NBA summer-league disappointments: Zaccharie Risacher, Alex Sarr and more

LAS VEGAS — Earlier than we get to the unhealthy information, let’s begin with a Victor Wembanyama-sized caveat: Summer time-league efficiency doesn’t precisely predict NBA manufacturing. Not wherever shut, the truth is. A 12 months in the past, Wembanyama himself shot 2 of 13 in his summer-league debut; his season turned out OK.

Extra topically, maybe, Atlanta Hawks followers may recall one other excessive lottery decide struggling by a depressing 4-of-20 taking pictures night time in his first summer season sport and taking pictures 12 of 52 over his first three. No, that participant wasn’t Zaccharie Risacher — it was Trae Younger. His profession appeared to outlive the poor begin.

That stated, the so-called French invasion of the 2024 draft is off to a decidedly sluggish begin. Prime decide Risacher tapped out after two video games with a quad contusion, taking pictures 11 of 28 from the ground in 59 minutes. Second total decide Alex Sarr shot 0 of 15 from the sector in his third sport and solely scored two factors in his fourth for the Washington Wizards. The sixth decide, Tidjane Saluan, had some moments pushing the ball in transition however shot 1 of 10 from 3 in his three video games for the Charlotte Hornets; hyped as an power man, he didn’t report a single block or steal. Lastly, twenty fourth decide Pacôme Dadiet additionally struggled mightily in his minutes for the New York Knicks, taking pictures 12 of 39 from the sector with a 4.09 PER in 5 video games. His largest spotlight was slapping the board in midair after a dunk.

Their struggles, at the least, didn’t come beneath a scorching highlight. Usually, high picks command huge consideration in Vegas, however this 12 months wasn’t precisely Wembymania. The 2 Frenchmen on the high of the draft didn’t resonate with the plenty, and that was clear earlier than a sport was performed: The advertising and marketing poster for Las Vegas Summer time League featured Bronny James however didn’t embrace Risacher.

It went on from there. Contemplate the alleged marquee matchup of the highest two picks on the primary day of summer season league. Its arrival was greeted by 1000’s of followers leaving Thomas & Mack Heart, having simply seen the Los Angeles Lakers and James. Throughout Atlanta’s second sport, towards fourth decide Stephon Fortress and the San Antonio Spurs, the TV broadcast bizarrely spent a lot of the third quarter interviewing Isaiah Thomas, who has by no means performed for both staff and appeared in 31 simply NBA video games over the previous 4 seasons.

A part of the rationale, in fact, is that this was a distinct sort of draft, with no apparent generational expertise. It wasn’t even clear what the principle prize could be when the Hawks received the lottery. Moreover, the highest two picks are extra famend for his or her protection than offense; regardless of their lofty draft standing, neither Risacher nor Sarr initiatives as a high-volume on-ball participant.

These two are the primary we’ll talk about when analyzing a number of gamers who struggled at summer season league. (I’ll even be writing about those that performed effectively later within the week.)

Zaccharie Risacher, Hawks

The draft’s high decide solely performed two video games, however he confirmed flashes of spicy ball abilities to go together with spectacular peak for a wing at 6-10 (and the Hawks do see him as a real wing, by the way in which, someone who can reliably guard twos and threes). He had a coast-to-coast glide for a lefty dunk in transition in his first sport and a behind-the-back dribble right into a behind-the-back dish to a nook shooter that didn’t make the night spotlight reels as a result of the shot missed.

Risacher additionally confirmed a little bit of craft along with his off hand, utilizing an in-and-out left-handed dribble to arrange a lefty financial institution shot over Sarr’s size for his first summer season bucket.

That stated, the deal with can nonetheless get free — he had a large number of a turnover towards San Antonio the place it acquired away from him — and the taking pictures was erratic; he was solely 4 of 16 from 3 in his two summer season video games and three of seven from the road.

The taking pictures query looms over a lot of the projection with Risacher, on condition that his season in France was a little bit of an outlier from his earlier seasons. Him getting up 16 triples in 59 minutes is a constructive signal by itself — shooters inform on themselves by the place and after they launch as a lot as by how usually it goes in, particularly in small samples — and the Hawks are believers in his taking pictures.

Extra spectacular could be Risacher’s concentrate on the appropriate issues. After his first summer-league sport, by which he scored 18 factors, he spent the postgame interview session lamenting that he didn’t play higher protection.

“I’m form of mad about that as a result of that’s not the participant that I’m,” Risacher stated. “Defensively, it’s actually necessary in basketball. I really feel like my staff wants that from me.”

Hawks summer-league coach Ronald Nored stated Risacher’s consideration to that element exhibits he “cares about the appropriate issues.”

“What number of guys are speaking about their protection after a sport? The very fact he’s fascinated by that, that he’s acutely aware of that and the place he desires to get higher … says quite a bit about who he’s as an individual and a professional,” Nored stated.

On a lighter word, Risacher additionally absorbed some ribbing from teammates for airballing a free throw late within the first sport, when sweaty fingers in an unusually heat fitness center brought on him to lose his grip.

“That was the primary time in my life that occurred. I don’t know easy methods to say in English — the sweating? — I spotted in the midst of my shot and was like, ‘No, I can’t cease,’ so I simply threw it,” Risacher stated. “My teammates had been laughing. I laughed too, however I had to ensure I hit the second.”

Risacher nonetheless must get stronger and show he can shoot persistently, however the pathway is there for a “Shane Battier with extra offense” sort of profession. That sounds unsatisfying for a high decide, however that may simply be the character of this draft.

Alex Sarr, Wizards

Sarr’s ultimate tally after 4 summer season video games: 9 of 47 from the ground, 22.6 % true taking pictures, 3.8 PER. Yikes. That PER mark was the worst of any first-rounder at summer season league.

Let’s not simply concentrate on the make-or-miss (or miss-and-miss, in Sarr’s case). Taking pictures variance can lead us astray when evaluating a brief match like this. Assists and blocks translate from summer season league rather more reliably than area purpose percentages. Sarr confirmed facility as a passer, with 13 dimes in 4 video games, and a rim protector. He posted a 7.5-percent block price in summer season league and visibly affected a number of different makes an attempt. Defensively, he needs to be NBA-ready from Day 1.

Sarr’s largest areas of concern are his fingers and shot profile. His passing provides him potential as a brief curler, however he has to catch the ball first; the identical goes for his work on the glass, the place contested rebounds are an actual downside. In each conditions, there are too many instances when he appears like a backup tight finish attempting to lure the ball towards his pads.

To go together with that, Sarr had 17 3-point makes an attempt in summer season league and solely 4 free-throw makes an attempt. Regardless of the ugly percentages, he appears snug taking pictures off the dribble going to his left, hitting two triples within the opening video games towards Atlanta going that method. However he’s waaay too into taking pictures pull-up jumpers proper now; sooner or later, he has to reap the benefits of the truth that he’s 7-feet tall.

Dillingham performed a lot, significantly better in his ultimate summer season sport, with 25 factors and 12 assists towards what was left of Orlando’s staff Sunday.

That stated, the primary 4 video games had been fairly tough for a participant the Wolves gave up an unprotected first and a decide swap to pick out eighth within the 2024 draft. Specifically, what stood out for a bit of quick man was how a lot hassle he was having getting separation and blowing previous defenders, even in change conditions. At his dimension (6-1 and simply 164 kilos), Dillingham wants to depart his defender within the mud to create sufficient room for a shot, and there have been too many instances the place he technically acquired by his man however nonetheless was in no place to shoot as a result of the trailing defender was too shut and far larger.

Wolves optimists will word the parallels between Dillingham and Younger above — they’re nearly the very same dimension, to the pound, and Younger had comparable hassle in his first few summer-league video games earlier than gaining his footing on the finish. Whilst he struggled to attain, Dillingham had 38 dimes in 5 video games. His means as a lob passer appears notable given the bigs on Minnesota’s roster.

LENNYYYYYYY pic.twitter.com/sREHdgaxNi

— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) July 21, 2024

Milwaukee’s summer season league normally was an abject catastrophe, with the Bucks shedding all 5 video games by a mean of 18 factors, roster gamers MarJon Beauchamp and Andre Jackson struggling mightily (Jackson additionally broke his finger) and two-way Jaylin Galloway wanting completely overmatched. (Chris Livingston was maybe the one ray of hope; Tyler Smith wasn’t unhealthy however weirdly solely performed 22 minutes a sport.)

Johnson, the Bucks’ first-round decide, had some moments, together with a 22-point sport towards the LA Clippers, but additionally shot 0 of 12 towards Washington within the finale and failed to ascertain his bona fides as both some extent guard (14 assists in 5 video games) or a shooter (10 of 31 from 3 and an equivalent 10 of 31 mark from 2).

None of this was terribly stunning given how {the teenager} carried out in Australia final season, which will get to the opposite level: Johnson was the runaway winner in my casual, “Which draft decide shocked you most?” ballot of scouts and execs at summer season league. Suffice to say many groups had him a lot decrease than twenty third on their boards. Even those that had been extra bullish on Johnson puzzled why the Bucks didn’t simply wait till their decide at No. 33 to nab him in the event that they appreciated him that a lot, as he nearly actually would have been there. Nothing that occurred in Vegas modified anybody’s minds on that entrance.

GO DEEPER

Bucks summer-league observations: AJ Johnson’s velocity, MarJon Beauchamp’s struggles

Of the first-round picks who performed at summer season league, Dunn most likely did essentially the most to arouse suspicions about his long-term viability. The rookie from Virginia was chosen twenty eighth by Phoenix, primarily for his protection, however questions on his offense drove down his draft inventory. Dunn scored simply 23 factors in 102 minutes, shot only one of 13 from 3 and drew one measly free-throw try (a miss) in 4 video games. Extra surprisingly was his anemic work on the glass, with simply an 8-percent rebound price for a participant who must make his residing as an athletic-energizer ahead.

Jarace Walker was one of some 2023 lottery picks to see motion this month in Las Vegas. (Troy Taormina / USA As we speak)

Whereas many of the 2023 lottery class both graduated from summer season league after strong rookie seasons or had been shortly excused after a few robust video games, Walker headlined a late lottery class the place issues weren’t as peachy.

Walker hardly performed final season and has no apparent function heading into 2024-25. Indiana determined to experiment with Walker in summer season league, placing the ball in his fingers and having him function as some extent ahead. It was … fascinating. Walker confirmed extra deal with than we noticed with the Pacers, and even in his school days at Houston, however he additionally had 22 turnovers in 4 video games.

Oddly, essentially the most promising half was the taking pictures: Walker made 11 of 25 from 3 and 15 of 19 from the road in Vegas. Even with that, nevertheless, his total stat line as a second-year lottery decide in summer season league was fairly meh.

Very similar to Walker above, it appeared just like the Pels needed to experiment with their 2023 lottery decide in additional of a high-usage state of affairs. Hawkins performed all 5 video games for New Orleans and carried a 31.2-percent utilization price, heavy stuff for a man who is meant to be an off-ball taking pictures specialist. Let’s simply say perhaps he ought to return to that function; Hawkins drew heaps of fouls however completed with a 28.1-percent taking pictures mark from the ground and 10 assists towards 18 turnovers.

With a participant like Hawkins who has already had important NBA taking part in time, I take summer-league stats with a complete pillar of salt, however his PER of seven.25 was ghastly.

It’s robust for an off-ball participant like Hendricks to make a large impression at summer season league, however you’ll have appreciated to see a bit extra of the issues he’s imagined to be good at in his function. Hendricks performed in six summer season video games and did sufficient fascinating issues on protection to maintain hope alive, however for a combo massive, his rebounding was fairly lame (11.8-percent rebound price), and he solely made 13 of his 28 2-point makes an attempt. For a secondary participant, 13 turnovers in six video games is just too many.

Hendricks, the ninth decide in final 12 months’s draft, exhibits promise along with his stretch sport — he made 10 of 26 triples in Vegas and shot 37.9 % for the Jazz final season — but when he’s going to be stationed on the market, you’d prefer to see him get extra up. He was a uncooked draft decide, and you may see the place the arrows can level upward sooner or later, however he appeared like a fringe rotation man this summer season.

Whitehead’s line in 4 summer-league video games: 6 of 41 from the sector, 2 of 24 from 3, 22.5-percent true taking pictures and a PER of -0.93. Sure, that’s a minus signal. Yikes. Of all of the current first-rounders in Vegas (Whitehead was the twenty second decide in 2023), his efficiency may need been essentially the most jarringly worrisome. The misses had been tough too.

Look beneath the hood, and Whitehead did some issues effectively — he had eight shares (steals + blocks) in 83 minutes and a 12.5-percent rebound price — however you may’t shoot this badly and survive as an NBA participant.

That’s the place we get to the opposite a part of the story. Whitehead solely performed six video games in his rookie 12 months — two within the NBA and 4 within the G League — lacking time with a number of foot surgical procedures. He appeared method off steadiness on a number of of his outdoors taking pictures makes an attempt. One wonders if these two issues are correlated, and if that’s the case, if it’s one thing he can get within the fitness center and repair over the summer season.

Required Studying

(Prime photograph of Zaccharie Risacher and Alex Sarr: Candice Ward / Getty Pictures)