The unease about Marcus Smart departing from the Los Angeles Lakers has been growing over the last few days. Rumors about a multi-year payday with the Houston Rockets have been swirling. That could leave the Lakers without one of their most impactful players from last season.
If Los Angeles were hoping to replace him by pursuing Luguentz Dort to fill the spot previously occupied by Smart, the chances of that happening have shrunk. Shams Charania reported the Oklahoma City Thunder are keeping control over Dort's immediate future for the time being.
"The Oklahoma City Thunder are picking up forward Lu Dort's $17.7 million team option for the 2026-27 season, sources tell ESPN."
In theory, Dort could still be available for trade as the Thunder continue to combat the second apron. The problem is that if Oklahoma City does plan on trading him this summer, it would be incredibly unlikely to see Sam Presti and the front office send him to a Western Conference rival.
The Thunder hold complete control over Luguentz Dort's NBA future
There is a strong likelihood that Dort simply remains in Oklahoma City moving forward. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander did not hesitate to endorse his national teammate from Team Canada. That could have Presti moving plans around to keep the bulldog defender with the franchise.
If that is not the case, and the Thunder simply want to maintain control over Dort's next landing spot, expecting him to arrive in Los Angeles would be unwise.
Presti has already shipped two players out of town from last year's team. Both of them were sent packing to the Eastern Conference, far away from the Thunder's path in the West. Aaron Wiggins joined the Atlanta Hawks. Isaiah Joe was snagged up by the Detroit Pistons.
The Thunder are not in the business of helping out rival contenders who stand in their way. Dort ending up with the Lakers would represent exactly that.
The Canadian wing would be able to replicate similar duties to that of Smart when it comes to relentless perimeter defense. The former Defensive Player of the Year was an excellent point of attack defender for the Lakers this past season. Dort could theoretically function in a similar way alongside Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
Despite a down year shooting the basketball, Dort and Smart would be a relative wash when it comes to spacing. The latter is far more capable of heating up in a hurry, but neither are stellar in that department.
If the Lakers wanted an easy way to find a Smart replacement, adding Dort as an unrestricted free agent would have been the path to do that. With the Thunder picking up his team option, Los Angeles would have to look elsewhere if they do lose their veteran guard.
Add us as a preferred source on Google