ATLANTA (AP) 鈥� Now more than ever, the Atlanta Hawks are Trae Young's team as the high-scoring point guard enters his seventh season.
One of Young's new teammates, veteran Larry Nance Jr., knows that lead role comes with responsibility.
鈥淚鈥檓 excited to try and help Trae take the next step in making this, you know, even more of his franchise,鈥� Nance said Monday at the Hawks' media day.
Nance, the forward-center who has played with such stars as Kobe Bryant and LeBron James in his nine-year career, said part of Young's job is 鈥渏ust understanding what it means. You know, heavy is the head that wears the crown.鈥�
Young, a three-time All-Star, has impressed general manager Landry Fields with his leadership role in the offseason, spending time with rookie the No. 1 overall pick in this year's NBA draft, and other new teammates.
鈥淭his is a, I mean, a really cool big opportunity for me,鈥� Young said. 鈥淚 mean, I say all the time I鈥檝e always been pretty good at leading by example and vocally is something growing up has always been tough for me. But I mean, I鈥檝e gotten better and better each year and in Year 7 now we have a lot of mixtures and that鈥檚 where we have a lot of young guys we can give a lot of knowledge to and I can give a lot of knowledge to. And so for me, it鈥檚 just about being vocal in and is speaking up more.鈥�
Young took Risacher to an Oklahoma college football game.
鈥淢an, that was that was one of the highlights of my summer,鈥� Young said. 鈥淚 mean, it was great. I thought it was really cool. I mean, bringing a kid from France over here to the States and even going to Norman, Oklahoma.鈥�
Risacher also attended Atlanta Braves and Atlanta Falcons games.
鈥淚鈥檓 trying to fit into the, this new culture, new city, new people,鈥� he said.
The Hawks' new mix began to take shape with the decision to trade Young's backcourt partner, . With Murray sent to New Orleans for four veterans and two future first-round draft picks, Young is left with a larger share of the scoring and ball-handling responsibility.
Guard Dyson Daniels and Nance were included in the deal for Murray. Daniels is expected to make an immediate contribution on defense as an important part of the Hawks' offseason emphasis on improving their size, depth and ability to defend.
Forwards Jalen Johnson and De'Andre Hunter will be joined by the 6-foot-9 Risacher, though he referred to himself as a shooting guard on Monday when he spoke about playing with Young. The rookie may have revealed he is part of the plan to replace Murray.
鈥淛ust playing with him, it makes you life easier,鈥� Risacher said of Young. "Make sure, you know, you鈥檙e on the right spot so he can pass you the ball. It鈥檚 such a great blessing for me as a shooting guard. It鈥檚 a blessing to be able to play with him, you know?"
Young with a torn ligament in his left pinkie last season. He averaged 25.7 points and a career-high 10.8 assists.
The Hawks have not won a playoff series since advancing to the 2021 Eastern Conference finals and they finished 10th in the Eastern Conference at 36-46 this season. Young said his first goal is returning to the playoffs.
Fields said he is open to the possibility of more moves before the season.
鈥淭here鈥檚 more work to do,鈥� Fields said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e not a finished product. We are a work in progress right now. And I鈥檓 really excited, though, about about this group.鈥�
___
AP NBA:
Charles Odum, The Associated Press
