Atlanta Hawks Preseason Takeaways

Atlanta’s small forward room after Zaccharie Risacher remains thin. Vít Krejčí is the most likely backup candidate, but Snyder did not deploy him with the top eight players consistently over these four games. Toppin’s defensive versatility and willingness to attack in a fast-paced, motion offense could impress the front office to convert his two-way deal.

Preseason Battle of the Bigs

The Hawks signed both N’Faly Dante and Charles Bassey to non-guaranteed contracts this summer. Training camp and preseason served as healthy competition between the two for a final roster spot heading into the 2025-26 campaign. Atlanta made its decision ahead of opening week, waiving Bassey on Saturday morning.

Dante displayed strong rebounding and rim protection throughout the preseason. The 6-foot-11, 265-pound center’s willingness to run the floor also stood out.

He grabbed 10 boards in just eight minutes against the Houston Rockets. His best all-around performance came in the second battle with Houston, posting seven points, seven rebounds, and a block in 20 mins. Dante played significantly more than Bassey in every game except one, when the former hit foul trouble early in the second half.

Dante has the size and height advantage over Bassey. If Porziņģis goes down, the Hawks need a bigger backup behind Okongwu to avoid collapsing against double-center lineups like they did a season ago. Dante, who serves as the third-string big man, fills that role well.

Risacher Ready for Second-Year Leap

Risacher led Atlanta in scoring for the preseason at 16.3 points per game. He saved his best outing for last, dropping 24 points on 10-18 shooting against the Rockets. The 2024 first overall pick also added eight boards, three assists, two steals, and a block in 25 minutes.

Risacher gets out on the break with ease, attacking the rim with a head of steam. However, he contributed to more areas than just the scoring column against Miami. Last season, if he did not shoot well, the rest of the box score was often empty. After Risacher’s impressive preseason, Snyder emphasized the 20-year-old’s big improvement heading into a promising sophomore campaign.

“What (Zaccharie) is getting better at is making really quick reads … The variety in his game offensively is growing, where it’s not just him making a jump shot or running in transition – those are two really important things for us … You’re seeing more variety in the things he can do,” said Snyder.