Onsi Saleh explained why Atlanta traded former No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher for Luguentz Dort and what Dort and Aaron Wiggins bring to the Hawks.
The Atlanta Hawks traded Zaccharie Risacher, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, to the Dallas Mavericks on July 19 in a three-team deal that returned Luguentz Dort from the Oklahoma City Thunder. Thirteen days earlier, Atlanta had completed a separate trade with Oklahoma City for Aaron Wiggins, sending out second-round picks in 2030 and 2032.
Hawks president of basketball operations Onsi Saleh went through both deals this week in his preseason media availability, ahead of the team's media day Monday and the start of training camp in Nashville.
Saleh expects the two players to make Atlanta better on the court and through its player development program. The Hawks have produced the last two Kia NBA Most Improved Player winners in Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker.
Saleh Explains Why Hawks Moved Risacher
"Zacch did everything right for us," Saleh said. "He was really good for us, and we wish him the best. [He's an] unbelievable human being. I think it's just when you have an opportunity to trade for a guy that was first-team All-Defense, NBA champion, started for an NBA championship team, and we saw, like, the physicality in the playoffs, and we needed to up that a little bit."
"And we're talking about a guy that has guarded some of the best players in the NBA," Saleh continued. "He's arguably one of, [if] not the best isolation defender in the league. And you have to give up value to get value in this league, too. And I'm really excited for Lu and what he's going to bring to the team."
Risacher made the All-Rookie First Team in 2024-25 after averaging 12.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.2 assists. Oklahoma City came away from the three-team trade with draft picks.
Ryan Nembhard also came to Atlanta from Dallas in that deal. He did not last the summer. On Sept. 22, the Hawks sent Nembhard, Buddy Hield, and cash to the Charlotte Hornets for Dorian Finney-Smith, a two-for-one move that brought the roster down to 15 players on standard contracts.
Dort Brings Championship Pedigree to Atlanta
Dort went undrafted in 2019 and spent his first seven NBA seasons in Oklahoma City. He made the All-Defensive First Team in 2024-25, the same season the Thunder beat the Indiana Pacers in seven games for the championship.
Last season, he averaged 8.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 69 games. He shot 38.5% from the field and 34.4% from 3-point range.
The Thunder picked up Dort's $17.7 million team option before trading him. He can become an unrestricted free agent next summer.
Dort and Wiggins played in the 2025 Finals, and Atlanta needed that pedigree in its room.
"A ton, honestly," Saleh explained. "Just their voice, their experience, and even Nickeil last year, right? A guy that made a couple Western Conference finals in Minnesota. Adding those guys helps our other guys, or younger guys that haven't quite done that yet, learn how to win, and there's nuances in the game where I think guys like Lu — like the physicality, we saw it in the playoffs."
"It wasn't just the Knicks series, but if you guys watch all the playoffs, from first round to the Finals, it's a very physical, different environment," Saleh added. "And we felt like Lu and his ability to guard and be physical and bring that tenacity on the court every single moment he's out there, it's going to help our guys. Not only going to help our guys get better, but it's going to help our team [win] more games, so we're really excited about it."
New York eliminated Atlanta in six games in the first round last spring, after the Hawks had taken a 2-1 series lead. The Knicks went on to win the title.
Aaron Wiggins Adds More Winning Experience
Wiggins was the 55th pick in the 2021 draft and played all five of his seasons with the Thunder. During the 2024-25 championship run, he made 26 regular-season starts and appeared in 22 of Oklahoma City's 23 playoff games.
He averaged 9.4 points on 43.1% shooting in 2025-26. Across his career, Wiggins has averaged 8.7 points on 48.7% shooting and made 38% of his 3-point attempts.
When Jalen Johnson goes against Dort in practice, Saleh said, Johnson is going to get a lot better.
"Unbelievable human beings on and off the court," Saleh said. "We go through the eyes, ears, numbers approach that I told you guys about, but the ears, which is being the intel, and the character of these guys that we dug into — they fit every checkbox that we wanted. They really did, both [Lu] and Aaron. [They] were unbelievable adds to our group, and you feel it when they come in the building."
"There's a sense of respect when they come in the building, too, when you win a championship and are part of one of the best programs in the NBA and you step into our gym," Saleh continued. "That just elevates the competitive environment of our group. They're competitors first and foremost. I think they make their teammates better in a lot of ways. People think of that as just passing the ball, but no."
Saleh Expects Dort to Raise Training Camp Intensity
"Having guys like Lu in training camp — instead of seeing the physicality in the playoffs or as the season progresses, we're going to see that from day one in training camp," Saleh detailed. "I think that's going to be a great test for our guys, because he is a beast on the court, and I think we've all been impressed with him and how he's integrated with the group as well."
"I think we made it easier. I told Aaron, we needed to trade for a friend of yours, at least, and make me not feel as lonely," Saleh noted. "Those guys obviously are really close, but their integration has been seamless into the culture and the fabric of our group."
Johnson made his first All-Star team and the All-NBA Third Team last season.
Media day is Monday, and camp opens Tuesday in Nashville. The Hawks open the preseason Oct. 5 against the Memphis Grizzlies at State Farm Arena.
