The NBA never sleeps. Not even in the offseason, when players change teams as often as a baby changes diapers.
On Sunday, another blockbuster trade took place in the NBA, involving a recent No. 1 overall pick, and this one involved three teams.
Mavericks Acquire Former No. 1 Overall Pick
The NBA has already seen its fair share of blockbuster trades this offseason. Now it’s time for the Dallas Mavericks to get involved.
According to ESPN’s NBA insider Shams Charania, the Oklahoma City Thunder have agreed to trade defensive stud Luguentz Dort to the Atlanta Hawks. Former No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher will be headed to the Mavericks. The Hawks will be getting guard from the Mavericks.
Meanwhile, in exchange for Dort, the Thunder will be getting three future second-round picks. Though for the Thunder, this trade was more about saving money, and getting off of Dort’s $17.7 million salary due for the upcoming season, which is the final year of his contract.
Oklahoma City has now acquired seven second-round picks this offseason, shed $224 million in payroll and tax and positioned themselves comfortably under the second apron via the trades of Dort, Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins.
Rather than simply declining Dort’s $17.7 million team… https://t.co/fYZO9pS8mj
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 19, 2026
Jake Fischer adds that the Thunder will be getting Chicago’s second-round pick in 2027, a 2031 second-round pick from Atlanta, and a 2032 second-round pick from the Hawks.
Marc Stein also wrote, “Mavericks are taking Risacher’s contract in via their Anthony Davis trade exception and will also send Ryan Nembhard to Atlanta.”
The three second-round picks OKC is receiving in exchange for Lu Dort, per source: 2027 Chicago via Dallas, 2031 most favorable from Atlanta, plus a 2032 most favorable from Atlanta. https://t.co/1n5mLb7aeS
— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) July 19, 2026
The Thunder have said goodbye to a few valued members of their core this offseason, yet 2025 Executive of the Year Sam Presti is among the very best at finding hidden gems and collecting future assets. While losing Dort, an All-NBA Defender, will surely hurt, this is one of the deepest teams in the NBA.
Meanwhile, the Hawks are adding a defensive ace to a group on the rise that already features Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Yet, giving up on the 21-year-old Risacher comes with a bit of a bittersweet taste, not knowing whether he’ll ever reach his full potential.
Yet, now the No. 1 overall pick of the 2024 NBA Draft gets a fresh start in Dallas, where he’ll be playing alongside young phenom Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving.
We won’t know who won this trade for several years, and measuring this deal’s impact on the Thunder won’t be easy since they’re just going for cap clearance and future picks. Yet, the deal allows them to remain flexible, and that feels like a short-term win, even if losing a fan favorite in Dort hurts.
