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The 2024 NBA Draft class may be receiving some negative reviews, with some analysts hailing it as one of the worst crops of youngsters to enter the league in recent history, but there are still a few prospects who have the potential to be long-term keepers, if not outright stars. One of the most interesting prospects that will be entering the NBA on June 26 is 19-year old French international Zaccharie Risacher.
But before Risacher makes the trip stateside in preparation for his transition to the association, he still has a few “loose ends” to tie up. His checklist includes a goodbye press conference with his mother team, JL Bourg of the LNB Elite, passing his driver's license test, and a suit-fitting in the nation's capital in preparation for his fit on the 26th, according to Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo of ESPN.
In 2023, the French government reduced the minimum age for driver's license eligibility to 17, so Zaccharie Risacher conceivably could have been hitting the roads as early as last year. Perhaps he is already a licensed driver in France and he's only securing his International Driver's Permit so he could legally commandeer an automobile as soon as he lands in the United States.
Risacher will then be fitted for a suit by Armani, so that, as kids these days love to say, he'll be “drippy” come draft night, given that he'll be partnering with one of the most renowned outfitters in the world.
Saying his farewells to the people he worked with at JL Bourg should be emotional, even though he spent just one season with the team. Saying goodbye is never easy after all. But only greater things await Zaccharie Risacher now that he's set to ply his trade nearly 5,000 miles away from home.
Which team will snag the talented Frenchman in the 2024 NBA Draft?
The latest mock draft of ClutchPoints NBA insider Brett Siegel has Zaccharie Risacher going second to the Washington Wizards. While Risacher could flourish on a team where he could be a featured player from day one, is it really the best idea for him to land on a team with a bit of a logjam on the wing, with Deni Avdija, Bilal Coulibaly, and Corey Kispert all in need of developmental minutes and touches?
Risacher, according to scouting reports, isn't too advanced in the shot-creation department. With Tyus Jones set to enter free agency, the Wizards' point guard situation is full of question marks. The 19-year old may very well struggle in Washington.
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If anything, the San Antonio Spurs, owners of the fourth pick of the upcoming NBA Draft, look like the best fit for Risacher, especially if they improve at the point. Risacher is Victor Wembanyama's compatriot, so there is an immediate connection there. Moreover, the Spurs won't have to overtask Risacher, allowing him to develop at his pace while Wembanyama and Devin Vassell, the team's two untouchables, lead the way.
The Detroit Pistons could also be a solid landing spot for Risacher; they have Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey to handle the bulk of ball-handling and shot-creation duties. They need a wing who can shoot to round out the team's young core. Risacher could be that guy.
Quick Zaccharie Risacher scouting report
One of Zaccharie Risacher's selling points as a prospect is that he's a forward listed at 6'10 who could conceivably be a top-tier secondary star in his prime. He's not too adept at creating for himself and for others even though he's displayed a feel for pushing the ball up in transition, but at his size, he could be a plug and play for any team in today's NBA thanks to his ability to move off the ball, space the floor, and keep the ball moving.
Scouts have seen decent defending from Risacher as well; he may not be the most explosive athlete like some of his peers at the top of the draft are, but his size gives him an advantage immediately. Moreover, he can also shuffle his feet nicely, although some have noted that he might be vulnerable to opponents with a much quicker first step.
Players who could fill spots on the wing, defend multiple positions, and shoot the three-ball reliably will always have a place in today's NBA, especially someone of Risacher's physical stature. His skillset, at least at the moment, may have scouts projecting him to be a support player, even at his peak, but the overall package the 19-year old brings to the table should give him a strong chance to fashion a long career in the NBA for himself.
In 51 games in all competitions this past season, Risacher averaged 11 points on 46.3 shooting from the field and 39.1 percent from beyond the arc. The improved playmaking and spacing in the NBA should give him a chance to become even more impactful even though he's going to enter the league as one of its most raw players.
