Trae Young Appears to Shade Hawks, Says Zaccharie Risacher is 'Free' After Trade in IG Comment

Trae Young appeared to take a dig at the Atlanta Hawks on Monday, writing in an Instagram comment that Zaccharie Risacher was "free" after he was traded to the Dallas Mavericks as part of a three-team deal that sent Lu Dort to the Hawks.

Risacher took a slightly different approach in his goodbye post on Instagram.

"When I got drafted, I didn't know what to expect. I was in a new country, playing at the highest level, and Atlanta opened the door for me, as a place to call home," he wrote. "Some nights were everything I dreamed of. Others were harder than I ever imagined. Each of them has helped me grow as a player, and as a person. I'm grateful for that. To the Hawks organization, to the team that became family, and to the fans who kept showing up, thank you. You'll always be part of my story. Time for the next chapter."

Young, who spent his parts of eight seasons in Atlanta, is perhaps still somewhat aggrieved after the team traded him last season. Risacher, meanwhile, never quite found his groove in Atlanta after being the top overall pick in 2024, averaging 11.1 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game across two seasons.

With Atlanta reimagining its roster in recent years, Risacher became expendable. He'll have the chance at a fresh start in Dallas, however, with the Mavs taking a chance on some untapped potential.