Lakers not – Los Angeles is expected to explore 3-and-D options this offseason, with Lu Dort on the radar only until two hard realities surface: his likely price if Oklahoma City declines his option, and the cost in trade assets if the Thunder keep him. Marcus Smart, by co
When the Lakers talk about adding more 3-and-D, Lu Dort is the kind of name that’s hard to ignore. Oklahoma City relies on the steady edge he brings, and Los Angeles could easily picture what that would look like in purple and gold.
But before the highlight reels start playing in fans’ heads, the business end of the decision gets in the way.
Dort is a free agent only if the Thunder decline his $18.2 million team option for 2026-27. If that option does get declined, Dort could be in the $17 million-per-year range on the open market, based on a recent estimate from NBA insider Sam Vecenie.
The Lakers won’t be operating in a vacuum. Their own guard, Marcus Smart, is expected to decline his player option and enter the market. Vecenie projects Smart’s asking price closer to $12 million per year.
Smart and Dort overlap as players, even if Dort is younger and more consistent as a shooter. Still. the Lakers’ calculation is straightforward: if Smart is likely to cost significantly less. and he already has established rapport with Luka Doncic and with the Lakers’ style under head coach JJ Redick. Smart becomes the easier priority than Dort.
There’s a second snag for Dort that lands deeper in the Lakers’ front-office reality.
If Oklahoma City picks up Dort’s team option, Los Angeles wouldn’t be able to simply wait for him in free agency. The Lakers could still pursue him via trade—but the price is baked in. They would have to surrender a first-round pick to the Thunder to get Dort.
And that’s where the situation turns from “maybe” to “probably no.” The article’s point is blunt: the Lakers are already short on trade assets. and sending a first-round pick plus additional player assets to Thunder GM Sam Presti—just for a role player like Dort—doesn’t fit an organization that. as framed here. sees re-signing Smart as a cleaner path that costs them only cap space rather than more valuable capital.
In other words, the Lakers may have a clear basketball fit in mind for Dort. The problem is that the offseason tab—whether it’s the open-market salary if the option is declined or the first-round-plus cost if Oklahoma City keeps him—could turn the “perfect 3-and-D” idea into a deal Los Angeles later wishes it hadn’t chased.
Lakers Lu Dort Oklahoma City Thunder Marcus Smart NBA offseason trade assets JJ Redick Luka Doncic Sam Presti Klutch Sports Group Rich Paul 2026-27 team option
I don’t get it, Dort is like the exact type of player they need? If they pass on him that’s just dumb.
So they’d rather sign Smart than Dort because Smart is cheaper?? But Smart isn’t even a shooter right like…
They keep saying Dort might cost $17 mil if OKC declines the option. Meanwhile Smart at $12 mil, but isn’t Smart like older and injury prone? Also the first-round pick part sounds like they’re scared of Presti or something.
This makes it sound like they can only get Dort if they give up a first. But if they already plan to decline Smart’s option anyway, why not just do both and figure it out later?? Like teams always act like they have no picks until they magically do.