{"id":2051214,"date":"2026-07-19T18:06:17","date_gmt":"2026-07-19T15:06:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2051214"},"modified":"2026-07-19T18:06:17","modified_gmt":"2026-07-19T15:06:17","slug":"lu-dort-to-hawks-zaccharie-risacher-to-mavs-trade-grades-for-3-team-swap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2051214","title":{"rendered":"Lu Dort to Hawks? Zaccharie Risacher to Mavs? Trade grades for 3-team swap"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Despite having one of the most impressively constructed rosters in the NBA, the Oklahoma City Thunder weren\u2019t able to defend their championship last season. And they knew it was their last chance with this particular roster setup, because massive paydays were kicking in for certain players, and the second-apron payroll threshold was looming.<\/p>\n

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They knew they\u2019d have to make tough decisions this summer, and it looks like they\u2019ve just made the final one of this offseason. The Thunder are sending Lu Dort to the Atlanta Hawks<\/a> in a salary dump. Oklahoma City will receive three second-round draft picks. The Dallas Mavericks are also involved in this trade, sending Ryan Nembhard to the Hawks and receiving 2024 No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher.<\/p>\n

ESPN first reported the trade. The Thunder have now completed their salary shedding (for now), the Mavs roll the dice on a No. 1 pick, and the Hawks pick up one of the best defenders in the NBA. What does it all mean? Let\u2019s bust out the red ink and slap some grades on this trade.<\/p>\n

Thunder acquire 3 second-round picks<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The NBA seemed to assume for months that Dort was not going to remain on this roster, so his being moved for second-round picks isn\u2019t exactly a surprise. When you look at what the Thunder have done this summer, they\u2019ve sent out Dort, Isaiah Joe (to Detroit) and Aaron Wiggins (to Atlanta in a different trade) while receiving seven second-round picks in total. The Thunder also drafted Aday Mara (12th) and Bennett Stirtz (16th).<\/p>\n

If you believe in second-round picks being highly valuable assets, then you\u2019re fine with this haul. If you think the hit rate on second-round picks is too low to value them as good commodities truly, then you won\u2019t be as high on the moves they made in shedding more than $200 million in payroll and tax penalties. This move should put them roughly $9 million under the second apron and about $4 million into the first apron. If they want to do some extra finagling before the trade deadline to get under that, they can.<\/p>\n

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NBA Player Tiers 2026: Who is in Tier 5?<\/div>\n
Law Murray<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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