SerpApi.Org
The Oklahoma City Thunder are trading Lu Dort in a blockbuster three-team trade that also includes a former No. 1 overall pick.
Dort is being traded to the Atlanta Hawks, with the Thunder receiving three second-round picks in return. As part of the trade, the Hawks are sending former No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher to the Dallas Mavericks.
Dort is a victim of Oklahoma City’s success and the ensuing roster crunch. The 27-year-old is due to make $17.2 million next season, and while he is probably worth that, the need to pay the likes of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams is forcing the Thunder to make some difficult cuts around the edges.
For the Hawks, Dort immediately becomes a key player and top perimeter defender. He will be a free agent at the end of the upcoming season, though the Hawks may look to keep him long-term.
The Hawks are also admitting defeat on Risacher, who stagnated in his second NBA season. While he flashed potential at times, other players passed him in the rotation and he saw his role reduced significantly. The trade is not a surprise, and the Mavericks will look to be beneficiaries of it by giving him a fresh start.
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