The Oklahoma City Thunder parted ways with a key member of their core on Sunday.
The Thunder sent defensive ace Lu Dort to the Atlanta Hawks as part of a three-team trade that also sent 2024 No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher to the Dallas Mavericks. The Thunder received three second-round picks in the deal, while guard Ryan Nembhard was also sent from the Mavs to the Hawks.
ESPN’s Shams Charania first reported the deal.
While Dort is known as one of the best defensive wings in the league and was a key contributor to Oklahoma City’s run to the 2025 NBA championship, trading him was another necessary move to improve the team’s salary cap health. Charania reported that Oklahoma City “has now acquired seven second-round picks while going under the second apron and shedding $200 million this offseason via the trades of Dort, Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins.”
The Thunder could have declined Dort’s $17.7 million team option for the 2025-26 campaign, but Charania explained that they “picked it up, acquired three future assets, created a $17 million trade exception and placed their 2025 championship stalwart in position for a long-term deal in Atlanta which was not viable with Oklahoma City.”
Dort is joining a Hawks team that also includes fellow All-Defensive guard Dyson Daniels and 2026 Most Improved Player Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Nembhard is also a solid pickup after appearing in 60 games in his rookie season. Charania noted that Atlanta will have over $40 million in salary cap space next summer.
Risacher has yet to live up to expectations as a No. 1 pick, but he’s joining an upstart Mavs team that is led by 2025 top pick Cooper Flagg. Dallas hired former Michigan head coach Dusty May to replace Jason Kidd and take over the development of its young roster, so Risacher should have every opportunity to prove himself with his new team.