The Atlanta Hawks were already in a great spot financially.
They made their situation even better by sending out Zaccharie Risacher - the first-overall selection in the 2024 NBA Draft - and receiving two expiring contracts in return (Lu Dort and Ryan Nembhard).
Risacher is owed nearly $14 million this upcoming season, and has a team-option for the 2027-28 season north of $17 million. The Hawks clearly didn't want to pay that, and now that they've shipped him elsewhere, they won't have to.
They'll have the option to extend Dort and Nembhard, but now they have much more flexibility to operate with. It's what President of Basketball Operations Onsi Saleh loves the most.
Expiring contracts galore: the Hawks don't have to commit
When they have to, they will.
Saleh's made it incredibly clear. If a player isn't a part of his long-term vision, they'll be sent away, and the return is never the focal point, oddly enough.
The return, however, in this latest deal, is a lot better than many are willing to give him credit for. Dort, even with his recent offensive struggles, is a world-class defender. He's ranked in the top-five for Defensive Player of the Year, taken home All-Defense honors and anchored a team to a championship with his dominance on that end.
If he didn't have just one year left on his deal, who knows? Maybe the Hawks wouldn't have made the move for him, and maybe Zaccharie Risacher would still be a Hawk.
But anyways, the Hawks have shown a willingness to commit to their core. It's just a matter of who they perceive to be a part of said core. The recently-extended Jalen Johnson and Dyson Daniels clearly are. So is Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who's also on the books for the next several years.
Onyeka Okongwu likely is, but fans likely won't know until next offseason, when they will have to mutually agree on an extension number.
Most of the rest are up for grabs, especially those expiring
There's certainly no shortage of those one-year deals, either.
CJ McCollum - just months removed from his heroic showing against the eventual-champion New York Knicks - signed for just this upcoming season, leaving Atlanta with a tough choice to make ahead of next February's trade deadline.
Jock Landale is also back on a one-year deal. Of course, so are Lu Dort and Ryan Nembhard.
They'll have max money next offseason, and if they play their cards right and let their already-established core develop - they could the summer after, as well.
Optionality wins again.
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