Top draft picks invisible on Day 3 of Summer League

But it wasn't an impressive effort from the No. 1 overall pick. While he didn't shy away from contact, he only grabbed five rebounds in 30 minutes. From deep, he shot 1-of-7, not the production the Hawks want to see for a potential starter next season. His teammates could have run Risacher-specific plays or gotten him the ball more Sunday, but Risacher didn't do a lot when he did get it.

Sarr also struggled to make an impact Sunday, finishing with eight points, four rebounds and two blocks as his Wizards lost to the Rockets, 109-91. It's hard for a defensive-oriented big man to make a huge impact in the Summer League, but the Rockets torched the Wizards inside and on the perimeter, with Sarr getting posterized by Cam Whitmore.

He also settled for a lot of jump shots, going 0-for-5 from three-point range and 4-of-14 overall. Some of his shot selection was baffling, like when he took and missed a three-pointer when the Hawks had a 4-on-1 fast break. He's over seven feet tall, but he only corralled four rebounds in 29 minutes. In general, Sarr got pushed around, which is understandable for a 19-year-old facing much older players.

Understandable, but not encouraging, since Sarr will be facing even bigger and older players in the NBA. The Wizards are in no hurry to compete, and in fact seem eager to tank, so Sarr has time to get stronger.

Sunday was a sign that these top picks are more long-range projects than players who will be helping their teams much next season. There's no reason to think they won't be fine players in the long term since their combination of size, mobility and smarts is rare and they're still teenagers. But if they're not making an impact in the Summer League, don't expect them to make an impact in the NBA in 2024-25.