Plummeting shooting splits and a steep luxury tax bill leave the defensive specialist’s future in doubt as Oklahoma City weighs a difficult parting with the homegrown veteran.
Luguentz Dort averaged 8.3 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game during the regular season, which was his fewest points and assists since his rookie season. Dort did not see as many touches because there were more mouths to feed on the Thunder, but he also only shot 38.5% from the field and 34.4% from distance. His true shooting percentage of 52.4% ranked 195th among 206 qualified players.
On the other end, the veteran slipped a little from his 2025 All-Defensive First Team production. However, Dort was still a stout perimeter defender this season who took the most difficult assignments and often nullified opposing stars. He operated as a key cog in the Thunder’s defensive machine, especially against pick-and-roll heavy offenses.
The playoffs were particularly brutal for Dort. The Arizona State product plummeted to 36/30/50 shooting splits and 48.9% true shooting, so his offensive impact regressed to an even higher degree. Opposing defenses frequently ignored him in order to send help towards Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s direction. This caused Oklahoma City’s offense to slog through dry spells because the paint was too cramped. As a result, Dort was the only Thunder player to finish with a negative plus/minus across the playoffs among the nine players who logged at least 200 minutes.
Overall, the homegrown fan favorite receives a “D” grade for the 2026 season. It’s a harsh yet honest assessment. His poor shooting and minimal off-the-dribble impact dragged down lineups, and Dort’s defense did not make up for his offensive woes. He was glaringly bad against the Spurs, who are the Thunder’s main rival for the next five seasons. They have to construct the roster around defeating San Antonio, which means Dort may be moved.
Oklahoma City is well over the luxury tax for the 2027 season and has a $17.2 million team option for Dort. Declining his option and replacing him with a rookie could save the team north of $80 million on its luxury tax bill, so he must be hyper-impactful to justify the cost. Given this reality, it’s likely that Dort departs in the offseason for salary cap teams who need perimeter defense such as the Lakers or Hornets. If Dort does part ways with Oklahoma City, then it will be a sad day for everyone involved. He signed as an undrafted rookie and has been with the Thunder for the entirety of the post-Russell Westbrook era.
