Mavericks pick up Zaccharie Risacher’s $17.4 million option for 2027-28 despite a 17.6% three-point start

The Dallas Mavericks have picked up the fourth-year option on Zaccharie Risacher’s rookie-scale contract, guaranteeing the former No. 1 overall pick $17.4 million for the 2027-28 season. The team announced the move Wednesday night, a few days before the league-wide deadline.

We have exercised our team option on Zaccharie Risacher 👏#MFFL pic.twitter.com/BQ4IjhHXHg

— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) October 28, 2026

The exact figure is $17,434,637, Grant Afseth reported. Marc Stein noted that the decision had been expected inside the organization, since team president Masai Ujiri and general manager Mike Schmitz both rate Risacher highly. Stein also pointed out that the deadline for rookie-scale options has been pushed to Monday, Nov. 2, because the usual Oct. 31 date falls on a Saturday this year.

Why Dallas did it with the shot not falling

Risacher’s offense has been rough in his first four games as a Maverick. He is averaging 8.0 points and 6.0 rebounds in 30 minutes but shooting 30.8% from the field and 17.6% from three.

Dallas is paying for the other end of the floor. Risacher has eight steals and eight blocks, and his 16 combined were tied for second in the league entering Wednesday. His five steals against Houston in his first game with the team set a franchise record for a debut. Coach Dusty May has said the 21-year-old is “finding himself” and that his deflections and loose-ball plays are valued even when they do not show up in the box score.

Risacher sounded settled after the news. “I love it here. My teammates are so supportive,” he said, per Afseth. With Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving carrying the scoring, his job is to defend, rebound and make the open shots those two create.

What the option means

Picking up the option keeps Risacher from becoming an unrestricted free agent next summer. His 2027-28 salary is now fully guaranteed, and he becomes eligible for a rookie-scale extension in July 2027. Had Dallas declined, he would have hit the open market after this season.

Risacher was the top pick in the 2024 draft by the Atlanta Hawks. Dallas acquired him in July in a three-team trade that sent Luguentz Dort to Atlanta. The Mavericks already exercised Flagg’s $15.2 million 2027-28 option earlier this month, so the two most recent No. 1 picks are both locked in through at least that season.

Dallas is the latest team to settle an option call before Monday. The Sacramento Kings picked up Nique Clifford’s 2027-28 option on Monday, and several clubs still have decisions to make, including the Oklahoma City Thunder, whose calls on Nikola Topić and Thomas Sorber carry luxury-tax consequences.