Thunder deal Lu Dort to Hawks in three-team trade…
The Oklahoma City Thunder’s cost-cutting measures continue.
Although this time, the Thunder are transferring an integral piece to their contendership, and that’s all-world defender Lu Dort, who has been with the group since signing as an undrafted rookie in 2019.
Dort is being traded from OKC to the Atlanta Hawks in a three-team deal, per Shams Charania of ESPN.
The deal will also see the Hawks ship three second-round picks to the Thunder, as properly as promoting off 2024 No. 1 total choose Zaccharie Risacher to the Dallas Mavericks, who are sending Ryan Nembhard — youthful brother of Indiana Pacer guard Andrew Nembhard — to Atlanta.
Luguentz Dort celebrates during the sport against the San Antonio Spurs during Game 7 of the NBA Western Conference Finals on May 30, 2026, at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. NBAE via Getty Images
OKC, which also traded Isaiah Joe to the Detroit Pistons and Aaron Wiggins to the Hawks this summer season, ducked under the second apron for this coming season while including seven second-round picks. This was a objective of theirs coming into the low season, given that Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren’s salaries had been leaping from a mixed $20.3 million to $83 million next season.
Dort, whose crew option for $18.2 million for the 2026-27 season was accepted by the Thunder earlier this offseason, will successfully be an expiring contract for Atlanta this yr, and a productive veteran on a principally youthful crew.
On the court, the 27-year-old Dort — who is coming into his eighth season — was fourth in Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2024-25 and named to the All-Defensive first-team.
That said, Dort received the 2025 title as a beginning wing on OKC, the first since the franchise moved from Seattle following the 2007-08 season. Dort has been a fixture in OKC’s beginning lineup since being a discover following the 2019 NBA Draft, beginning 423 of a doable 432 video games in his profession, along with all 54 of his playoff appearances.
Zaccharie Risacher handles the ball during the sport against the New York Knicks during Round 1 of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 30, 2026, at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. NBAE via Getty Images
Dort’s manufacturing has tailed off a bit, dropping to 8.3 factors and 3.6 rebounds per contest and 34.4 % taking pictures from three last season, down from never falling below double-digits since his rookie season, averaging 12.8 factors in the 5 seasons prior, and as many as 17.2 with the rebuilding Thunder in 2021-22.
Atlanta already punting on Risacher is noteworthy, underscoring his underwhelming efficiency through two NBA seasons.
Risacher, who was second in Rookie of the Year voting in 2024-25, dropped from 12.6 to 9.6 factors per recreation from his first two seasons, and stagnated in practically every other class while struggling to land rotation minutes in Atlanta’s six-game playoff loss to the Knicks in Round 1 this past April.
Risacher only appeared in 22 minutes in the collection, 20 of them in blowout losses.
Ryan Nembhard dribbles the ball during the sport against the Los Angeles Lakers on July 11, 2026, at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NBAE via Getty Images
By nature of being chosen No. 1 total, the 21-year-old French ahead is due to make $13.8 million this season, which is able to increase to $17.4 million in 2027-28 if his fourth-year option is picked up by the Mavericks, the deadline of which shall be on October 31.
The last No. 1 total choose to have their fourth-year option declined was well-known draft bust Anthony Bennett from the equally lackluster 2013 NBA Draft class.
The last No. 1 total choose who was given up on after two seasons did see his fourth-year option picked up: former 76er-turned-Orlando Magic guard Markelle Fultz, the top choose in 2017. With Fultz, his struggles had been primarily due to accidents, and his fourth-year wage was $12.2 million in a non-second-apron period.
The aforementioned youthful Nembhard proved to be a productive NBA participant as an undrafted rookie last season, averaging 6.6 factors and 5.3 assists while hitting 35.6 % from deep, and even beginning 27 of his 60 appearances for the Mavs.
Nembhard initially performed on a two-way contract but was transformed to a commonplace deal during the season. He will make $2.15 million in 2026-27 before coming into free company after the season.
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