The Los Angeles Lakers have been in the market for a 3-and-D ceiling raiser since last offseason. When the summer of 2026 arrives, that will still be a top priority for them. This is where the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder may be able to provide a solution for them.
Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren will both have their extensions added to the cap sheets for 2026-27. One would imagine that forces some type of adjustment to the books from Sam Presti. Notably, there are two players on the Thunder with upcoming team options for the next campaign.
One of those players is Isaiah Hartenstein. Clearing up his $28.5 million from the financials would create a lot more wiggle room for the Thunder. The other player is Luguentz Dort, who has a $18.2 million team option of his own.
Dort will certainly not be a popular name among Lakers fans. The bulldog defender is not particularly well-liked in any NBA fandom outside of Oklahoma City, really. However, feelings aside, it is difficult to ignore just how impactful of a player the Thunder wing is on the back end.
Luguentz Dort is the intriguing Lakers option who is not talked about enough
For the most perfect of circumstances, the Lakers would hope that the Thunder simply decline Dort's option and wash their hands clean. That is a touch idealistic, admittedly.
On one hand, the Thunder have so many talented options who could start in Dort's place that if anyone is going to become a financial casualty, it could easily be him. That is not the worry here. The concern would be whether Oklahoma City would pick up the option and control his next destination by trading him.
That would be the smart play from the Thunder's side. It is also one their abundance of draft capital could afford them.
Perhaps the rich could feel generous in simply thinking a player whose offense has dropped off by the numbers can simply walk with no danger to be had from that. Dort has seen his field goal percentage decline to a career low 38.7 percent. His 34.3 percent from beyond the arc is also below league average. Maybe the Thunder could just be content to choose the easy path.
The Lakers would certainly take their chances on adding him as an unrestricted free agent. The decline in percentages offensively is concerning, sure, but the Lakers have Luka Doncic.
According to BBall Index, the Lakers lead the NBA this season in shot quality. That is a Doncic stat. His on-ball gravity does wonders for his teammates.
The superstar point guard is one of the very best at creating quality looks and Dort has been capable of knocking down a great percentage on solid volume in the past. Anything around league average from 3-point land would make the addition of his perimeter defense more than worthwhile for LA.
It might seem like a long shot, and perhaps it is, but the Thunder should be expected to cut costs to some capacity. If that happens at Dort's expense, Rob Pelinka can pick up the phone and slot him into the Lakers' plans.