OKC Thunder Must Take Advantage of Lu Dort While They Have Him

The Oklahoma City Thunder having guard Lu Dort on their roster for this coming season is a blessing and a curse, in many ways. His full range of skills was on display this past season when the Thunder won an NBA title, but they may not be able to hang onto him in the future.

Dort's contract is set to expire after this coming season, and, given the recent additions and extensions OKC's front office has made, keeping him on the roster could prove to be a challenge.

So, what could be Dort's final season in Oklahoma City could be an important and impactful one. The idea of him being extended is likely the last thing on his mind, but it certainly will be for the Thunder organization.

Because of this, OKC needs to take advantage of the time they have with Dort, given he may not be on the roster following this season. He's a defensive mastermind and turned himself into one of the best 3-point shooters in the NBA. These two skills are things he absolutely excels at to the point where losing him would make a significant difference.

Dort will need to continue doing those things at a high level for the coming season in order for the Thunder to run it back and win another NBA championship. He was a key contributor throughout the season's entirety and that will likely be the focus for Dort for the 2025-26 season.

If Dort can take another step in the right direction and increase his statistical output for the Thunder, it would again be a troubling double-edged sword. Obviously, if he takes another leap on offense, it will impact the Tigers positively.

On the flip side, it might make bringing him back even more challenging. There is no doubt that he's now on opposing teams' radars in terms of what he brings to the table on offense and defense, and most, if not all, NBA teams would take a player like Dort. There aren't many negatives that come along with bringing him on.

This is not to say that Dort for sure will leave after this season. There is a universe where the Thunder can bring him back, but it would take some sort of roster and financial sacrifice to do so. It would likely be worth that, but it absolutely will be a challenge.

With all the uncertainty surrounding his situation, there's no way to determine what could happen with Dort. For that reason, OKC needs to make this season with Dort a special one.