The Los Angeles Lakers will be on the prowl this offseason for the type of 3-and-D prowess that Luguentz "Lu" Dort injects the Oklahoma City Thunder with daily. Dort himself will be a free agent if the Thunder choose to decline his $18.2 million team option for 2026-27.
A Dort fit in Los Angeles isn't difficult to imagine, especially now that he's represented by Klutch Sports Group, the agency run by LeBron James' bud, Rich Paul.
But before you start picturing Dort in purple and gold, there are two factors to consider that actually make the Lakers' signing of Lu a potentially losing decision.
Marcus Smart is a cheaper/better option for the Lakers than Lu Dort
If Dort's option is declined by the Thunder, he stands to make something in the realm of $17 million per year on the open market, according to a recent estimate from NBA insider Sam Vecenie. Meanwhile, Lakers guard Marcus Smart -- who is expected to decline his player option and enter the market -- figures to demand something closer to $12 million per year, according to Vecenie.
Smart and Dort are similar players, even if Dort is younger and a more consistent shooter. But with Smart likely to be significantly cheaper, and with his having already established rapport with Luka Doncic and the Lakers' style under head coach JJ Redick, it makes a lot of sense that LA would prioritize Smart over Dort here.
Also, keep in mind that if the Thunder were to pick up Dort's team option, the Lakers could still trade for Dort, but they'd have to surrender a first-round pick to the Thunder in doing so. This leads us to the second reason why LA should steer clear of Dort.
Dort might have his club option exercised, meaning the Lakers would have to give up assets to get him
The idea of sending a first-rounder to Thunder GM Sam Presti (Lord of the Draft Picks) and giving up additional player assets to Oklahoma City for Dort isn't warming anyone's heart inside LA's front office, nor should it.
The Lakers are already short on trade assets, to begin with, which makes them unlikely suitors for a big splash move like Giannis Antetokounmpo. Surrendering further of those assets for a role player like Dort -- when the Lakers already have the chance to re-sign Smart without losing anything except some cap space -- doesn't feel like the right move at all. Don't make 2026 the Summer of Dort, Lakers!
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