risacher. And the Wizards got gifted a great young player because of it.
Now, Atlanta is probably wishing it could have a re-do at the top of the 2024 draft class, while the Wizards are feeling pretty good about themselves.
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