For years, Luguentz Dort has been a core piece of the young Oklahoma City Thunder roster.
This season, Dort has been nothing short of disappointing and an overall negative for OKC.
The Thunder should trade Lu Dort because of his poor shooting, replaceable defense, and the ability to acquire a player who can fix many of OKC’s problems.
Lackluster Shooting Making Dort Unplayable On Offense
The early struggle of Dort’s career was his three-point shooting — he made significant improvements in 2024, shooting over 39% from deep and over 41% last season. This year, he has reverted to his old habits, sinking just 33.5% of his shots behind the arc. Another issue with his shot is his volume, as he leads the team with 5.8 attempts per game.
(Shot chart via bball-index.com)
Dort’s shot over the past two years has been the reason the Thunder could survive with him on offense, since he offers little rim aggressiveness, shot creation, or playmaking.
With OKC now in a championship-or-bust mentality, they cannot afford to have an offensive non-factor in a role as crucial as that of Dort.
Surplus of Great Defenders Makes Dort Replaceable
The reigning first-team All-Defender is still a very good defender, but at this point, multiple players are outplaying Dort on both ends of the court.
Cason Wallace, who has solidified himself as one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA, is more than capable of guarding the assignments that Dort has. Wallace has been the better player on both ends this year.
(Stat comparisons via databallr.com)
The other young star that is making Dort obsolete is Ajay Mitchell. The second-year guard has been a critical part of OKC’s offensive success, but has also quietly been an incredible defender. Mitchell, like Dort, has a strong base, keeping players in front of him, but unlike Dort, he also possesses great defensive playmaking.
With these two rising stars for the Thunder, along with former All-Defense members Alex Caruso and Jalen Williams, Dort is arguably the fifth-best perimeter defender on the team, along with clearly being the worst offensive player of the bunch.
Who Should They Trade For?
Although Lu Dort may not be a proper fit for OKC, many teams could use his hard-nose defense and potentially good shooting. The Thunder’s abundance of picks and Dort’s contract leave plenty of options for upgrades.
Option 1: Michael Porter Jr.
MPJ is having a career year with the Brooklyn Nets, averaging nearly 26 points and eight rebounds per game. With Dort still only 26, he does not disrupt the Nets’ rebuilding timetable, and their primary objective in this move for Brooklyn would be the abundance of picks.
For the Thunder, this move would fix numerous problems. Without Isaiah Hartenstein, they have struggled on the boards, averaging only 41.8 rebounds per game in his absence, placing them 24th in the league.
Another problem MPJ can resolve is the three-point shooting. Porter has been one of the most consistent shooters in the NBA for years, and the combination of size and shooting would be essential for OKC.
Option 2: Austin Reaves
Reaves has been another breakout player of the season. He has taken his offense to a new level, averaging nearly 27 points and over six assists per game.
With his strong season, the Thunder will likely need to trade 3-4 first-round picks for Reaves, but he would answer all of the offensive questions. He has been a spectacular shot creator this season, along with providing much-needed playmaking. The only weakness in acquiring him would be his negative defense.
As for the Los Angeles Lakers, they would get a defense-oriented wing, something they have been desperate for.
This move may not seem as likely, but it would significantly help the Thunder and would fill a hole for the Lakers.
Option 3: Trey Murphy III
The New Orleans Pelicans are once again at the bottom of the Western Conference, but this season, without their first-round pick. Murphy has been in trade discussions for multiple seasons, and a trade with OKC would give the Pelicans some picks they sorely need.
Murphy would give the Thunder all the shooting they could ask for. He is taking over seven threes a game, and hitting 38% of them. His ability to create his own shot, along with having terrific off-ball movement, would make him a seamless fit.
With New Orleans rebuilding and desperate for picks, this is the most realistic option for OKC.
Dort has been a liability for the Thunder this season, and the team’s plethora of picks gives them numerous trade options.
Leave a comment