The Atlanta Hawks used the No. 1 choose within the draft on Zaccharie Risacher, the French wing with loads of upside.
Trae Younger apparently is not anticipating a lot out of him this season. More often than not, when a workforce’s star participant talks a few draft choose, it is in cliche phrases of how a lot he likes the rookie’s sport or work ethic, and all the time about potential. Nonetheless, when Younger went on Podcast P with Paul George, he was not sugarcoating the response to this draft class and Risacher, particularly.
“I spoke with him. Lots of people have been speaking about how I did not tweet about ’em or stuff on draft day and issues like that. I’ve all the time executed that and stuff, however I messaged him behind the scenes proper earlier than Summer season League and simply shot him some good luck. Simply stuff like that… We ain’t set to work out but, however he performed proper earlier than summer time league abroad…
“I imply to be trustworthy with you, and no disrespect to the blokes that bought drafted, I imply from the skin trying in… a whole lot of us take a look at them as function gamers coming in anyway…. I really feel just like the GMs all this yr are in all probability simply attempting to determine who’s going to be the very best function participant for his or her workforce. Pretty much as good as Alex Sarr is I do not suppose he will be their [Washington Wizards] franchise participant going ahead. You understand what I am saying? He will be a terrific, nice participant, have a protracted NBA profession, however simply the outlook on any of those guys coming in. It wasn’t like they have been going to be Luka [Doncic] sort guys or Zions [Williamson], you already know what I am saying?”
Two fast ideas.
First, Younger simply summed up just about each scout’s evaluation heading into this draft. A participant or two are going to interrupt out and be stars, however it is a class filled with function gamers.
Second, Risacher may be a kind of breakout stars, however Younger is true that on this season they should not anticipate an excessive amount of out of him. Risacher is an extremely swish and fluid athlete who confirmed flashes on the NBA Summer season League in Las Vegas but additionally had stretches the place he simply floated via video games, not impacting a lot.
Risacher averaged 14.5 factors a sport on 39% capturing in Las Vegas (25% from 3). He has a whole lot of work to do to get stronger, learn to defend and navigate screens, and get comfy capturing the rock on the tempo and house of an NBA sport. Watching Risacher, you can even see how all of that might come collectively in a few years.
Simply do not anticipate a ton out of Risacher this yr. Trae Younger is not.