The Oklahoma City Thunder are trading former first team All-Defensive forward Lu Dort to the Atlanta Hawks in a three-team deal that will send three second-round picks to the Thunder, the Hawks announced Sunday.
The trade also includes Zaccharie Risacher heading to the Dallas Mavericks and Ryan Nembhard going to the Hawks.
Dort is under contract for 2026-27 at a $17.72-million cap hit before becoming an unrestricted free agent next summer, according to Spotrac. The Thunder have shed $224 million in payroll this offseason and are now under the second apron after dealing Dort, Isaiah Joe, and Aaron Wiggins.
Dort averaged 8.3 points and 3.6 rebounds in 69 appearances last season. He also earned an All-Defensive Team nod in 2024-25 and played an essential part in Oklahoma City's championship run that year.
The Hawks will have over $40 million in cap space next summer to potentially sign Dort to a long-term deal, Charania notes. Atlanta finished sixth in the Eastern Conference last season but lost in the opening round of the playoffs to the New York Knicks.
Atlanta moves on from Risacher only two years after drafting him first overall. The small forward finished second in Rookie of the Year voting in 2025 and averaged 9.6 points and 3.8 rebounds, along with a 45% field-goal rate, last season.
Nembhard was a role player for the Mavericks in his debut NBA campaign. The 23-year-old managed 6.6 points, 5.3 assists, and 2.2 rebounds per game across 60 appearances.
