In return, the Thunder received three second-round picks, while the Hawks also acquired Ryan Nembhard. Dallas received former 2024 No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher as part of the deal.
Thunder general manager Sam Presti called the move a "financial decision" as the team is now under the second apron.
Dort, 27, known for his defensive rather than scoring ability, averaged 8.3 points per game last season. He made the 2024-2025 All-Defensive Team and finished fourth in Defensive Player of the Year the same season.
OKC picked up his $17.7 million team option for sending him to the Hawks, the same team the Thunder also traded Aaron Wiggins to earlier in the offseason.
Nembhard, 23, is coming over from the Mavericks as he enters his second season in the league. The former undrafted free agent out of Gonzaga averaged 6.6 points, 5.3 assists, and 2.2 rebounds per game this past season through 60 games.
Risacher, 21, is the former 2024-2025 Rookie of the Year runner-up, when he averaged 12.6 points per game with the Hawks. The French guard born in Spain, who averaged 9.6 points per game last season, will now join the reigning Rookie of the Year star Cooper Flagg in Dallas for his third season in the league.