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Oklahoma City Thunder fans have been reeling after hearing that Lu Dort, a cornerstone of the 2025 title winning team, is being dealt to the Atlanta Hawks.
The staunch defender, known for putting opponents in the “Dorture chamber,” was moved in a three-team trade that provided the Thunder only three second-round picks.
When Justin Martinez of The Oklahoman spoke with Thunder general manager Sam Presti, the executive made the case that losing Dort will require some adjustment this season, but the addition of younger players through the draft provides more flexibility in the years ahead.
‘We will miss him’
Presti emphasized to Martinez that Dort’s departure was “a financial decision” intended to lower the team’s total salary and create more flexibility.
“The impression I have been given is that the savings generated this summer, and from being out of the tax the last several years, will be re-allocated to future teams,” Presti said. “Along with other new well-documented revenue streams, this will allow us to make more basketball-related decisions over the next several years.
“We have a team that is capable of contention. And as I understand it, the decisions this summer have positioned us financially to maintain a team of this caliber.”
A team of “this caliber,” of course, is one that competes for a championship.
After all, they followed their title win in 2025 with a Western Conference Finals appearance in 2026.
Without Dort, the Thunder have a significant hole to fill.
Even rival players like Draymond Green have noted how his absence will affect the Thunder.
“You know, Lu Dort’s a big loss for OKC, he is one of their better defenders…At times it’s gonna put Jalen Williams on the best perimeter player on the opposing team… Lu Dort can guard bigger guy and smaller guys,” said Green on “The Draymond Green Show.”
Presti acknowledged as much to The Oklahoman.
“Losing Lu will certainly have an effect on the team, but I think we are positioned well to reimagine ourselves and continue to find new avenues to win,” Presti said. “Cason (Wallace) and Ajay (Mitchell) will have more responsibility, as will others. But, as has always been our belief, it is necessary to embrace change and not fall victim to trying to imitate ourselves or our previous play style.”
Despite that willingness to change, Dort as a person will be missed as well, Presti said.
“I remember meeting Lu at the practice facility door the morning after he went undrafted,” he said. “I showed him around and we had breakfast together. He didn’t touch his food. I just remember saying to him that this was the beginning and not the end, that on draft night things are aligned vertically 1-60, but the morning after everyone is lined up side by side horizontally at an imaginary starting line. It’s safe to say that he will finish amongst the top of that race. I love the guy, love what he’s about and we will miss him.”
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