Sam Presti recently noted that it’s not impossible that the Oklahoma City Thunder pick up the team options on Isaiah Hartenstein, Lu Dort, and Kenrich Williams’ contracts this summer. But Presti needs to do what Shai Gilgeous-Alexander may not want him to: Decline Dort’s team option.
Perhaps Presti could work with Dort on a new deal. But paying Dort $18.2 million next season isn’t smart anymore. Recent reports have indicated that SGA loves Dort and will let the Thunder know how much he values him, but from a financial perspective, as OKC tries to navigate the second apron, Presti has to make the smart decision.
He has to decline Dort’s team option.
Sam Presti needs to decline Lu Dort's team option
If the Thunder want to avoid being a second-apron team next season – which seems likely – they need to make some tough decisions this offseason when it comes to their current roster.
That said, as mentioned, Presti recently noted that the Thunder could choose to pick up all their team options this summer:
“The first thing is like I said I gotta talk to everybody. Got to get a sense of where everybody is…Is it possible that we just pick up the options for everybody and roll into next season? That’s certainly possible,” Presti said via Ryan Stiles of Locked on Thunder. “I certainly wouldn’t rule that out because we haven’t gotten through those conversations…The process itself could take a little while because I want to understand what all is available to me.”
But that would be way too much money to carry into next season. Maybe ownership is willing to live in the second apron, but if the Thunder can avoid it, why wouldn’t they?
Because not only would Dort be set to make $18.2 million, but Hartenstein would make $28.5 million. Those are two very big contracts that Presti could potentially negotiate down.
SGA may want Dort to stick around. And if Presti declines his team option, maybe the Thunder could just re-sign him at a lower price.
But regardless of that, Presti has to decline Dort’s team option. OKC has too much guard depth to pay Dort that much, especially when he didn’t even get heavy playing time at points this past postseason.
With guys like Cason Wallace, Ajay Mitchell, Alex Caruso, and Jared McCain all ready to rock, Dort’s minutes could dip significantly moving forward.
Presti needs to do what SGA may not want him to: Decline Dort’s team option.
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