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Hawks’ lineup & rotation post-Lu Dort trade: the shocking new look revealed
Atlanta Hawks Pull Off Multi-Team Trade for Defensive Star Lu Dort
What Just Happened? (The Big Trade)
Imagine three toy stores swapping action figures. That’s basically what happened in the NBA!
The Atlanta Hawks are getting a super defensive player named Lu Dort from the Oklahoma City Thunder (OKC). This news came from ESPN reporter Shams Charania.
Here’s who got what:
- Atlanta Hawks receive: Lu Dort and also Ryan Nembhard (from Dallas)
- Dallas Mavericks receive: Zaccharie Risacher (who was the #1 draft pick before)
- Oklahoma City Thunder receive: Three second-round future draft picks, and they get to remove Dort’s $17.7 million salary from their books
Important Point: This is a three-team deal, meaning three teams all traded players at once to help each other out.
Why Did the Teams Do This?
Let’s look at each team like a kid with different needs:
- Atlanta’s view: They are giving up on Risacher. He was second place for “Best New Player” (Rookie of the Year) but didn’t improve in his second year. They want a tougher team instead.
- Dallas’s view: Their new bosses (Masai Ujiri and Mike Schmitz) love collecting international players and tall, skilled athletes. Risacher fits that.
- OKC’s view: They wanted to spend less money and let younger players (Cason Wallace, Ajay Mitchell, Kenrich Williams) play more.
Important Point: OKC was trying to avoid the “second apron” — a fancy way of saying a strict money limit in the NBA. By trading Dort, they stay under that limit.
Projected Hawks Starting Lineup and Rotation After Lu Dort Trade
Here is the likely team setup (starters vs. bench players):
| STARTERS | POSITION | BENCH |
|---|---|---|
| CJ McCollum | PG | Kingston Flemings |
| Nickeil Alexander-Walker | SG | Aaron Wiggins |
| Dyson Daniels | SF | Lu Dort |
| Jalen Johnson | PF | Asa Newell |
| Onyeka Okongwu | C | Jock Landale |
- PG = Point Guard (usually the main passer)
- SG = Shooting Guard
- SF = Small Forward
- PF = Power Forward
- C = Center (usually the tallest)
How Atlanta Got a Great Deal
Atlanta took advantage of OKC wanting to save money. They got Dort and another player (Aaron Wiggins) for cheap (“pennies on the dollar” means almost free).
Yes, trading a #1 pick for a player who mostly only plays defense and has a short contract looks weird. But Risacher didn’t grow much in two years, and that draft year was weak.
Important Point: Lu Dort is expected to sign a long-term contract with Atlanta. OKC was not going to give him one.
What Dort Brings to the Team
Even though Dort will likely come off the bench, he will play a lot. He is Atlanta’s new “star-stopper” — meaning he guards the other team’s best scorer.
He joins two other great defenders:
- Dyson Daniels
- Nickeil Alexander-Walker
Plus, rookie Kingston Flemings (picked #8 last month) is also a defensive pest.
The Hawks are building a rugged (tough) defensive team. This is smart because they may face the New York Knicks or a Toronto team led by Kawhi Leonard in the playoffs. Dort can help in those tough games. He can be annoying and sometimes plays rough, but fans in OKC loved him, and Atlanta fans probably will too.
Will the Defense Hurt the Offense?
Some worry Dort and Daniels don’t shoot well from far away (3-point line). But:
- Big men Okongwu and Landale can shoot from distance, opening space
- This gives Johnson and McCollum room to drive
- Daniels helps on offense by passing and cutting
- Dort actually tried 5.4 threes per game last year and made 41.2% — so he’s not hopeless!
Important Point: The mix of defenders and shooters will decide if Atlanta can win in the playoffs.
Summary
- Atlanta got Lu Dort (great defender) in a 3-team trade with OKC and Dallas
- They gave up Risacher, their former #1 pick, admitting he didn’t work out
- OKC saved money; Dallas got a young international prospect
- Hawks are now a tough, defensive team built for playoff battles
- Dort should be a fan favorite and may sign long-term
FAQ
Q: Who is Lu Dort?
A: He is a wing player (forward/guard type) known for amazing defense. He was on the NBA’s All-Defense team.
Q: Why did Atlanta trade Risacher?
A: He was the #1 pick but didn’t improve after his first year, so the team moved on.
Q: What does “second apron” mean?
A: It’s a spending limit in the NBA. OKC traded Dort to stay under it and avoid penalties.
Q: Will Dort start games?
A: Probably not — he is listed on the bench — but he will play many minutes as a top defender.
Q: Is Dort bad at shooting?
A: He is not a star shooter, but he takes and makes some 3-pointers, so he isn’t a total non-threat.
