The reason Zaccharie Risacher didn't work in Atlanta

The Atlanta Hawks have transformed their team this offseason, and the roster they came into the 2025-26 season with will look a lot different when they start the 2026-27 season. Most of the moves they've made have been trades for new pieces, and they recently made another deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder to acquire Lu Dort.

The difference in this trade and others they've made this season is that they gave away a rotational player in this one, as Zaccharie Risacher was sent to the Dallas Mavericks in part of the three-team deal. The 2024 No. 1 pick had been in trade rumors at the deadline, but it seemed like either the Hawks didn't like any of the offers, or the rumors just weren't true.

In the end, the Hawks felt like it was best for them to move on from Risacher, and it felt like the writing was on the wall last season. Risacher was benched for CJ McCollum in the second half of last season, and that's when the Hawks went on a huge run. Late in the season, Risacher then received a DNP-CD, and barely saw any playing time in the playoffs. From there, it was hard to tell what the future would look like for him on the Hawks.

Patience grew thin with Zaccharie Risacher in Atlanta

The Hawks were able to see what Risacher was fully capable of in his rookie season, and with the help of a playmaker like Trae Young on the team, life was going to be easy for him. In his second season, things weren't that easy for him, as Young was traded, and the Hawks' offense was more fluid, not relying on just one person to make everybody better.

For the Hawks, Risacher was seen as more of a spot-up shooter in their offense, and even last season, his shooting numbers took a dip from his rookie season. With other players stepping up, it was hard to see how Risacher would fit in with the roster. Add to the fact that the Hawks traded for Aaron Wiggins this offseason, and the uncertainty of his future with the team grew even more.

It's obvious that the Hawks are looking for more experience on the team, and Dort brings that with his defensive skills, while also shooting well from the 3-point line.

With the Mavericks, Risacher should be able to get more playing time, while also having the ability to make mistakes with a younger team looking to build.

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This article was originally published on atlallday.com as The reason Zaccharie Risacher didn't work in Atlanta .