CBS

● By Gary Parrish
For much of the past year, Alex Sarr has been considered the favorite to be the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft — but not anymore. At this moment, it's instead Zaccharie Risacher, a 6-foot-9 wing from France who is -240 in the betting markets to be the first player selected Wednesday. How did this happen? It's partly the byproduct of there never being a clear-cut No. 1 option in this draft like Victor Wembanyama was last year or, say, Anthony Davis was in 2012. But it also likely has something to do with Sarr so far being unwilling to travel to Atlanta and work out for the Hawks. Reportedly, the 19 year-old center is comfortable falling to No. 2 and being selected by Washington, where the Wizards have a younger roster that could theoretically allow Sarr to have a bigger role immediately. Whether that's a wise or unwise approach is debatable. Either way, it appears to be the decision Sarr and his representatives have made, leading most to believe Atlanta will look elsewhere with the first selection.

Top Players Not Included

These players appear in the top 30 of our

Consensus Big Board

, but do not show up in this mock.