It’s highly unlikely, but if the Oklahoma City Thunder decided to trade Lu Dort mid-season this year, nabbing Daniel Gafford from the Dallas Mavericks makes a world of sense. In fact, it would probably be one of the only Dort deals that makes any sense for the Thunder to consider, seeing as they are 26-3 on the season.
The CBA is coming for the Thunder. They are inevitably going to have to make some tough decisions. Trading Dort for Gafford would give them an additional center on the roster, and then, they could more comfortably decline Isaiah Hartenstein’s trade option, avoiding the second apron entirely.
It would be a three-team deal that also includes the Detroit Pistons.
This Lu Dort trade could make sense for the Thunder
Here is the full outline of a potential Dort trade that involves the Thunder, Mavericks, and Pistons:
Thunder receive: Daniel Gafford, Second-round pick (via DET)
Pistons receive: Lu Dort
Mavericks receive: Jaden Ivey
First and foremost, the Thunder could be interested in this type of deal, as it would help set them up to avoid the second apron for a longer period of time in the coming years.
Gafford is only set to make $17.2 million next year, $18.1 million the next year, and $19.0 million the year after that. That’s a lot less than Hartenstein, and it would be almost a one-for-one swap for Dort’s contract.
There’s a chance they would rather explore this type of deal in the summer (it may make even more sense then), but they could get by with more Alex Caruso, Cason Wallace, and Ajay Mitchell minutes this year if they wanted to get ahead of it and bring in more center depth right now.
Obviously, Dort is very important to the organization, but the second-apron waits for nobody. And adding another center would make the potential offseason loss of Hartenstein more palatable.
For the Pistons, this would be a great way of capitalizing on the success they’ve had this season. Bringing in a defender like Dort to play next to Cade Cunningham would be beautiful. And although Ivey is still young, he needs a new contract this summer, and he’s struggled a lot this year.
Lastly, the Mavs would get a very young guard to potentially pair with Cooper Flagg. Losing Gafford hurts their center depth while Dereck Lively II is out, but getting Ivey could be worth that gamble, especially considering they likely aren’t heading for a playoff birth.
The Thunder probably won’t trade Dort. But if they consider it, this deal could make sense (for everyone involved).