Zaccharie

Risacher

Daniels has been been a revelation on defense with efficient scoring numbers while Krejci has been a fill-in due to injuries. It’s unclear who will need to step in with both players out, but Zaccharie Risacher will be among the players who’ll get a boost.

Okongwu’s absence frees up additional playing time for the likes of Jalen Johnson, David Roddy and Clint Capela. If Hunter is ruled out again, Zaccharie Risacher could continue to see extra minutes in a favorable matchup with the Wizards.

Risacher will miss a third consecutive summer league game, meaning we won’t see him in action again until the preseason. In two games, he averaged 14.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.5 blocks, and 2.0 3-pointers, shooting 39.3% from the field and 42.9% from the foul line. Overall, Risacher did not have a great summer league experience, but there were moments when his perimeter shooting and playmaking were on display.

Friday’s game will be Risacher’s second straight missed; he did not play against the Lakers on Wednesday. Atlanta isn’t in the running for a place in the semifinals, so we may have seen the first overall pick for the last time this summer. Risacher had some good moments in Las Vegas, showing off a solid basketball IQ and ability to put teammates in a position to succeed. He has a promising future in Atlanta, especially as his body matures and fills out.

Risacher’s injury is not severe, but his absence means both first-round picks will sit out Wednesday’s matchup. The Lakers have sidelined Dalton Knecht for rest reasons. Risacher’s injury will not linger, so there’s no need to be concerned about the rookie’s training camp availability. Whether or not he plays again this week in Las Vegas remains in the air.

After scoring a relatively efficient 18 points in his summer league debut on Friday, Risacher did not shoot the ball as well on Sunday. The rookie wing was 1-of-7 from beyond the arc and struggled at the foul line. However, there were positives. Risacher displayed a solid basketball IQ, which is no surprise given his playmaking abilities with JL Bourg in France. He does need to get stronger, but that will happen as the 19-year-old’s body fills out.

Every team is looking for elite players on the wing, and Risacher has the upside to be the next big thing. Despite some rough stretches for JL Bourg this past season, Risacher showcased his jump shot, his best skill. In 65 appearances this past season, he averaged 11.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, 0.9 steals, 0.9 blocks, and 1.4 triples in 23.3 minutes per game. His shot should have no issues translating, but everything else isn’t guaranteed. Still, he has the upside of being effective on both ends of the floor and providing spacing with his catch-and-shoot ability. Atlanta is a solid landing spot for Risacher, as De’Andre Hunter has struggled to stay healthy, and pending free agent Saddiq Bey suffered a torn ACL in mid-March. Risacher should not lack playing time as a rookie, and playing off of Trae Young and Dejounte Murray (if both stay) should allow the rookie to showcase his ability to knock down jump shots.