It's February, and the OKC Thunder are struggling to find enough healthy bodies to put on the court. Fortunately for them, they can afford a bit of a rut, as they still sit firmly atop the Western Conference at 40-13.
Oddly enough, the absence of star players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Ajay Mitchell has been a bit of a blessing in disguise for the club, as the Thunder have been able to gather a lot of intel about what the rest of their roster looks like when given extended minutes.
As players continue to separate themselves from the pack, veteran guard Lu Dort seems to be playing his way out of crucial minutes.
Thunder likely far from impressed with what Lu Dort has shown recently
The notorious defensive stalwart has been the undisputed starter at the two guard position out in Oklahoma City, starting in all 41 games he has played in 2025-26. Sadly, his play has left much to be desired.
In February, Dort is averaging just 8.7 points per game, while shooting 39.1 percent from the field and averaging just 0.7 steals. His three-point shooting clip of 35.3 percent ranks eighth on the team, and he has the third-worst defensive rating among Thunder players averaging over 15 minutes per game.
While a playoff berth is in no jeopardy whatsoever, Dort's play has fans questioning whether putting him on the floor for 30 minutes a night is the right move for this team, especially when younger, better options are waiting in the wings.
Thunder have an unexpected embarrassment of riches on the wings
It took just one week for the Thunder to boast one of the deepest backcourts in the league.
While the world awaits the return of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace has inserted himself into the starting role conversation.
Even though he has started the majority of games this year, Wallace is thought to be a role player off the bench when OKC is fully healthy.
Lately, he has been looking to change that rep.
Through four games played in February, Cason is averaging 17.0 points per game on 50.9 percent shooting and 40.9 percent from three, all while averaging an impressive 3.3 steals per game.
The third-year man has shown flashes of brilliance recently, as he has recorded two 20-plus point games over his last four.
Lu Dort has no such games this season.
With the recently acquired Jared McCain, OKC has yet another perimeter threat. Once the sophomore gets fully worked into the rotation, Daigneault will have another talented wing to throw into the mix of minute management.
With Ajay Mitchell looking like one of the league's top perimeter defenders in the league, Daigneault will be faced with some tough decisions soon.
Dort's game may prove too stale to rely on once all is said and done, especially if OKC's younger options continue to progress.