When the Oklahoma City Thunder shipped Lu Dort — and previously Aaron Wiggins — to the Atlanta Hawks, it signaled a change in direction for both franchises.
For the Thunder, they were cost-saving moves that signaled a pivot to a more tempered roster construction philosophy, where dollars and cents matter more and more, as their payroll is about to skyrocket.
For the Hawks, they were aggressive moves, signaling their willingness to act as buyers to make a deep postseason push in the Eastern Conference.
Dort, a defensive specialist, is replacing former top pick Zaccharie Risacher on Atlanta’s depth chart, as the French prospect is bound for Dallas in a three-team trade. The transaction is a strong indicator that the Hawks are trying to elevate to compete sooner rather than later.
Said differently: The Hawks are not messing around right now and are willing to take on money and relinquish young talent in an attempt to get better.
The new reality for the Thunder
Thunder executive Sam Presti is hoping that dealing Dort, Wiggins and Isaiah Joe (who was moved to Detroit) will lead to something better in the future.
“This was a financial decision. The impression I have been given is that the savings generated this summer, and from being out of the tax the last several years, will be reallocated to future teams,” Presti said of the trade to The Oklahoman.
If that plan holds true, the Thunder are looking at their own project through a long-term lens, which is rooted in a realistic approach to roster construction in 2026, as expensive teams are being severely handcuffed due to the apron system.
This team is paying heavily for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren, who will combine to earn more than $123 million this season and close to $150 million next year.
It was inevitable that something had to give. The Thunder decided Dort, Wiggins and Joe were more replaceable than other players, which does seem like a fair gamble, even if Wiggins is a particularly underrated loss as the 6-foot-7 wing can create his own offense and was on a declining deal that had him at just $9 million this year and $8.1 million next season.
Yet this is Oklahoma City’s new reality and the cost of paying three players that amount of money.
The Thunder are going to sacrifice and lose assets that are deemed highly valuable. There’s just no getting around it unless they wish to pivot to a two-max system in which they relinquish one of their main three players.
Hawks beginning to fly
Atlanta is in an enormously interesting situation, as it prepared — wisely — for two things at once.
1. The Hawks are going all-in to make a real effort to be major threats in the 2027 playoffs, gatherings loads of weapons and dramatically upgrading the roster.
2. They’ve done so without sacrificing future financial flexibility, as Dort, CJ McCollum and Jock Landale all come off the books next summer.
The Hawks are being aggressive, but without losing sight of the long-term picture, understanding how they can go for the whole thing now while having enough financial flexibility to turn things around next year, if their mission fails.
They’re in large part aided by the fact that Jalen Johnson, their best player, is earning just $30 million annually at a flat rate.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker, also found as a bargain last season, is likewise earning an amount — $29 million total this and next season combined — that dramatically helps the Hawks keep control of their cap.
Overall, the Hawks have seemingly knocked the negotiation tactics out of the park, which has allowed them to be financially stable and yet still on the hunt for pieces to go all-in.
Adding Dort and Wiggins from a team in Oklahoma City that is trying to tone everything down is almost deliciously ironic and shows how many layers there are to NBA roster construction.
We have two teams in different situations trying to make the most of the opportunities at hand, one trying to remain a legit contender and one hoping to get to that level.
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