[Saba Sports News] According to U.S. media reports, the Oklahoma City Thunder have sent Luguentz Dort to the Atlanta Hawks in a three-team trade, in exchange for three second-round draft picks. Charania further added that the Hawks will ship 2024 No.1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher to the Dallas Mavericks, while the Mavericks will send Ryan Nembhard to Atlanta. All three franchises later officially announced the completion of the Dort-centric trade. In addition to the compensation outlined below, the Mavericks will also receive a protected 2027 second-round pick (top-55 protected) from the Hawks. Reports state that Dallas will utilize its existing $20.8 million trade exception to absorb Risacher’s $13.8 million salary for the upcoming season in full. If the Mavericks exercise Risacher’s fourth-year team option by October 31, his salary will jump to $17.4 million for the 2027–28 campaign. Sources indicate that following the trade, Dallas will sit $2.3 million beneath the luxury tax threshold.
This is a low-cost buying opportunity for the Mavericks. They essentially parted with only a second-round pick and undrafted guard Ryan Nembhard to land Zaccharie Risacher, the French No.1 overall prospect from a relatively weak draft class. Risacher struggled through a disappointing campaign last season, failing to show tangible improvement and even regressing to a certain extent. It remains to be seen whether he will earn more trust and ample playing opportunities after joining Dallas.