Zaccharie Risacher’s first stop in Dallas came with a jersey in hand and a few familiar faces ready to make it official.
The forward was at his locker Monday holding a Mavericks No. 10 jersey, the same number he wore in Atlanta, when Cooper Flagg greeted him first. Max Christie and P.J.
Washington were next to welcome him in. Dallas shared the moment on its X account with the caption "Welcome home."
Risacher landed in Dallas on July 19 as part of a three-team deal with the Atlanta Hawks and Oklahoma City Thunder. The Mavericks sent Ryan Nembhard to Atlanta and a 2027 second-round pick, originally Chicago’s, to Oklahoma City.
In return, Atlanta sent Dallas Risacher and a top-55 protected 2027 second-round pick, while also sending second-round picks in 2031 and 2032 to Oklahoma City. Luguentz Dort went from Oklahoma City to Atlanta.
The move also fit neatly into Dallas’ cap picture. Risacher’s $13.8 million salary for 2026-27 was absorbed into the $20.8 million trade exception created by the Anthony Davis trade in February. That leaves about $15.6 million still available in the exception, while the full $15 million non-taxpayer midlevel exception remains untouched.
Atlanta made Risacher the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft, and he has already built up a sizable NBA sample. In 142 career games with 119 starts, he has averaged 11.1 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists.
His rookie year came with heavy minutes and steady production. He played 75 games, started 73, and put up 12.6 points and 3.6 rebounds in 24.6 minutes per game. That season ended with All-Rookie First Team honors, plus four 30-point outings and a career-best 38 against the Brooklyn Nets on April 10, 2025.
Last season looked different. Risacher started 46 of his 67 games, saw his playing time dip to 22.4 minutes per game, and averaged 9.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists. In Atlanta’s six-game first-round playoff loss to the New York Knicks, he logged 23 minutes total out of 288.
Dallas is still sorting out its roster numbers, with 16 players on standard contracts and a requirement to get down to 15 by opening night. The forward rotation already includes Washington, Santi Aldama, Naji Marshall, Caleb Martin and ninth pick Morez Johnson Jr.
Flagg, the reigning Rookie of the Year, is part of that mix after averaging 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.2 steals for a team that finished 26-56.
The Mavericks’ front office has also been reshaped over the past few months. Masai Ujiri was hired as president of basketball operations on May 4, Mike Schmitz arrived as general manager, and Dusty May was brought in from Michigan on June 23.
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