Blockbuster NBA Trade
Three-Team NBA Trade Sends Dort to Hawks, Risacher to Mavericks; OKC Sheds Payroll
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Key Points
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OKC’s cap relief is substantial, with the Thunder reportedly saving about $224 million in luxury tax and payroll and moving below the second apron, while receiving three heavily protected second-round picks (a 2027 pick from Chicago via Dallas, plus 2031 and 2032 Hawks picks) in the deal.
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Dallas now features a trio of No. 1 overall picks on one roster, with Zaccharie Risacher heading to Dallas to join Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg (all-time No. 1 selections in their respective draft years).
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Atlanta’s defensive profile gets a boost with Dort, who, along with the Hawks after Trae Young’s departure, posted a strong run (28-15) and improved perimeter defense during the stretch following the midseason adjustment.
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Dort is established as a premier defender, having been named to the 2025 NBA All-Defensive Team, adding high-level perimeter coverage and championship pedigree to the Hawks’ lineup.
The Oklahoma City Thunder, Atlanta Hawks, and Dallas Mavericks completed a three-team trade that sends Lu Dort to Atlanta and former No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher to Dallas, according to Yahoo Sports. The Thunder walk away with three heavily protected second-round picks and roughly $224 million in combined payroll and luxury tax savings.
The deal also moves rookie guard Ryan Nembhard from Dallas to Atlanta. For OKC, the priority was simple: get under the NBA's second tax apron and free up financial flexibility for the future, CBS Sports reported.
OKC Sheds $224 Million and Gains Flexibility
The Thunder's savings are staggering. Oklahoma City cuts about $224 million in payroll and luxury tax by moving Dort, according to CBS Sports. The team also drops below the second apron — a key salary threshold that limits trades and roster moves. In return, OKC gets three second-round picks: a 2027 pick from Chicago via Dallas, plus 2031 and 2032 picks from Atlanta. All three are heavily protected.
The Thunder were already one of the NBA's deepest rosters. Shedding Dort's contract without giving up young talent or first-round picks is a win. OKC stays competitive while gaining the cap room to maneuver in future offseasons, Clutch Points noted.
Dallas Bets Big on Three No. 1 Overall Picks
Risacher was the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft but struggled to find a steady role in Atlanta. Now he heads to Dallas, where he joins Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg — both former No. 1 overall picks themselves. That gives the Mavericks a rare three-No.-1-pick core on one roster, CBS Sports reported.
Dallas is betting Risacher just needs a fresh start. He is only 20 years old and has clear upside as a shooter and wing scorer. Pairing him with Flagg and Irving gives the Mavericks a high-ceiling group to build around for years to come.
Dort Brings All-Defensive Muscle to Atlanta's Wings
Dort is no throw-in. He was named to the 2025 NBA All-Defensive Team, making him one of the best perimeter defenders in the league. Atlanta adds him to a wing group that already includes Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. The Hawks now have serious length and toughness on the perimeter, according to Yahoo Sports.
Atlanta went 28-15 after midseason adjustments that followed Trae Young's departure, showing the team's defensive identity is already forming. Dort fits that mold perfectly. He brings physicality, championship experience from Oklahoma City, and a reputation as a lockdown wing — exactly what the Hawks were looking for.
Nembhard and Risacher Both Land Fresh Starts
Rookie guard Ryan Nembhard also moves in this deal, heading from Dallas to Atlanta. He adds a young, promising backcourt piece to a Hawks team in the middle of a rebuild. OKC Fox reported that Atlanta views Nembhard as part of its long-term planning alongside the defensive upgrades it is making.
For Risacher, the move ends a difficult first season in Atlanta where a long-term role never materialized. Dallas offers him a new environment and a clearer path to development. Analysts from Clutch Points called the deal a buy-low swing for the Mavericks — low risk, with plenty of potential upside if Risacher finds his footing alongside two star No. 1 picks.
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