Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz "Lu" Dort has long been connected to the Los Angeles Lakers as a potential acquisition. That connection grew even stronger (in theory) when Dort recently switched agencies to Klutch Sports Group, a company run by LeBron James' good friend, Rich Paul.
But certain Lakers fans may have been turned off by the idea of Dort wearing purple and gold after watching his Game 2 performance, in which Lu went 1-of-6 from downtown and finished with just three points (along with two turnovers) in 23 minutes. Dort was one of just two Thunder players in Game 2 with a negative plus/minus.
Lu Dort isn't shining against Lakers, but what's his real free-agent value?
Dort wasn't spectacular in Game 1, either, finishing with 6 points on 2-of-5 from 3. Dort is averaging 6.0 points per game in these playoffs with a 33.3% percentage from 3. That iffy production hasn't stopped Oklahoma City from going 6-0 in the postseason so far.
Dort has a team option following the season worth $18.2 million. There's a good chance the Thunder will have to decline that option, as OKC is dealing with a ton of other team options, including Isaiah Hartenstein's $28.5 million. On top of the $155 million that OKC has pledged to its Big 3 plus Alex Caruso and Isaiah Joe, Thunder GM Sam Presti is also staring at additional team options for Cason Wallace ($7.4 million) and Jared McCain ($4.4 million).
It wouldn't be surprising at all to see Presti move on from Dort and his $18.2 million, knowing that bringing back Wallace and McCain will make up for some of his overall presence. Defensively, Dort is pretty unique, though, and even Wallace can't guard wings the way Dort can (while fouling, but that's another discussion).
Lakers likely still monitoring Lu Dort as potential summer signing
The same qualities that OKC would miss by losing Dort are also what attract other teams like the Lakers to Luguentz. Despite a downtick in distance shooting this postseason, he is a decent threat from out there (35.8% for his career), and his defensive versatility is a real asset.
As Lakers GM Rob Pelinka crafts a roster around the defense-deficient Luka Dončić, Pelinka knows he needs to acquire perimeter bulldog defenders with strength and length. That's why Dort is appealing.
The Thunder don't need Dort to score in double figures to win another championship (he averaged 7.9 points per game in last year's playoffs), but if he keeps putting up shooting stinkers this postseason, he might downgrade his market value a tad. That could either turn the Lakers off to Dort or simply make him more affordable as an enduring target. And this is all assuming the Thunder decline Dort's team option in the first place.
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