Lu Dort was signed as an undrafted free agent and blossomed into a defensive stalwart for Oklahoma City. Joshua Gateley / Getty Images
Lu Dort and Ryan Nembhard are headed to the Atlanta Hawks, while Zaccharie Risacher is bound for the Dallas Mavericks in a three-team trade that will send three second-round picks to the Oklahoma City Thunder, multiple league sources confirmed to The Athletic.
Dort leaves Oklahoma City after a seven-year run that included a first-team All-Defensive selection as he grew into a rugged 3-and-D guard who was instrumental in the Thunder’s run to the 2025 NBA title. An undrafted free agent out of Arizona State, the 6-foot-4 Canadian became a poster child of the Thunder’s player development excellence while starting 65-plus games in each of his final four seasons with the Thunder.
The deal ends what was ultimately a disappointing run for Risacher in Atlanta. The 6-8 forward was the first pick of the 2024 NBA Draft and started 73 of 75 games his rookie season with averages of 12.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. Many of his numbers declined during an inconsistent sophomore season, however, and Risacher appeared in just three games during the Hawks’ 4-2 first-round playoff series loss to the New York Knicks.
Nembhard went undrafted out of Gonzaga but found a role with the Mavs as a rookie last season, appearing in 60 games (27 starts) with averages of 6.6 points and 5.3 assists per contest. The Mavs exercised a team option on his contract in late June. The 5-11 point guard now joins a loaded Hawks backcourt with Dort that also includes veterans CJ McCollum and Nickeil Alexander-Walker and rookie Kingston Flemings, who was drafted eighth overall in June’s draft.
This story will be updated.
Jul 19, 2026
Connections: Sports Edition
Spot the pattern. Connect the terms
Find the hidden link between sports terms
Play today’s puzzle
