If the opportunity arises, the San Antonio Spurs might just select another prospect from France

Zaccharie Risacher, NBA Draft, San Antonio Spurs

The 2024 NBA Draft commences next week, and one team near the top of the order is the San Antonio Spurs. Coming off a quiet season, the Spurs hold the fourth overall pick, and many analysts predict that they’ll be selecting UConn guard Stephon Castle. However, Sam Vecenie of The Athletic thinks that San Antonio could be interested in French prospect Zaccharie Risacher — the potential top pick of this year’s draft. A recent article by Vecenie indicates that Risacher’s age — which is nearly identical to Victor Wembanyama’s — and productivity with a professional team are possible reasons why the Spurs have taken a liking to him.

“Risacher remains firmly in the mix to go No. 1 overall, and his name remains connected with Atlanta,” Vecenie wrote. “However, if he is not the No. 1 pick, it’s plausible he drops into the No. 4 or 5 range if the Rockets and Wizards like Sheppard and Sarr. League sources believe the Spurs are interested in Risacher as a player who fits Victor Wembanyama’s age timeline, but was also productive in a real professional environment this season for France’s JL Bourg.”

What Zaccharie Risacher brings to the table

Considering how both Risacher and Wembanyama hail from the same country, chemistry between the two won’t be hard to come by. And as stated, Risacher’s age perfectly complements his fellow Frenchman’s; the forward just turned 19 years old last month, and putting him alongside Wemby for the long run is arguably a step forward in the rebuilding process.

Risacher can develop into a formidable two-way wing, looking at his stature. Standing at 6-foot-8 with a long wingspan, the prospect’s physical attributes help a lot in scoring and defense. Risacher uses his length to get good looks and finish over defenders. On the other side of the ball, that same length, coupled with his athleticism, allows the forward to be a versatile perimeter defender.

Risacher is confident with his shot as well. The forward doesn’t hesistate to fire away from downtown when open. While there are concerns surrounding his 1-on-1 shot creation, that’s something that NBA trainers can polish over time.

Last year, he played 32 outings with JL Bourg in the Betclic Elite, averaging 10.1 points per game. He also suited up for the same team in the BKT EuroCup, tallying 13.1 points on a 56.6 field-goal percentage in 17 games.

Other potential prospects for the Spurs

Nevertheless, for Risacher to be embedded alongside Wembanyama and Devin Vassell, he’ll have to get a pass from the first three teams, which is uncertain at present. Still, it wouldn’t be the end of the world for San Antonio. If the Spurs end up with Stephon Castle, they’ll still have a high-quality guard who’s fresh off a National Championship with the Huskies. Castle averaged 11.1 points and 4.7 rebounds in 34 games with UConn last year.

And not to mention, the Spurs also have the eighth overall pick of the draft. Many predict a Devin Carter selection, considering how the guard reportedly impressed the team during his pre-draft workout in San Antonio. Named the 2024 Big East Player of the Year, Carter tallied 19.7 points, 8.7 boards and 3.6 assists in his most recent campaign with Providence.

All in all, the Spurs are expected to have a fruitful draft with two top-ten picks at their disposal.