Atlanta Hawks dump former No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher after disappointing two-year stint
After two seasons with the Atlanta Hawks, Risacher is already on the move.Another NBA trade dropped Sunday, sending the 21-year-old to the Dallas Mavericks and bringing Atlanta's underwhelming gamble to an early end.MAJOR NBA TRADE WON'T BE OFFICIAL UNTIL LEAGUE'S INVESTIGATION INTO TEAM'S SALARY CAP ACCUSATIONS IS COMPLETEZaccharie Risacher No.10 of the Atlanta Hawks dunks against the Portland Trail Blazers during the third quarter at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Ga., on March 1, 2026.
(Kevin C.Cox/Getty Images)Atlanta received Lu Dort from the Thunder, Oklahoma City secured two second-round picks, and Dallas landed Risacher and guard Ryan Nembhard from the Hawks.Top picks rarely get cut loose this quickly.
While draft-night trades happen in minutes and Andrew Wiggins was famously flipped 57 days post-draft for Kevin Love before ever putting on a Cavaliers jersey, a top pick getting dealt for purely basketball-related reasons after two years is a whole different category of rare.WIZARDS SELECT AJ DYBANTSA FIRST OVERALL IN 2026 NBA DRAFTMoving on after just 142 career games puts Risacher in rare company alongside Markelle Fultz, who was traded from Philadelphia after 33 games across two injury-plagued seasons, and Pervis Ellison, who lasted just one year in Sacramento before being shipped out.Unlike Fultz or Ellison, Risacher wasn't sidelined by a shoulder condition or persistent health red flags.Atlanta simply pulled the plug, deciding not to stick with the top pick after just two seasons.Zaccharie Risacher of the Atlanta Hawks drives past Chris Paul of the San Antonio Spurs in the first half at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas.
(Ronald Cortes/Getty Images)Zaccharie Risacher of the Atlanta Hawks reacts with Keaton Wallace after hitting a 3-point basket against the Toronto Raptors during an Emirates NBA Cup game at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.(Kevin C.
Cox/Getty Images)Risacher was part of an underwhelming 2024 NBA Draft class that featured names like Ale...