Latest Hawks trade rumors are a major headache for the Spurs

It's not nice to laugh at others' misfortunes, but it's hard for San Antonio Spurs fans not to laugh at the Atlanta Hawks. There are, of course, rumors of Trae Young being traded to the Washington Wizards.

However, more interesting are the rumors surrounding 2024 no. 1 overall pick Zaccarie Risacher. Look, no one ever expected that he would be a star, but rumors that they are open to moving him less than a season and a half into his career are still pretty shocking.

It should make Spurs fans thank GM Brian Wright for not moving up in the 2024 NBA Draft and instead staying the course. That strategy obviously paid off with him drafting Stephon Castle, who looks like the best player in his draft class thus far.

That's all well and good, but the Risacher rumors raise major questions about the direction of the Hawks. That should concern the Spurs, with them owning their 2026 and 2027 firsts.

Latest Zaccarie Risacher trade rumors are a headache for Spurs

The confusion surrounding the Hawks should make the Silver and Black concerned. Things were going well for the Spurs when they weren't going well for Atlanta. After all, currently, the Hawks would be giving up the 13th pick in this year's draft to San Antonio.

Now, with ATL potentially trading Young to the Wizards and possibly sending Kristaps Porzingis and Risacher to the Dallas Mavericks, it's anyone's guess how they'll look. Maybe they have accepted that they can't focus solely on this season to spite the Spurs by trying to make the playoffs.

Atlanta does have options; they still have two first-round picks, including one that could be a top 3 selection and another in the teens. Their reshuffling their roster may help them in the long term but cost them in the short term.

The Atlanta Hawks' Spurs-owned pick hangs in the balance

That could mean them bowing out of the East playoff race by trading Risacher and Young That could also mean that it improves the pick they owe the Spurs.

That's the best-case scenario for the Spurs, but what happens if the Hawks somehow get better if they trade Young and Ri­sacher? It's possible, and the bottom of the East is still ripe for the taking. After all, only four games separate the 10th and 6th seeds. Atlanta moving up in the East standings would be a disaster for the Silver and Black.

Let's hope that doesn't happen and San Antonio ends up with another lottery pick courtesy of the Hawks. It's just too early to tell what's going to happen.