With the new CBA and their commitment to more than $800 million in new standard contracts this past offseason, the OKC Thunder will have to make significant financial decisions by summer 2026.
Sadly, this could lead to the ouster of Luguentz Dort, and his play of late isn't giving fans any reason to think otherwise.
Throughout his seven-year tenure in the Sooner State, Dort has established himself as a beloved, key piece of Oklahoma City's dynasty-pushing rotation.
From his elite defensive abilities to his tenacious, two-way hustle, the former undrafted free agent has been the prime example of this club's overabundance of rags-to-riches story arcs.
However, since his career-best campaign a season ago that culminated in his first All-NBA nod and an NBA Championship, the widely discussed dilemma has been that, with him being owed $18.2 million next year and slated to hit the open waters of free agency in 2027, Dort could realistically end up being a salary cap casualty at anypoint between this summer (via trade) or next (signed elsewhere).
Lu Dort's play of late could make Thunder moving on more realistic
While it would certainly sting to lose such a prominent piece of this core's rotation and established culture, the fact of the matter is that, here in what should essentially be a contract year (eligible to ink a new extension), Dort's production has taken a bit of a hit.
Through 19 games played, the two guard finds himself posting rather mediocre averages of 7.7 points and 3.8 rebounds on just 35.0 percent shooting from the floor and 29.8 percent from deep, a far cry from his 39.4 and 41.2 percent three-point shooting averages from 2023-2025, while placing just 10 on the team in net rating and dead-last in PIE.
Meanwhile, his potential long-term replacement as the club's primary two, Cason Wallace (eligible for a rookie extension this coming summer), is putting forth a career-best campaign here in year three, serving as OKC's most disruptive defender with his league-leading 2.4 steals per game while dropping 8.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.4 assists while shooting 35.8 percent from deep as well.
There's no denying how valuable Dort has proven himself to be for this Thunder squad over the years.
However, the team's formula for success is built on dependable long-range shooters and standout defensive performers around their Big Three of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren.
When looking at the other backcourt options surrounding him, such as Wallace and Ajay Mitchell in particular, not only do they have the potential to match Dort's level of play in the latter department, but they far exceed him in the former from a consistency standpoint -- let's not forget that Lu has only two seasons in his career where he's shot north of 34.3 percent from deep.
It was always widely understood that tough decisions would have to be made in order for the Thunder to evade the crippling tax penalties that come by exceeding the second apron. For quite a while, the idea of them being forced to one day part ways with Dort to stay out of this dreaded territory might be necessary.
With his play this season, coupled with the surge in production from his much younger understudies, unfortunately, this hypothetical scenario only seems to grow more plausible by the day.