Thunder trade Lu Dort to Hawks; Mavericks acquire Risacher in 3-team deal

The Oklahoma City Thunder has traded Canadian player Lu Dort to the Atlanta Hawks as part of a three-team deal that also involves the Dallas Mavericks acquiring French forward Zaccharie Risacher, the top pick in the 2024 draft.

Dort was a key player in the Thunder's championship win in 2025 and had been with the Oklahoma City franchise since 2019. His salary, exceeding $17 million, made it difficult for the Thunder to manage their payroll after recent contract extensions for stars Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren.

In addition to creating salary cap space, the Thunder received three second-round draft picks in the transaction. This move signals a strategic shift for the team as they continue to build around their core players.

The Atlanta Hawks sent Zaccharie Risacher, who did not fully develop as expected in Atlanta, to the Dallas Mavericks. The Mavericks, in turn, acquired Ryan Nembhard from the Hawks, completing the complex trade that reshapes the rosters of all three participating teams.