The trade deadline is creeping closer, and the Detroit Pistons are still one of the league’s biggest mysteries. Most expect them to work around the fringes and not reach for the type of splashy blockbuster that would disrupt what they’ve built, but they could also take advantage of a buy-low opportunity like Zaccharie Risacher.
The Hawks got trade season started by dealing contentious point guard Trae Young to the Wizards for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert, which doesn’t seem like the type of move you’d make if you thought your team was a serious threat.
And they aren’t, as the Hawks are currently the 9th seed and three games under .500, so most see this move as the beginning of a reset around start forward Jalen Johnson, who has been outstanding this season and looks like a legit star.
That hasn’t been the case for former number one pick Zaccharie Risacher, who Marc Stein (subscription) reported to be available in the right deal, though that information was pushed back on by the Hawks in subsequent reports.
Omari Sankofa II listed Risacher as a possible target for the Pistons if the Hawks decide to do the hard reset around Johnson.
It would be a tempting opportunity for the Pistons, as Risacher is only in his second season, so he’s far from being declared a bust. This is a guy who made the All-Rookie team and has shown considerable potential, so it’s hard to believe the Hawks would be willing to give up on him this early in his career.
Theoretically it is possible, as the Pistons have a big TPE to absorb his deal and could send back picks in return, which the Hawks may value if they are indeed starting anew.
Detroit Pistons trade rumors: Zaccharie Risacher is an extreme long shot
The Pistons are in first place, so it’s hard to envision them adding a player who can’t immediately contribute to a playoff run, and Risacher does not fit that mold at age 20 and with little experience.
He wouldn’t even have an immediate spot in the rotation, and Detroit may be loath to take on another project when they already have plenty of young players that need minutes.
But I can see the temptation, as you don’t get too many chances to buy-low on a number one pick even if it was in a somewhat weak draft. Risacher is a big two-way wing with potential, so that is almost always worth the risk.
The Pistons picks will be nowhere near the lottery for the foreseeable future, so this would be a way to add a high-end young talent who would more or less replace whatever picks they had to use to get him and provide Detroit a player with more potential than those picks likely represent.
Which is exactly why the Hawks would have to be out of their minds to make such a trade unless they were getting back a legit pick in return for Risacher, whose potential far outweighs whatever you are going to get from a pick or two in the late 20’s.
I like the thinking here, as Detroit should be looking for high-value distressed assets to buy low on, but I tend to believe the Hawks when they say they aren’t going to trade him.