Sarr, a 7-foot center who played professionally in Australia this season, appears to have the highest ceiling in this class given his size, athleticism and defensive impact. Unfortunately for the Hawks, he reportedly has been unwilling to participate in a private workout for them as they weigh what to do with the top selection. It’s possible Sarr’s advisers believe there are better situations for their client than Atlanta, which already has centers Clint Capela and Onyeka Okongwu.
The Hawks could reasonably conclude that Sarr and Okongwu, who is 23 and signed to a long-term contract, are redundant. If so, selecting the 19-year-old Risacher would be a sensible alternative. The 6-9 forward, who played in France’s top professional league this season, would be useful regardless if Atlanta breaks up its star backcourt of Trae Young and Dejounte Murray. His strength is his versatility, which could prove helpful to an Atlanta team in transition, and he has real upside thanks to his three-point shooting and ballhandling.