If the Oklahoma City Thunder decide Lu Dort is the odd man out this offseason, the Lakers ought to be paying close attention.
Oklahoma City has already shown it’s willing to part with players to stay ahead of cap trouble, even when that means moving on from talent at a bargain price. That history is what makes a possible Dort departure worth watching, especially after one prediction suggested the Thunder could look to use him as the piece they sacrifice.
“While Dort’s rugged point-of-attack defense is a luxury any contender would crave, his highly volatile 38.5% field-goal efficiency makes his current financial slot the most logical luxury to sacrifice. Rather than waiting for the tax bill to limit their flexibility, look for Oklahoma City to aggressively orchestrate a sign-and-trade or decline his team option to package his elite defensive traits for asset consolidation,” Joe Cervenka wrote.
That’s the kind of profile that always creates a split reaction. Dort brings real value on defense, the kind contenders love to have on the floor when the game gets tight. But the offensive side of his game has never matched that impact, and there are plenty of stretches where he can be tough to watch if you’re hoping for more polish with the ball.
Still, even with those limitations, he’s been an important part of what the Thunder have built. And for the Lakers, that makes him a sensible name to monitor. He may not be the cleanest fit, but if he becomes available, he’d be a wise target.
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