On Sunday the Oklahoma City Thunder moved veteran perimeter defender Luguentz Dort to the Atlanta Hawks in a three-team deal that also sent 2024 No. 1 draft pick Zaccharie Risacher to the Dallas Mavericks. In return, the Thunder received three future second-round picks, 2027, 2031 and 2032, while the Hawks gave up the young French forward.
Dort entered the trade after the Thunder exercised his $17.7 million player option for the 2026-27 season. He spent seven seasons in Oklahoma City, starting 423 games, and was a key piece of the Thunder’s 57-25 record in 2023-24, the best in the Western Conference. That season he shot 39.4 percent from three on five attempts per game and logged 79 starts. The move comes as the Thunder confront a luxury-tax bill north of $100 million, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren each owed more than $40 million.
For Atlanta, Dort fills a clear need in a roster already praised for its point-of-attack defenders. His reputation as one of the league’s premier perimeter defenders adds depth to a defensive core that struggled to protect the rim in the previous playoff run. Dort’s length, quick hands and ability to guard multiple wings should help lower opponents’ field-goal percentages when he is on the floor, a metric the Hawks have been trying to improve.
Dallas receives a 6-foot-8 rookie who averaged 11.1 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists in his first season. Risacher joins a Mavericks roster that already features two former No. 1 picks, Kyrie Irving, the 2011 top selection, and Cooper Flagg, the 2025 No. 1. The trio gives Dallas a rare concentration of top-draft talent across the lineup, providing spacing and playmaking options that complement Irving’s veteran scoring.
The Thunder will need to replace Dort’s starter minutes. Cason Wallace, the No. 10 pick in 2023, is entering the final year of his rookie contract and could see an expanded role, while Alex Caruso and rookie Ajay Mitchell are also in the mix to fill the defensive void. The cap flexibility gained from moving Dort may help Oklahoma City address other roster needs as it looks to stay competitive after its 2025 NBA Finals championship.
Looking ahead, the Hawks are expected to integrate Dort during training camp and likely give him a regular starting role alongside veterans like Clint Capela and emerging wing Jalen Johnson. The Mavericks will monitor Risacher’s transition closely, hoping he can contribute early and develop under Irving’s guidance. The three-team swap reshapes each franchise’s defensive and offensive building blocks as they head toward the next draft and free-agency period.
