Atlanta Hawks win #1 Pick in 2024 Draft Lottery

[Jamaaliver]

Do we have a new contender for the first overall pick?!?

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[jayu70]

Do we have a new contender for the first overall pick?!?

Spoiler:

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[Jamaaliver]

How the 2024 NBA Combine Changed Our Latest Mock Draft

Alex Sarr Bumped From No. 1 Spot



Alex Sarr had been our projected No. 1 overall pick for the few months prior to the NBA combine. But he'd been a soft No. 1. Even today, there is still no consensus answer for who's the top prospect. Sarr fits with a lot of lineups. His archetype—a 7-foot switchable defender with some ball-handling and shotmaking skill—remains highly coveted. And theoretically, no other prospect offers the same type of upside at both ends.

But talking with scouts and executives in Chicago, the level of confidence in Sarr's No. 1 overall potential didn't feel overly strong. Questions about his offensive impact for the first pick were brought up.

And then there is Zaccharie Risacher, who's currently playing in the LNB Pro A playoffs. General manager Landry Fields, assistant GM Kyle Korver and coach Quin Snyder made it to France for JL Bourg's first game against Nanterre, with Risacher scoring 14 points in 23 minutes.

The 19-year-old followed up by exploding for a season-high 28 points in 29 minutes. Despite the loss, he was able to showcase his signature shotmaking, improving perimeter self-creation and athleticism around the basket.

Scouts ultimately seem to have a comfort level with Risacher's game, which feels highly translatable based on his positional wing size (6'8"), 38.8 percent three-point shooting, the eye test on his mechanics, the fluidity of his movement and leaping, his foot speed to defend the point of attack and his tools to guard multiple positions and contest jump shots.

And in a draft that's lacking surefire stars, the Hawks could be more inclined to play it safer with a high-floor, three-and-D prospect who's still extremely young and has room to grow as a shot-creator.

Risacher may look even more appealing to Atlanta after AJ Griffin played just 20 games and Saddiq Bey tore his ACL. For now before workouts, the French wing has been moved to the No. 1 spot in our updated mock draft board.

Bleacher Report

[jayu70]

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Worry bout yourself Lonzo.

[tbhawksfan1]

Man those French guys really suffer on those healthy Mediterreanian diets. They really need to do more of the American ultra-processed foods diet to put some meat on them French bones

Yall know I kid like 95% of the time

[tbhawksfan1]

Oh and I'm still taking Sarr and hopefully getting another top 20 pick to draft Edey because I don't want King Ken to take his ball and go home... 96%

[jayu70]

Oh and I'm still taking Sarr and hopefully getting another top 20 pick to draft Edey because I don't want King Ken to take his ball and go home... 96%

[Jamaaliver]

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[Jamaaliver]

Marc Stein says we're drafting a Frenchman?!?!?!?

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[Jamaaliver]

ESPN says the big Klingan is also in play...

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[DirtybirdGA]

May as well pass out berets to everyone.

[HMFFL]

ESPN says the big Klingan is also in play...

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The two of them have been the expected one two punch in the draft for over a year now. Big men can be risky but any 7-footers that go #1 better be a dominate force and a sure thing to be drafted #1. Our history needs to change with this draft.

[Jamaaliver]

...Big men can be risky but any 7-footers that go #1 better be a dominate force and a sure thing to be drafted #1. Our history needs to change with this draft.

This is what has me worried about taking Sarr #1.

He doesn't really dominate any aspect of the game and is really limited offensively.

He played backup Center in a less competitive league last season!!!

[CP War Hawks]

Sarr is projected as a top 5 dpoy candidate and elite in transition on both ends where the Hawks are terrible at.

Put it like this, all those easy bunnies Capela misses will be counted as and 1s with Sarr in there.

[Jamaaliver]

Sarr is projected as a top 5 dpoy candidate and elite in transition on both ends where the Hawks are terrible at.

Put it like this, all those easy bunnies Capela misses will be counted as and 1s with Sarr in there.

Maybe...but Sarr lacks physicality and at 225 pounds (the most he's ever weighed), he'll still be pushed around in the paint by opposing big men. And he's a subpar defensive rebounder for a 7-footer.

ALSO, Sarr does project to be great defensively.

But is he really gonna jump above Wemby, Chet, JJJ, Anthony Davis, Evan Mobley, Herb Jones, Bam Adebayo anytime soon?

[Jamaaliver]

I'd really be on board with trading back and grabbing both of these guys instead of just A Sarr.

Ware provides rebounding and rim protection with a bit of post scoring.
Kyle F is a solid rebounder/passer/ball handler who can serve as an offensive hub when things bog down.

Both can space the floor.

[CP War Hawks]

Sarr is projected as a top 5 dpoy candidate and elite in transition on both ends where the Hawks are terrible at.

Put it like this, all those easy bunnies Capela misses will be counted as and 1s with Sarr in there.

Maybe...but Sarr lacks physicality and at 225 pounds (the most he's ever weighed), he'll still be pushed around in the paint by opposing big men. And he's a subpar defensive rebounder for a 7-footer.

ALSO, Sarr does project to be great defensively.

But is he really gonna jump above Wemby, Chet, JJJ, Anthony Davis, Evan Mobley, Herb Jones, Bam Adebayo anytime soon?

Wemby is at 209 and Chet was what 190 at the combine. What are we even talking about rn. He's 225 and will easily go 235 sometime during the season. That prototype big are talking over these days.

[raleigh]

I'd really be on board with trading back and grabbing both of these guys instead of just A Sarr.

I can tell that ATL fans are not used to having the top pick when I see comments like this one.

Trade the pick for a starter? At least debatable.

Trade back in the draft for "quantity over quality?" Will never happen.

[Jamaaliver]

Wemby is at 209 and Chet was what 190 at the combine. What are we even talking about rn. He's 225 and will easily go 235 sometime during the season. That prototype big are talking over these days.

Wemby and Chet are definitely at the higher end of the spectrum. Most of these dudes will never reach those heights. I honestly don't know if Sarr gets there. But the fact he was a backup in a bad pro league -- and has very limited offensive skill really makes me wary.

I'd really be on board with trading back and grabbing both of these guys instead of just A Sarr.

I can tell that ATL fans are not used to having the top pick when I see comments like this one.

Trade the pick for a starter? At least debatable.

Trade back in the draft for "quantity over quality?" Will never happen.

I just don't see what separates Alex Sarr from Kel'el Ware. Kel'el at least projects to be a long time starter who can play next to Okongwu or Jalen Johnson because of his floor spacing.

(I fear Alex Sarr may end up being a PF long term.)

[HMFFL]

Do we have a new contender for the first overall pick?!?

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From my understanding the Lakers are the only team to reach out to him.