Sports Illustrated moved Zaccharie Risacher off the top of its 2024 NBA re-draft and put Stephon Castle at No. 1. The switch came two years after Risacher went first in the 2024 NBA draft, and it reflects how quickly Castle has changed the read on the class.
Castle’s rise changed the order
Castle was the No. 4 pick in the 2024 NBA draft, but he has since won Rookie of the Year and helped Victor Wembanyama in the Spurs’ run to the Finals this season. That is the kind of jump that forces a re-ranking, especially in a class that was viewed at the time as lacking a true superstar prospect.
Two years later, the re-draft no longer treated upside as the main currency. Castle’s production and his role in a meaningful season for the Spurs gave him the edge over Risacher, who entered the league with the profile of a wing who could grow into a strong 3-and-D player.
Risacher and the Hawks
Risacher is still 21 years old, and he is described as a fine player for the Hawks. But the year-two step back the piece points to is enough to raise the question of whether Atlanta would make the same call again if it could start over.
That is where the debate gets sharper. Risacher was once seen as a strong upside play at a coveted position, and he can still develop into a strong piece alongside Jalen Johnson and Dyson Daniels. The problem is that Castle has already moved from promising No. 4 pick to the player the re-draft put first.
Atlanta’s do-over problem
The Hawks likely want a do-over on the Risacher pick, even though the door is not closed on his value. There may also be potential Risacher trades, which would change how Atlanta handles his path from here.
For now, the re-draft has put the choice in plain view: Castle is the new No. 1, and Risacher is the top pick who no longer holds that spot. Atlanta’s next decision will determine whether it treats him as part of the core or as a trade piece in a class that has already been judged again.
