{"id":202629,"date":"2026-06-30T08:30:37","date_gmt":"2026-06-30T12:30:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=202629"},"modified":"2026-06-30T01:27:36","modified_gmt":"2026-06-30T05:27:36","slug":"lu-dort-future-okc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2026\/06\/30\/lu-dort-future-okc\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Lu Dort Safe From the OKC Trading Block?"},"content":{"rendered":"

By now, it is clear that the Oklahoma City Thunder<\/a> are shedding their salaries to avoid diving deep into the second apron. It’s also clear that they’re investing in size, extending<\/a> Isaiah Hartenstein<\/a>‘s contract and drafting a 7’3″ giant<\/a> in Aday Mara<\/a>. Lu Dort<\/a>‘s future with the Thunder is starting to look bleak, and he may either be taking a pay cut soon or playing for another team next season.<\/p>\n

Not every team has the luxury of coming up with a move that ships off some of their best role players and still looks good on paper. The Thunder did just that when they let go of Aaron Wiggins<\/a> and Isaiah Joe<\/a>, trading key guards for a total of four second-round picks. After a flurry of moves that began in the 2026 NBA Draft, nothing has been quiet for the 2025 champs.<\/p>\n

Is Lu Dort Safe From the OKC Trading Block?<\/h2>\n

After the Thunder handed out extensions to their big three of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander<\/a>, Chet Holmgren<\/a>, and Jalen Williams<\/a> in the aftermath of their 2025 title, it was obvious that they’re going to build around these players for years to come. GM Sam Presti is not making the same mistake that saw the end of OKC’s initial big three of Kevin Durant<\/a>, Russell Westbrook<\/a>\u00a0and James Harden<\/a>. But it also means that anyone other than the core trio is expected to be expendable moving forward. That’s evident with both Joe and Wiggins now set to play elsewhere next season, and Dort may be the next player to move on from the team.<\/p>\n

Dort is a Proven Veteran for OKC<\/h3>\n

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Dort and SGA are the lone Thunder players still present from OKC’s miracle playoff appearance in 2020. Over the years, Dort has accumulated a massive fan following in Oklahoma, becoming a significant force on the squad as a vocal veteran.<\/p>\n

To be fair, Alex Caruso<\/a> remains the most seasoned player on the team, but Dort has played with OKC the longest, next to SGA. He’s been a crucial performer on the big stage for the Thunder as well. Fans are always quick to recall how some of his antics have become the season-saving plays that mattered most.<\/p>\n

Among them was OKC’s pivotal Game 5<\/a> against Denver last year. Dort managed to single-handedly carry the Thunder, draining three 3-pointers in the final frame as part of OKC’s rally to take the series lead. Some would say that if it hadn’t been for Dort’s timely, veteran performance, the Thunder would not have won the series and would not have earned an NBA title later on.<\/p>\n

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Thunder make the Lu Dort option official.<\/p>\n

Dort has played in 432 career games with 423 starts.<\/p>\n

#3 in 3 pointers in OKC history
#6 in steals in OKC history pic.twitter.com\/JouSW5LzwT<\/a><\/p>\n

— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) June 29, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n