When the Atlanta Hawks improbably won the 2024 NBA Draft lottery, there was speculation about their intentions throughout the draft process. Would they bet on star potential or, given that they are in the unique position of a fringe playoff team that lands the number one seed, address a team need since they already have a star in Trae Young/Dejounte Murray at this point had? In the end, the Hawks decided to make the “safe” selection of winger Zaccharie Risacher, a player who would immediately contribute to the Hawks’ wing rotation.

The pick at the time was criticized in some media outlets for his security and lack of ambition, and while Summer League didn't initially spark negative criticism of the pick, it didn't give the Hawks the first reassurance that they had hit the nail on the head This choice was not the case from the start either. However, the success or failure of Summer League is not an indication of future NBA success, and regardless of the pick's opinion at the time, Zaccharie Risacher was in fact the No. 1 pick of the Atlanta Hawks. Now is the time to stop talking and start the time for action.

Risacher himself knows there will be expectations placed on him as number one, but insists there are always expectations and he plans to stay grounded and work hard.

“I feel like there are expectations anytime, anywhere,” Risacher said of expectations at media day. “I had it last season, but I made it (to the NBA) because I trained and focused on the right thing: trying to win games, compete and impact the game. That's what I'm going to do this season: keep it simple, keep it real, train. I am a hard worker. I just love being a competitor and that's why they chose me. I want to win games. That’s the type of player I want to be, that I am.”

Hawks GM Landry Fields also simplified expectations for Risacher before expressing his enthusiasm for the player Risacher is now and in the future.

“The expectation for him is to come in and absorb,” Fields of Risacher added. “It’s a new country. He speaks the language very well, but that depends on how things are translated. He is fantastic. He is expected to come in, do his job and make the most of every opportunity that comes his way. “He’s a fantastic player now and we’re getting more and more excited about his ceiling and his future based on what we’ve seen so far and the steps he’s taken.”

Since Risacher is a winger with outside shooting potential going into the draft, there is an opportunity for him to make an immediate impact with the Hawks.

In the 2021-22 season, the Hawks posted the second-best three-point percentage in the NBA before falling to 21st the following season. While perimeter performance improved in the 2023-24 season compared to the previous season, it was only good for 17th in percentage terms, so there is an opportunity for Risacher to step in and immediately impress the Hawks from the perimeter position. On offense, especially when he has the ball in his hands, Risacher is still a bit shaky at this stage of his career, so any outside success would be a huge benefit to the way his rookie season compares to the rest His offensive game is developing and maturing around his jump shot.

Progressions Risacher should make offensively during the season include half-court offense/drives and off-court dribbling – these opportunities would open up for Risacher if that three-point shot was respected from the start. If Risacher becomes a player you can get away from, that becomes a big problem in half-court situations.

I think everyone in the full court area can look forward to some very entertaining Risacher highlights in transition. I marveled at this preliminary draft, but it was incredible to see how emboldened Risacher was in full-court/transition scenarios with the ball in his hands, and I would love to see Risacher take command of a rebound and explore those transition opportunities and attack the edge, because once Risacher gets steam, he moves very well.

A respectable three-point shooter with improved off-shooting ability and the ability to advance in transition: these elements would, in my opinion, quantify success for Risacher in his rookie season.

From a coaching perspective, Risacher's success in his rookie season will be viewed in the same light as other, even more experienced members of the team, as Hawks head coach Quin Snyder explained at media day.

“I think I would define it for him the same way I would define it for our other guys,” Snyder said of the success of Risacher’s rookie season. “The trajectory of Zacch's career, Trae's career – it sounds counterintuitive because you have an experienced player… what I want to see is consistent, continuous improvement. To achieve this requires adversity. It’s part of the growth process.”

Additionally, Snyder praised Risacher's feel for the game as well as his work ethic, a point emphasized multiple times not only by Snyder but also by Fields.

“What I saw in Zacch is a young man who has a really good feel for the game, you can tell he appreciates every facet of the game. I saw a work ethic, and that work ethic is something that we fundamentally want to be part of the identity of the program. Seeing him do that and not being afraid to fail, so to speak, for any rookie, whether you're the first pick, the 10th pick or the 28th pick, that's something that's critically important.”

“What stands out about Zacch is his work ethic,” Snyder added. “I think the combination of hard work and conscious action – smart work – is a good thing for any young player who progresses in this league and starts to find themselves and their individual path. I think that's something he's focused on.” From the time he was there to see the end of the EuroCup season in the playoffs, through the draft process, the training sessions and the Summer League – take a breath and return Then come back here to take part in our preseason portion of the OTAs. That consistent work ethic, even in times that require a level of perseverance that not all of us have to deal with in this process before our rookie season.”

Fields added further comments to that work ethic in addition to the excitement the franchise has about Risacher's present and future.

“We had the first choice and are thrilled with Zacch and his progress and the way he approaches his daily work,” Fields added. “He’s been a professional for a while. It's good to see where he's at and it's good to see where he could ultimately go at 19. We’re very happy with what we’ve seen so far and I think his ceiling is incredibly high.”

These are encouraging early reports from Hawks staff about Risacher's work ethic. Talent is one thing in the NBA, but striving to maximize it can be another, and Risacher's approach to his training and work is an early encouragement.

Defensively, it's usually a struggle for rookies no matter what, and Risacher will have his low points. As a winger, and I'm sure a move is expected from him given his size and length – his size at that position has been brought up by Hawks head coach Quin Snyder (along with other players) on multiple occasions.

However, Risacher is proud of his versatility and explains how he can make a difference on the pitch.

“I would say I’m a well-rounded player,” Risacher said. “I like to do a lot of things on the pitch and think I can be useful in many ways. I'm talking about goals, shots and rebounds. There is so much I can do to help the team win games. I think that's what the coach likes. He can change me in a few positions and ask me to do a lot of things. Whatever he needs, I can integrate it into the system. That’s the biggest strength for me, being able to adapt and do extra things.”

As for his role early in the season, not much was revealed at media day, but if I were to speculate, I would expect Dyson Daniels to start with Trae Young to provide a defensive presence in the backcourt. This could help ease the defensive duties that are so often placed on De'Andre Hunter, as it is currently unclear whether he will return to the starting lineup. I would venture to guess that Risacher coming off the bench at the start of the season might be a better option for him to start his career to relieve some of the inevitable pressure.

Ultimately, the Hawks' season cap doesn't rest on Risacher's shoulders, nor should it. That responsibility falls on Trae Young, the development of Jalen Johnson as he enters his fourth season as a rising star, and the relative health of players like Bogdan Bogdanovic, Clint Capela, De'Andre Hunter and Onyeka Okongwu. A good rookie season for Risacher raises the level of this team and would absolutely be beneficial, but how far the team goes I think these other factors will determine the success of the Hawks.

Perhaps this particular situation in Atlanta — a situation in which the number one pick isn't immediately expected to be the team's best player, nor even the second-best player — is perfect for Zaccharie Risacher to begin his NBA career. He can come off the bench, play to his strengths and play within the rotation rather than immediately trying to get to the level of a franchise player before he's ready.

It seems as if many of the prerequisites for Risacher's success are in place. Now it's time for promises to be put into action…