The Dallas Mavericks took one of the biggest swings of the offseason by acquiring former No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher from the Atlanta Hawks as part of a three-team trade that also involved the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The move caught plenty of attention, but NBA analyst Kevin O’Connor believes it’s a gamble worth taking for the Mavericks.
Kevin O’Connor Sees Little Downside to Mavericks’ Zaccharie Risacher Trade
The deal was headlined by Lu Dort heading to the Hawks, but the Mavs quietly landed a 21-year-old forward who still has plenty of untapped potential despite an uneven start to his NBA career.
O’Connor admitted he has never been sold on Risacher as a top prospect, even before the 2024 NBA Draft. Still, he believes the Mavericks gave up so little that the trade makes sense regardless of whether Risacher ever lives up to his draft status.
“I’ve never been a Zaccharie Risacher believer. I had him 11th on my 2024 board when Atlanta took him 1st. But a wing with length who hit 38% of catch-and-shoot 3s last year? He still could be a solid role player. And the price for Dallas was an undrafted PG in Ryan Nembhard and one 2nd.”
I’ve never been a Zaccharie Risacher believer. I had him 11th on my 2024 board when Atlanta took him 1st. But a wing with length who hit 38% of catch-and-shoot 3s last year? He still could be a solid role player.
And the price for Dallas was an undrafted PG in Ryan Nembhard and…
— Kevin O’Connor (@KevinOConnor) July 19, 2026
“With Kyrie Irving back and Sergio De Larrea drafted, Nembhard was already squeezed out of the rotation. Even if Risacher is a massive bust by #1 pick standards, that’s a low-risk swing on a 21-year-old just entering his 3rd season. I like this deal for the Mavericks.”
Risacher, a 6-foot-8 forward from Lyon, France, spent just two seasons in Atlanta after being selected first overall in the 2024 NBA Draft. He finished second in Rookie of the Year voting behind San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle, but never fully silenced critics who questioned Atlanta’s decision to take him with the top pick.
Those concerns existed even before draft night. Although Risacher was regarded as one of the best long-range shooters in his class after starring in France, many scouts questioned his ability to create offense with the ball in his hands. Those concerns followed him into the NBA, where he struggled to make a major impact as an initiator.
That may not matter as much in Dallas, though. Instead of carrying the expectations that come with being a No. 1 pick, Risacher can settle into a role that better matches his strengths. He was at his best in France playing off the ball offensively while using his length and instincts as a help-side defender, and the Mavericks could ask him to do much of the same.
Financially, the Mavs were able to absorb Risacher’s $13.8 million salary for the 2026-27 season using the $20.8 million trade exception created in the February Anthony Davis trade, giving the franchise another opportunity to add talent without sacrificing major assets.
Whether Risacher eventually develops into more than a complementary player remains to be seen, but for the Mavericks, the relatively low acquisition cost makes the gamble an easy one to justify.
