CHICAGO – It seems a little too perfect, doesn’t it?
The Atlanta Hawks won the NBA draft lottery in a year in which they know the closest American city to consensus top prospect Alex Sarr. That's Atlanta, where he lived for one year as a member of the Overtime Elite in 2022-2023. . French big man Sarr, who played for Australia's Perth Wildcats last season, has lived in Spain, America and Australia for the past three years while developing his game.
Sarr told reporters at the NBA Draft Combine that he used to go to Hawks games as a spectator, but OTE was only 2.5 miles from State Farm Arena, but he didn't know anyone about the players. He said he didn't know him and had never met him. The Hawks have made virtually no trades over the past two seasons, so he'll definitely recognize some of them if Atlanta chooses. (Incidentally, that includes Clint Capela, who is already employed at Atlanta's Francophone Center, although Sarr said he and Geneva native Clint Capela have never met. )
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Atlanta fans might roll their eyes at this idea. of course This is the year the Hawks won the consolation prize lottery. For those who don't know, another French center was the No. 1 pick in last year's draft, and there are quite a few in the 2025 class as well.
But there's no question that the Hawks were still very lucky last Sunday. The team, which doesn't have a tank option for the next three seasons because the pick acquired in the Dejounte Murray trade is unprotected, was lucky to get the No. 1 overall pick anyway. Sarr may not be Victor Wembaneyama, but he (or whoever the Hawks take with the No. 1 pick) should still be an impact player and will also be signed to a team-friendly contract for four seasons. It is. And, importantly for a team that was torn to shreds defensively a year ago, Sarr's strengths lean heavily toward that end of the floor.
“I'm a versatile defender, and I can play inside-out offensively,” Sarr, who stands just under 7 feet tall without shoes, said last week.
Searle wouldn't reveal his city preference at the combine, but said he wants to be No. 1.
“I’m a competitor, so I want to be the best at everything I do,” he said. “I don't know if it matters because I can't control it. I'd like to tell them I'm the best player in the draft.”
Unlike taller players who are slow to pick up the game after realizing their size advantage, Sarr said he started playing basketball at the age of four because his father and older brother both played basketball. (His younger brother Olivier played at Wake Forest and the University of Kentucky and is currently on a two-way contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder.)
France has become a great basketball nation, so the trajectory of its development is no surprise. Sarr's emergence is part of a strong new wave of French talent flooding into the league over the past three years. In addition to 2023 Lottery Rookie of the Year Wenban Yama, Washington Wizards forward Bilal Koulibaly, and 2025 top lottery pick Nolan Traore, four French players will be selected in this draft. He is likely to be a first-round pick. Forwards Zachary Lizacher, Tijan Saraoun, Pacome Dadiette, and of course Sarr.
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The Hawks will likely consider at least two of them, Sarr and Lisacher, at No. 1. Sarr is the name that comes up most often on draft boards, according to Atlanta executives Landry Fields and Kyle Korver, as well as head coach Quin Snyder. Au Revoir Go to the draft combine on Thursday, jet across the pond and watch Lizach play in France (including) this scandalous photo (from a game that shows Snyder wearing normal human glasses). Saraun, on the other hand, is a late riser and could end up blowing the lottery just like Koulibaly did a year ago. Dadiette's defensive range is closer to the late first round.
In light of this influx, I caught up with Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert, the most prominent of the old guard French players, to talk about his young compatriot before Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals. .
“I think we have so much talent, it's so exciting,” Gobert said. “Twenty years ago you had a few players like (Tony Parker), Boris Diaw and (Nicolas) Batum, but now we have so many talented players coming in every year. I give credit to the French club and the French people.''Thank you to the federation for developing some of this talent and allowing them to realize their potential. ”
Gobert knows Olivier Sarr well, but has never met Alex. Gobert still follows the French prospects' matches, even if his time zone doesn't allow him to watch them.
“For me, it's very important to be someone who inspires the younger generation. Some of those older guys inspired me,” Gobert said. “It's just a cycle. I try to lead them and be there for them and give them whatever knowledge they need or whatever they need.”
As for his scouting report on young Searle?
“Obviously, he has all the ingredients to be a great player,” Gobert said. “It's always about the player's approach, mindset and mental toughness. In this league, that's everything. It's the one aspect that outsiders don't notice or don't talk about.”
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Sarr, who weighed 224 pounds at the combine, has a lean build. This brings us to Gobert's one big piece of advice.
“Let's embrace this moment and work on our bodies. Of course skill is very important, but as a 7-foot tall player in this league, body is key, then skill.”
In theory, Gobert and Sarr could be teammates this July when the French national team competes in the Olympics, but considering the veteran team has two star centers (Gobert and Wenbang Yama) So, it's very likely that Sarr will be on that roster. . More likely: Gobert will meet Sarr for the first time in the jump ball circle at a Timberwolves game early next season.
Whether it's against Atlanta or another team remains anyone's guess, but neither the Hawks nor Sarr left any clues this week. Regardless of who they pick on June 26th, the Hawks are in a much better situation than they were a week ago.
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(Alex Searle Photo: Daniel Pocket/Getty Images)
