NBA Draft 2024: Zaccharie Risacher, You Are An Atlanta Hawk

Brad Rowland (@BTRowland) hosts episode No. 1750 of the Locked on Hawks podcast. The show focuses on the Atlanta Hawks selecting Zaccharie Risacher at No. 1 overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, how that impacts the team's short-term and long-term future, Landry Fields' comments, and much more.
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[@TheDubz13]

Get some rest Brad

[@snekposts]

Fr, and a vacation!! Thanks for all the coverage though.

[@jonniebox9656]

😂

[@jasonbrunson4797]

he doesn't need sleep... he has a power cord! 🦾🤖

[@charlesmenifee7886]

If he’s a good defender and can make 3s, that’s a win.

[@flextime6349]

Thanks for your coverage leading up man. Kept me sane while waiting haha. Get some rest Brad!

[@MattyB422]

Another player tasked with covering for trae and Murray's turnstile defence. Hope those knees are sturdy

[@jasonbrunson4797]

MmmHmmm.... I know that's right! *finger snaps back n' forth* 😏

[@prestonfirmin3470]

Great job Brad!

[@William_Stephens]

I like him next to JJ. And if we do Trade Trae for some dumb reason or he requests a trade , I would prefer him next to JJ and Bufkin over Sarr

[@MattyOkay]

NBA Spacing will help with Risacher's finishing at the rim.

[@LockedOnHawks]

It could!

[@SPIRITOFTRUTHEDEMONKILLER]

🔥Zaac+Mo gaue+BUFKIN+Lundy....ooooohhhh.... summer league going to be 🔥

[@BabyZeeMob]

They don’t see the bigger picture I can’t wait to watch them 🫡

[@JodyV79]

Thank you for the coverage, Brad!!!

[@vicentegutierrez9213]

I appreciate your coverage !!

[@sweetnessdabutta9985]

It's funny cause when I first saw him play, that's exactly who I said: he plays like Clay Thompson, meaning style of play....that Reggie Miller, Clay Thompson mold or style of Wing player. That's not to say that he will become them. People are so close-minded when you mention a comp. But yes, his play style reminds me of those types of players. But I actually think he's more athletic than they both were.

[@jasonbrunson4797]

OMG listening to Landry talk is like watching an online ad that tries to sell you something but won't tell you what it is..... WOW!😵‍💫 He also exaggerates his size as a selling point lol! 😅 Guy can't even work a "tape measure" and is running our team!!! 🤣

[@NomadHokie]

Unrelated Fun fact since you mentioned Reed @2:00: Reed Sheppard's Dad, Jeff is a McIntosh High School graduate from Peachtree City. He went to our church, and I remember watching him play in HS when I was a kid, and then the entirety of Peachtree City (or at least everyone at our church) became huge Kentucky fans for the entire duration that Jeff was there (where he won a March Madness MVP and national championship).

[@Destin311]

Brad do you see a scenario where the Hawks are pairing ZR, Hunter, and Johnson together with one of their PGs? I say this because Johnson could function as a ball handler in that scenario

[@jasonbrunson4797]

Portland stole this draft!😮‍💨 Landry probably couldn't point out a basketball in a pile of sports equipment!

[@virgolife8832]

How much of this pick do you think it was Travis Schlenk screwing the hawks 😂😂😂

[@kittycat2983]

He screwed us horribly for years prior but this one is solid

[@SPIRITOFTRUTHEDEMONKILLER]

Mouhamid Gaueye is the reason they didn't get Sarr, that boy nice...... when summer league starts.....Mo Gaueye and Zach might (take) all summer League headlines

[@ohq80]

Makes sense, however this stinks a little of the Billy Knight Era , where he would draft every 6'9 Forward in the draft year after year!😂 We got too many wings now!!

[@SPIRITOFTRUTHEDEMONKILLER]

@@ohq80 I feel you, but billy Saw what the league was becoming....the league was changing THEN into what it is now....a bunch of 6"9 forwards like you said without a true center....this probably means WE going to keep Capella on his final year....

[@ohq80]

I forgot we had AJ too. Now that hes gone, i think we're going to draft Bronny James tonight!👀​@@SPIRITOFTRUTHEDEMONKILLER

[@virgolife8832]

I don’t know why but he reminds me of a young Klay Thompson

[@cbreezy]

Because he’s light skin and shoots 3’s Jfc

[@robertblackman7235]

What’s next Hawks you gotta get this right

[@johnknoblauch7431]

Can he play the 2 and get a line up with Him, Trae, Hunter, JJ, and either CC/OO?

[@vonkaiser3]

My hopes as well

[@Michael_ATL_82]

He grew up watching KD

[@millennial953]

Brad, who do you think we should target in free agency? Im thinking trading for help at the center position

[@joshllorens4514]

Now the GOAT must rest. We thank you Brad

[@LockedOnHawks]

Haha no rest here. At work today then round two.

[@jasonbrunson4797]

Salty on this pick.... This doesn't fix our defense, we are now just sloppier handling the ball and will get eaten alive defensively from 3 positions now instead of 2. Less defense, more offense... but our defense is the hemorrhaging issue here! We can't keep Clint and Hunter till next season and expect to not lose value when we have no draft picks left. We're log jammed at SF already! We shouldn't be playing JJ at PF! He's gonna be injury prone from inside contact when he's best at SF opening up the floor. Lebron James isn't stuck playing PF if you want to look at his prototype! We're paying for 2 starting centers as well when we get 2 back-up centers production because we won't commit. Shit or get off the toilet! Our future we've invested and nurtured is Okongwu, move Clint now. I love Clint, but I love my team more. I have 35years with this team and only 5 with Clint who's gonna fall in value every game he doesn't double double now! We can't get FA's here w/o overpaying so we gotta make trades to improve since we've blown our next 3 drafts. Hunter and Clint gotta go! I feel we just stole SA's playbook here because we're unoriginal. Worst case scenario Ressler figures we atleast get more European publicity for market share sales NBA wise by this pick. Shoulda fixed our defense with Clingan, it's slow reacting and not proactive like it was a few yrs ago. Risacher is gonna face the insane swing players in the NBA as a rookie and the league is gonna call fouls everytime he tries to steal. A big gambler, which you get punished 4 outta 5 times you gamble on a steal, and that's his defensive upside in an NBA that discourages defense.

[@jasonbrunson4797]

Brad you have little emotion... are you a robot? I sure hope I'm wrong but I have an insane track record on calling Rookie of the Year along with busts and I see this our next Marvin Williams. High pick underachiever at a huge differential. It is the same. Doesn't matter what draft..... #1 pick is #1 pick... you can't take Jon Koncak and justify standing pat with that as "what you wanted" when using skewed statistical equations. This office has never been told.... excuses are like assholes, everybody has one! They better keep Trae and move what needs moved, Griffin wasn't the real issue here.... we have priority issues! We do superficial things that make no difference. Ressler/Landry... don't act like your so smart, bend to a child's stubborn ignorance, then copy successful teams from 2 steps behind! Lets keep drafting forwards because that's all the rage in the NBA now! Collins, JJ, Griffin, Lundy, Hunter, Risacher... so far jury is out on these but there is the definition of insanity that comes to mind here..... we shoulda gotten Clingan w/ Brook Lopez potential playing w/ Trae. Clingan w/ any luck ROY!

[@luvdagreat1greenbox]

Can we get a 2nd round pick some way?

[@marqicewalker1766]

This man just described hunter. Not that athletic Not a defensive stopper May guard 1-4 Not a great finisher Potentially good shooter So a hunter who can pass.

[@LockedOnHawks]

They really don't play similarly at all. Hunter is more rigid and box-y. Not a natural mover. Hunter is very slow to process. Risacher is the opposite. Risacher is an off-ball mover on offense. Hunter isn't. etc. etc.

[@jasonbrunson4797]

yup, your right... and Hunter was more NBA ready than Risacher is. I agree, not to say he's gonna be bad, but he's going in "Baptized by Fire" into the NBA now and is gonna face the very best of the NBA night in and night out. If he just stays healthy then he's better than Hunter for consistency reasons and we can adjust, but we're banking on a foreign rookie who played in a weaker league at 19 to be a defensive stopper. Rookies don't do that! Not at SF since Adam Silver wants 200pnt games so he can try to eclipse the greatest commissioner of any league ever in David Stern. So he's ruined ALL-Star game into an open gym and created meaningless tournaments with play-in play-off games for more cheap content gimmicky publicity. It's all broken along with our teams front office again. $$ over morales or depth of content. Us Atlanta Hawks have sold ourselves out in this draft by being bullied into our pick.

[@phutomike]

Thanks for all the hard work dude! @Brad Rowland

[@showyouright]

Really appreciate you Brad all the coverage has been amazing! As for the pick kinda blows but hope i'm wrong but a unathletic wing doesnt inspire confidence in t he future of this franchise. Just my opinion...

[@William_Stephens]

Risacher, Sarr and Salaun all landed in the same division.

[@allenwilliams7210]

I’m excited about the pick

[@Sean-u5d]

I hate that we didnt get Sarr. But it is what it is. I hope this isnt FO trying to shed salary. Go Hawks.

[@lucasdonald9645]

Sarr didn’t want the hawks. It is what it is he’s not that far ahead as the #1 prospect

[@Sean-u5d]

@@lucasdonald9645 what Sarr wants or doesn't want shouldn't matter on the draft. I still think he is far better than ZR, but we will see. I hope I am wrong.

[@ajevans1422]

I pray that I am wrong but I am scared that this will be once again another wing that is solid but not a needle mover. ZR fits like a glove but I firmly believe Clingan would have been that game wrecking paint presence that Atlanta desperately needs because OO is not going to be a true anchor and Capela will continue to fall off.

[@charm1566]

Now go get Naji Marshall and Hartenstein

[@LockedOnHawks]

Would be quite difficult to get Hartenstein with where the hawks are financially

[@vonkaiser3]

Hopefully he resigns w/the knicks and they make Mitchell Robinson available for a trade.

[@Edo9River]

No audio 😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅

[@LockedOnHawks]

huh?

[@icanfixitars5610]

Nikola Djurisic SG/SF 43 pick🤔.....Dude can play watch highlights if u dont believe me☝🏽...🤔Griffin gone Boga about too hit Twitter soon🫡..Can you say Trrrrrrrrade!!!!..Stay Tuned😉👍👍

[@jasonbrunson4797]

We need real "students" of the game running this team, not amateur golfers!! You have to "eat, breath, sleep" this game and stop being armchair owners w/ $$$. It takes money but it takes knowledge w/ intuition and constant....just constant study of the game to stay relevant. We're using ideas 3yrs old now..... Winners are willing to "break the mold". We lost our innovation w/ Travis and it's still punishing us. $$ won't fix this, great minds needed in ATL!

[@masterroshi1338]

Pe'Pe Le Booooooooooooo

[@fscolema1]

A lot of work to do with RFA guys

[@HammerHeadBubba]

Brad with the well deserved "there weren't any trades" victory lap 😂

[@SpankMaleton]

can you explain to me like i'm a two year old why kyle korver is in the front office 🤦

[@LockedOnHawks]

Not sure what you're asking lol but he's one of the assistant GMs. Before that, he was director of player affairs & development. He's well-regarded.

[@jasonbrunson4797]

Atlanta hires by the buddy system rather than most qualified candidates.

[@DP-vt5ni]

Reggie Miller

[@HalseyHFW]

So you're saying Sarr is Kwame Brown 2.0...

[@MoveInSilence23]

So in the late 2040s, Sarr will roast people too?

[@jasonbrunson4797]

OMG Kwame Brown, LOL 😂Backgrounds very different but I see the potential to be exactly the same. Was still worth drafting, trading, and "punking" someone else with, for what we really wanted though. Sarr to Portland for Clingan and alittle more.

[@QuizGeorge]

IM done. Ive been patient with this team for to long. BLOW it up. whatever. Tired of seeing the same movie... We have no rim protection. and we got get another Freakin Wing that's a project.. Josh Childress. Stacy Augman. Deondre Hunter.. Same old same old. you want defennse you get a legit Center.. IM DONE. yall can have this Foolishness. Sarr pissed them off and they got in their feelings.. Thats the issue with this Teams Culture... yall can have it

[@vonkaiser3]

Lol Stacey Augman, the supposed Dominique replacement.

[@ddawkins24]

1. The draft isn’t over 2. Sarr didn’t want to be in Atalanta

[@tondalawrence8174]

It’s taken the Celtics 16 years to see another championship with many ups and more downs. “Blowing it up” won’t get you very far

[@vonkaiser3]

@tondalawrence8174 especially when the spurs own our draft picks. A simple retool and aggressive yet smart decision making from the front office from here on out.

[@jasonbrunson4797]

Finally someone who GETS IT!!! Agreed! We've screwed the pooch for the last time! Our ownership doubles down on dumb! We ran off our new "culture" and went into "stupid" mode again.

[@jamessinkfield]

I apologize Brad zacc is a better player than SARR

[@IsmokeHiphopLive]

sure lol

[@topdawg78]

Bye Bye Hunter

[@jasonbrunson4797]

sorry, I'm of a different generation... I don't have Tourette Syndrome, just can't believe the bull-shtick I'm listening to. It's like we're "woke" scary thought! Lets not make anyone uncomfortable! So lets just not win if that makes anyone uncomfortable! Best make everyone happy cause thats impossible but we'll try..... Landry grow a pair and stop babbling nonsense content! Your way way too PC! Pick a direction so we know what to root for!

[@ChefKelvin404]

Terrible fucking pick. I am an Atlanta native and there was much more talent on the board. He’s good but the hawks already have Johnson. Just feel like the hawks could have done better overall with a #1 draft pick.

[@realdreamerschangetheworld7470]

Much more? Maybe a little more…

[@jonniebox9656]

Are you a Hawks fan? Well he’s ours now so let’s show the young buck some support. I think him and JJ will be great together.

[@jonniebox9656]

Are you a Hawks fan? Well he’s ours now so let’s show the young buck some support. I think him and JJ will be great together.

[@jasonbrunson4797]

totally with you there Chef!

[@jeremybilly2376]

Hawks are pathetic. We have too many players that do the same thing.

[@jasonbrunson4797]

what I've been saying... that's called "insanity". Thankyou Landry and Ressler!

[@SportsLiveInTheAtl]

The Atlanta Hawks don't know how to win. This front office is terrible

[@WegaBoy]

So annoying seeing all the negativity around the pick. I swear these fans literally just regurgitate what they see everybody else on social media say. All i've seen is vague negative statements but not one person has actually said why this is a bad pick or why they like Sarr so much more. Sarr averaged 9 points in Australia why are we acting like this dude is some guaranteed super star?!

[@marqicewalker1766]

We need a center and Sarr has more potential. A big that can stretch the floor with above average athleticism to rim run with Trae is always going to be a fan favorite especially when Capela has to GO. A wing who shot FT% at the same rate as Sarr is not exactly what you want from a potential shooter. “He’s not going to blow you away athletically” says Brad😂😂😂 I’m optimistic but pretending like complaints aren’t valid is dumb.

[@WegaBoy]

@@marqicewalker1766 I'm not pretending like complaints aren't valid and I never even implied it either. I specifically said the vague negativity is what is annoying. But you're also ignoring the fact that Sarr literally doesn't want to play center and didn't want to come here either. Two huge red flags. The talent gap is minimal and Zacc does a lot of things better than Sarr and Hunter has to go just as much Capela so lets just wait and see how things play out before we get overly negative thats all i'm saying. Sarr is far from some guaranteed superstar.

[@vonkaiser3]

Listen, Sarr wasn't guaranteed, but he has star potential and could give us fans something to cheer about. A reason to come to the games on a regular. Looking for some excitement. It's pretty bad that Niques jersey is still the most purchased/worn jersey in Atl. The potential of JJ, OO, and Sarr in the same lineup moves the needle. This move puts us to sleep. Now we are back to hoping for MO Gueye to be the saving grace for excitement. To much vanilla not enough excitement and winning. Not even the potential to win. Look at what the knicks are doing. Looks like their front office has a different set of rules and are playing a completely different game. Do we all have the same salary cap?

[@IsmokeHiphopLive]

dude your clearly that fan....if you were really watching zach and sarr....alex is miles ahead of zach.

[@WegaBoy]

@@vonkaiser3 Bruh we literally have Trae fucking Young one of the most exciting young stars in the league who already took this franchise the furtherest it has ever been without ever having another all star on his team and this fan base is still overly negative and just complains all the time and never supports their players they damn sure wouldn't be excited for that lineup you just listed. Yall would start complaining as soon as Sarr isn't an automatic all star, which he won't be any time soon.