The Los Angeles Lakers’ primary path to adding talent this offseason will be by operating as a cap space team, and either signing free agents outright or absorbing players into their cap space via trade. The Lakers can add players that other teams might, for financial reasons or otherwise, need to part ways with. One example of this is Oklahoma City Thunder wing Lu Dort.
Dort has been a pivotal part of the Thunder for the entirety of his seven-year career. He was named to the All-Defense First Team in OKC’s championship 2024-25 campaign, but took a step back on both ends of the floor last season. He has a team option on the final year of his contract worth $17.7 million, but they may need to part ways with him to avoid harsh second apron penalties. L.A. has reportedly tried to step in, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer:
I’m also told that the Lakers have called the Thunder about swingman Lu Dort’s availability.
Last season, Dort averaged 8.3 points per game on 38.5% from the field and 34.4% from 3-point range. All of those numbers dipped in the playoffs, making it a highly inefficient season for the Thunder wing. But his All-Defense First Team campaign saw him shoot 43.5% from the field and 41.2% from deep. If that shooting could replicate itself, he could be a highly impactful player for L.A.
For them to acquire him via trade from the Thunder, OKC would have to pick up his team option, then decide that they would like to dump him in order to get below the second apron. L.A. would then need to have the cap space to absorb him outright, likely sending back a draft pick.
Dort would be a remarkable defensive fit in L.A. and would immediately become the best perimeter defender on the team. However, the offense is an issue, especially if the Lakers are going to have a traditional non-shooting big man. They also would have to accept losing one or more of their current free agents to get him.
Winning championship more important than MVP for Lakers’ Luka Doncic
The Lakers are under serious pressure to build a contending team this offseason, in large part because of the amount of hype they put on having cap space in the summer of 2026. Not only that, it is their first real chance to build a team specifically suited to Luka Doncic.
The Lakers star admitted that winning a championship is more important to him than any individual accolades, putting extra pressure on L.A.
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