Seeing his playing time dwindle throughout the season, the writing is on the wall. It feels as if Lu Dort and the Oklahoma City Thunder are heading towards an inevitable divorce. We’ll know for sure what happens during this summer.
After a career year where Dort was an All-Defense Team member and won a championship ring, he gutted through some brutal regression to the mean across all boards. The perimeter defense was no longer as sharp as years before. And the outside jumper betrayed him as he went from 41.2% from 3 to 34.4% this year.
By the time the NBA playoffs rolled around, Dort slowly became unplayable. He only logged 16 minutes in OKC’s Game 7 loss to the San Antonio Spurs in the 2026 Western Conference. Cason Wallace usurped him in the pecking order. That could be a permanent change.
Dort has a $17.7 million team option for the 2026-27 season. But considering how the Thunder prefer long-term team control, feels like they’ve already made their decision on his future in OKC last summer — when they elected against signing him to a new contract extension.
Despite all signs pointing toward Dort joining a new NBA team this offseason, the 27-year-old showed his cards in his exit interview. With emotions still raw only 12 hours after their championship ambitions ended, the longtime Thunder starter hopes to be back with this group next year.
“I have a lot of trust in this organization and in Sam. I’m really grateful for all the stuff that he did for me to this point. Obviously, I want to stay here,” Dort said. “This organization and this city have really shaped me as a person and as a player. So the conversation is going to happen. My main goal is to stay here. This is like a home to me.”
I’m sure Dort feels that way in his heart of hearts, but at the end of the day, the NBA is a business. He knows that. The Thunder do, too. You can hope things work out, but understand that, realistically speaking, it’s probably best for both sides to move on after seven seasons.
Wallace is ready to be a full-time starter. He’s also eligible for a contract extension this offseason. The 22-year-old was one of OKC’s best playoff players as his outside jumper returned. He also became a first-time All-Defense member. On paper, it makes sense to graduate him as a starter with his best basketball ahead of him. And in that scenario, Dort would be foolish to accept a reserve role.
There’s still an appetite for Dort in the NBA. Plenty of suitors would line up for his services. And the Thunder can help facilitate a sign-and-trade that makes sense for both sides. It’d be unfair to expect the 27-year-old to downgrade to a bench role amid his prime — even with his down season.
Now, that doesn’t make it any less of an emotional gutpunch if Dort ends up leaving OKC. He’s one of their best developmental stories ever. Going from an undrafted rookie to an All-Defense member and championship starter. His relationship with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is well-documented. At this point, they’re both some of the longest-tenured guys on the team.
But that’s how the NBA goes. Teams go through roster cycles. Right now, the Thunder are about to undergo some change after having spotless roster continuity over the last handful of years. One guy who’s been a popular prediction not to return is Dort.
“I have the trust in this organization and the relationship that I have built with them. The situation may be different. You never know how it’s going to be,” Dort said. “Like I said, my main goal is to be here and whatever we got to do to get it done.”
This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Lu Dort addresses future with Thunder: ‘My main goal is to stay here’