Earlier this week, the Atlanta Hawks made one of the NBA’s most surprising moves of the offseason.
The Zaccharie Risacher era ended just two years after Atlanta selected him No. 1 overall. In return, the Hawks acquired Luguentz Dort from Oklahoma City. The three-team deal also brought rookie guard Ryan Nembhard to the Hawks, and Atlanta sent Risacher to the Dallas Mavericks.
With multiple future second-round picks heading to Dallas, many wonder if the Hawks are sacrificing too much of the future for Dort. Furthermore, for a franchise that spent the past couple of years trying to develop the youth, trading away the face of the 2024 draft after only two seasons represents a change in mentality.
Advertisement
The Hawks Chose Winning Now Over Waiting on Potential
NBA teams rarely move on from a No. 1 overall pick this quickly. But Atlanta decided that what Risacher might become someday was less valuable than what Dort already is today.
While Risacher remained one of the league’s younger rotation players entering his third season, the organization concluded that he failed to produce what many expected from a No. 1 overall pick. Although he showed strong moments, his overall role diminished as the season progressed.
During the postseason, Risacher appeared in just three games during the 2025-26 Eastern Conference First Round against the New York Knicks (a series the Hawks lost in six games). In those games, he averaged 7.7 minutes per game, posting 3.7 PPG and 3.0 RPG with no assists, steals, or blocks. He shot 35.7% from the field, including just 20.0% from three-point range, and did not attempt any free throws.
Advertisement
His limited minutes suggest head coach Quin Snyder trusted experience over potential when the stakes were highest. Rather than waiting another year for a potential breakout, Dort offers championship-level experience on both sides of the court.
Dort Gives Atlanta One of the NBA’s Best Perimeter Defenses
The central part of the deal is undoubtedly creating one of the NBA’s strongest perimeter defenses. Dort arrives in Atlanta after spending seven seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder, where he established himself as one of the toughest on-ball defenders while helping the Thunder capture an NBA championship during the 2024-25 season.
Dort, who earned First Team All-Defensive honors in 2024-25, gives Atlanta another versatile player capable of guarding elite scorers across multiple positions. Dort’s addition creates one of the league’s deepest defensive wing rotations alongside Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. The Hawks now hold three dynamic defenders capable of switching across positions while disrupting offenses.
For a Hawks team that finished 2025-26 with a defensive rating of 113.7, ranked 9th in the NBA, adding Dort raises the bar. Instead of relying on flashy offensive plays to outscore opponents, Atlanta continues to build a roster designed to win through physicality and defensive pressure.
Advertisement
Ryan Nembhard Could Be the Trade’s Hidden Gem
While Lu Dort headlines the deal, Ryan Nembhard shouldn’t be overlooked.
The former Gonzaga standout earned a reputation as one of college basketball’s most efficient players before going undrafted. Dallas signed him after the draft, and Atlanta saw enough potential to make him part of its long-term plans.
Nembhard arrives as a traditional pass-first point guard with strong decision-making and creation for his teammates. During his collegiate career, he consistently ranked among the nation’s assist leaders while demonstrating the ability to run an offense.
Advertisement
For a Hawks team that lacked point guard depth at times last season, Nembhard is capable of coming off the bench while keeping the offense flowing. His arrival also eases the physical pressure on veteran guards over the course of an 82-game season.
At 23 years old and worth $2.2 million this season, Nembhard represents a low-cost, high-ROI developmental piece. Risacher, meanwhile, carries a $13.8 million salary this season.
Although the future is unknown for Nembhard, Atlanta can turn an undrafted rookie into a dependable backup point guard. He then holds the potential to become a bigger contributor than Risacher was during his time with the Hawks.
This Trade Will Be Defined by What Risacher Becomes
Whether the trade succeeds won’t be determined by Dort; rather, it will be determined by Risacher. If the forward develops into the star that many pictured, critics will forever question why Atlanta gave up on a No. 1 pick too soon.
Advertisement
Yet if Risacher remains the same player he was through his first two seasons, this trade could become one of the boldest and smartest decisions the Hawks have made. Championship contenders make bold and difficult decisions to become elite, and Atlanta seems to want to be in that conversation.
After two seasons, the Hawks decided they had seen enough. Atlanta believes that next season can prove to be one remembered in the city’s history.
The post Atlanta Chose Dort Over Risacher, and It Makes Sense appeared first on The Lead.
