Hawks send message to Zaccharie Risacher after Mavericks trade

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Hawks send message to Zaccharie Risacher after Mavericks trade

Originally posted on NBA on ClutchPoints
By Jedd Pagaduan, ClutchPoints | Last updated Jul 19, 2026 10:56 PM ET

On the day of the FIFA World Cup Final, the Atlanta Hawks managed to capture the attention of the sporting world when news came out that they had traded for lockdown defender Luguentz Dort, strengthening what already looked like an elite defensive core to begin with. In that trade, which involved both the Oklahoma City Thunder and Dallas Mavericks, the Hawks cut their losses with the first overall pick of the 2024 NBA Draft in Zaccharie Risacher after sending him to the Mavs.

Risacher’s stock has fallen off a cliff, and it’s clear that the Hawks had lost faith in him after he lost his spot in the rotation towards the end of the 2025-26 campaign after Atlanta’s dealings at the trade deadline. This is also an admission that selecting him first overall in 2024 wasn’t the best use of resources, as it is rare to see a team trade away someone who was taken with such a high draft pick, and for someone whose value across the league is in decline, no less.

Nevertheless, the Hawks thanked Risacher for his contributions in his two-year stay with the franchise, bidding farewell to him with a post on X.

Thank you, Zacch! ❤️ pic.twitter.com/RTe7hUQOwH

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) July 19, 2026

Risacher showed promise during his rookie campaign, averaging 12.6 points and 3.6 rebounds on 46/36/71 shooting splits. He made it to the All-Rookie Second Team as a result.

However, his sophomore season did not go according to plan. He lost his starting spot, and then later on, his rotation spot as well, and he showed no notable improvements, averaging just 9.6 points and 3.8 rebounds and failing to separate himself as a featured member of the Hawks’ young core.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Dyson Daniels have basically locked down the starting wing spots, while Atlanta also brought in Aaron Wiggins from the Thunder earlier in the season. While giving up on Risacher is a difficult move, it just shows that the front office doesn’t care very much about the sunk cost of picking him in the draft two years ago.

Perhaps a change of scenery would be the take-off point Risacher needs after stagnating with the Hawks.

This article first appeared on NBA on ClutchPoints and was syndicated with permission.

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