Mavericks gifted dream opportunity to trade for former No. 1 overall pick

The Atlanta Hawks are reportedly willing to trade (subscription required) 2024 No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher if the right deal presents itself, according to NBA insider Marc Stein, and the Dallas Mavericks may be in the perfect position to get their hands on the 20-year-old wing.

The Mavericks acquiring Risacher would be more about Atlanta and Dallas' mutual interest in making an Anthony Davis trade, but netting Risacher in a potential deal would be a dream come true for the Mavs. Mavericks fans have already been fantasizing about having Cooper Flagg and Risacher as two of their young wings of the future, and Risacher coming to Dallas could be closer than anyone realizes.

A few days ago, it was reported that Risacher would probably be part of any deal that sends Davis to Atlanta, and the trade smoke between the Mavericks and Hawks has started to pick up over the last few days.

Zaccharie Risacher to Dallas makes too much sense to ignore

From early reporting, it sounds like Atlanta is Dallas' preferred trade destination for Davis, and these rumors are only poised to intensify as time goes on. The trade deadline is just over a month away, and the fact that actual trade parameters are beginning to emerge is notable.

This hasn't been the case for any of Davis' other potential suitors, and the Hawks rumors are turning real quickly.

The Mavericks don't want Trae Young back in a potential move with the Hawks, as they have their sights set on expiring contracts to create future cap flexibility, young assets, and draft capital. The expiring contracts that would make sense in a deal between Dallas and Atlanta would be Kristaps Porzingis and Luke Kennard.

Despite this, some first-round picks, along with Risacher, would be the sweeteners that could push a prospective trade across the finish line.

The Mavericks obviously need at least one first-round pick in any Anthony Davis trade to build around Flagg, but adding Risacher to the young core alongside Flagg, Ryan Nembhard, Max Christie, and Dereck Lively II is definitely intriguing. They don't fully control any of their own first-round picks after this year until 2031, and landing Risacher, along with a youngster in next summer's draft, would be a good start to the Flagg era.

Risacher isn't having the best season in Atlanta, as he is averaging 10.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.0 steals per game while shooting 45.5 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from downtown, but the potential is there. Risacher got second in Rookie of the Year voting last season, only trailing young phenom Stephon Castle, and a change in scenery could be perfect for him.

If the Hawks traded him to the Mavericks as part of an Anthony Davis trade, he'd get to spend the rest of the season perfecting his craft and spreading his wings. Without Davis, Dallas wouldn't be pushing for a playoff spot, and they'd be in a position to let him grow alongside Flagg and the Mavericks' other young players.

He is already a strong perimeter defender, scorer, and off-ball cutter, and he has the tools to be a starter in today's NBA if he can hone in on his shooting and become more consistent in that area. Risacher has struggled with keeping the mechanics of his jump shot consistent, and once he gets that down, his game will become much more balanced.

He and Flagg could spend all summer working on their 3-point jumpers, as shooting from beyond the arc has notably been his kryptonite through the first 32 games of his NBA career. Flagg is shooting 28.7 percent from downtown on 3.4 attempts per game, and those looks will begin to fall for him soon, especially if he prioritizes shooting over the offseason.

Risacher doesn't have the potential to become an offensive engine as Flagg does, but he is already a good scorer around the bucket in the half-court and transition. He scored 30 or more points four different times as a rookie, and even had a 38-point game against the Brooklyn Nets. The upside is obviously there, and the Mavericks should capitalize on it and buy low.

The opportunity is there for the Mavericks to land the French wing, and the individual rumors surrounding Zaccharie Risacher, along with the Anthony Davis trade rumors, make Dallas a likely destination.

Landing a former No. 1 overall pick is something the Mavericks shouldn't pass on, especially with them looking to build around Cooper Flagg, and this could be the exact move they need to jumpstart a new era of Mavs basketball.