Skip Bayless doesn’t want the Oklahoma City Thunder to mess with what’s working. Not when it comes to Lu Dort anyway.
The Thunder picked up Dort’s $17.7 million team option for the 2026-27 season, which means he’ll hit unrestricted free agency after that. It’s a straightforward move for a guy who’s been with the franchise through the rebuild and the championship run. But Bayless is already worried about what comes next.
He went on social media with a pretty direct plea: don’t trade him.
Dort shot 34.4% from three this season. That’s not great. And Bayless acknowledged Dort went cold in the playoffs. But he’s focused on something else. The mentality. The physical defense. The fact that Dort was part of setting a tone when the Thunder won it all in 2025.
Here’s what Bayless wrote: “Here’s hoping OKC does NOT trade Lu Dort. He has been a crucial part of the championship culture, setting a physical tone on D, enforcing, making big shots in big games. Yes, he went cold from 3 in this yr’s playoffs. But I believe he can be a key part of 1 more title run.”
That’s not exactly a hot take. Plenty of Thunder fans feel the same way. Dort is the kind of player who does stuff that doesn’t show up in a box score. But the front office has decisions to make.
The numbers and what they mean
Dort averaged 8.3 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists across 69 regular season games. His shooting splits were 38.5% from the field, 34.4% from deep and 75.9% from the free throw line. Those aren’t eye-popping numbers. But his role was never about scoring.
He guards the other team’s best perimeter player. He sets the defensive tone. And he’s hit big shots in big moments. That’s why he’s still in the rotation for a team that went 64-18 this season and grabbed the top seed in the West.
The Thunder swept Phoenix and Los Angeles in the first two rounds before losing a seven-game series to San Antonio. It was a brutal way to end the season. But the core is still intact.
What’s next for the Thunder this summer
Oklahoma City has some financial stuff to figure out. Jalen Williams’ extension kicks in next season. That changes the cap math. The front office will need to decide who fits around Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the rest of the young core.
Dort has his flaws. His shooting can go cold for stretches. But the Thunder didn’t build a 64-win team by accident. They built it on defense and grit. Dort is part of that identity. Trading him would change the vibe in a real way.
Bayless isn’t the only one watching to see what Sam Presti does. The option decision was the easy part. What happens next is where it gets interesting.
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