It is widely believed by fans and pundits that opting out of Lu Dort's $17.7 million club option this summer would be one of the easiest and most logical ways for the OKC Thunder to inch closer to avoiding second-apron penalties next season.
However, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander might not be too keen on the idea of seeing his long-time running mate depart from the Sooner State.
During a recent edition of NBA Today, ESPN's Tim MacMahon reported that the two-time MVP will "at least remind" the Thunder front office of how much he values Dort's presence on the team, with the long-time NBA writer reminding viewers that both Gilgeous-Alexander and Dort joined OKC the same year back in 2019-20 and that they "spend their summers playing for Team Canada" together.
This report seems to stand in direct contrast to the remarks SGA made during his end-of-season presser on Sunday, where he told reporters that he "will give zero input" on offseason decisions for the team, and that he will "let Sam Presti, the greatest GM ever, do his job."
To MacMahon, the superstar was simply just "playing a little bit coy there."
Lu Dort has also publicly expressed his desire to stay put with Thunder
Gilgeous-Alexander isn't alone in his desire to see his tenured teammate return for an eighth season together out in Oklahoma City, as Dort recently chimed in on the potential fate of his future with the club by telling reporters, "I want to stay here."
"This organization and this city really shaped me as a person and as a player," Dort said. "This is like a home to me."
Since being signed as an undrafted free agent back in 2019, Dort has helped mold the culture this Thunder team abides by and has played a major role in shaping them into the dynasty-pushing squad they currently are.
Throughout his seven seasons, the veteran finds himself sporting a resume that consists of an NBA Championship, All-Defensive First Team honors, and per-game averages of 11.6 points and 3.8 rebounds on 35.8 percent shooting from deep.
Despite what his lackluster 2026 playoff run may suggest, Dort is still one of the game's elite perimeter defensive specimens who still has the capability of making a team pay when given space out beyond the arc.
If they can make the finances work (certainly a big if), from both a morale and on-court chemistry standpoint, holding onto the guard, even for just one more year, could certainly prove to have major perks for the Thunder.
Of course, if the two parties decide to split ways, there's no doubt that he'll have a number of prospective buyers interested in attaining his services.
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