In his first offseason as general manager, Onsi Saleh has put the Hawks in an incredible position, able to compete now with a ton of flexibility moving forward.
Atlanta was among the most active teams in free agency this summer, adding a trio of veteran contributors to their pool of young talent, headlined by Kristaps Porzingis. Those acquisitions give the Hawks a real chance to compete this upcoming season, but their ceiling is solely dependent on their young talent continuing to improve.
Perhaps the biggest X-Factor to the entire puzzle is last year’s #1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher. There wasn’t a lot of hype surrounding him coming into his first season, but he easily exceeded expectations, finishing second in the Rookie of the Year race thanks to some massive strides he made following the All-Star break.
In the second half of the season, Risacher averaged nearly 15 points per game, knocking down shots at a 49.8% clip, including a 40.7% mark from behind the arc. He’s already a sniper with the type of length that could make him a real problem on the defensive end, especially as he continues to grow into his frame.
That alone makes him an extremely valuable asset, but Zaccharie Risacher is hoping to take his game to the next level as he enters his second season.
“I want be more comfortable with ball-handling,” Risacher said. “I feel like that’s another part of my game that I want to improve. I want to be able to get to my spot, be efficient with the ball in my hands, so I don’t have to wait to get the ball. I want to be able to create opportunities for me to score…”
Risacher’s finishing ability around the basket was a strongpoint during his rookie campaign, but getting to his spots proved difficult at times. If he can improve in that area and start creating his own shots, he’s going to be a problem for the rest of the league.
The Hawks feel like they are on the brink of something special, perhaps something that’s never been done in the franchise’s history since moving to Atlanta. They really just need one more big thing to swing their way, a star to come out of nowhere. Zaccharie Risacher could be the guy that completely shifts the trajectory of the organization.
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Photographer: Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire
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