Atlanta trades former No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher to Dallas in three-team deal

Atlanta completed a three-team trade on Sunday that moves former No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher to the Dallas Mavericks. The deal sends defensive specialist Lu Dort and point guard Ryan Nembhard to the Hawks, while the Oklahoma City Thunder receive three second-round draft selections and retain no players.

The Hawks acquire Dort, a former All-Defense wing who will join Dyson Daniels in Atlanta’s backcourt, and add Nembhard, a rookie guard who posted solid numbers alongside Cooper Flagg. Oklahoma City gains salary relief by shedding Dort’s $17 million expiring contract, aligning with recent moves aimed at reducing payroll.

Risacher, the 21-year-old French wing selected first overall in the 2024 draft, becomes the first No. 1 pick to be traded by his drafting team since Karl-Anthony Towns in 2024 and the first top pick moved within his first three seasons since Markelle Fultz. In two NBA seasons he has averaged 11.1 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game, with his scoring dropping from 12.6 points as a rookie to 9.6 points in his sophomore year. His limited role in Atlanta’s recent playoff series, playing just 22 minutes across six games, signaled a reduced standing in the rotation.

While scouts note Risacher’s shooting touch and defensive effort, analysts argue he remains a developmental project rather than a proven contributor. Atlanta’s front office, led by GM Onsi Saleh, opted to trade his rookie contract, which carries a salary of over $10 million, for established defensive talent in Dort and a promising guard in Nembhard, aiming to bolster the roster for a deeper playoff run.

"We felt that adding a proven defender like Lu Dort gives us the immediate impact we need," a Hawks spokesperson said.

The trade reflects Atlanta’s strategy of exchanging potential for proven pieces as the team seeks to advance beyond the first round of the postseason.