The day of reckoning has officially come for the OKC Thunder when it relates to the fates of both Lu Dort and Kenrich Williams.
June 29 serves as the NBA's deadline for both teams and players to exercise their contract options for the upcoming season.
Both veterans find their 2026-27 fates under club control, meaning Oklahoma City will have until 4 pm (CT) to decide whether to commit to their salaries or let them enter the open waters of unrestricted free agency.
Considering Sam Presti and company seem hell-bent on cutting costs this summer, what with their slew of moves up to this point, it seems safe to say that at least one, if not both of these beloved ballers, will have their deals opted out of come the afternoon cut-off.
Dort and Williams have undeniably established themselves as quintessential parts of Oklahoma City's dynasty-pushing core throughout their respective tenures.
From the former's elite, All-Defensive skills to the latter's standout efforts and everlasting on-court hustle, the duo has played major roles in guiding the Thunder to the championship pedigree they now operate under.
However, considering the enviable depth OKC has at their individual positions, along with the fact that parting ways with Dort and Williams would shed north of $25 million from their payroll, it's easy to see why pivoting away from their services would be quite a logical course of action from a sheer business standpoint.
Thunder may not keep Lu Dort even if they opt in on his contract
There's a growing belief that even if the Thunder choose to opt into Dort's final year under contract, his days in the Sooner State may still be numbered.
Instead of letting him walk for nothing, some are suggesting that Sam Presti and company should strongly consider shopping the 27-year-old to net some return for his services.
One of the premier defensive talents in the game today, Dort is a proven All-Defensive First Team honoree and a fourth-place finisher in the 2025 DPOY race who, over the last three seasons, has found himself dropping highly efficient per-game averages of 9.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.0 steals while shooting 38.4 percent from deep along the way.
With his counting stats and title-tested leadership, there should be no shortage of a market for the vet's talents if he were to be shopped.
Because of this, perhaps it would be wise for the Thunder to refrain from cutting ties with Dort ahead of Monday's club option deadline and, instead, look to flip him for something substantial like future draft capital.
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