In a Bleacher Report article that was released on Monday, Grant Hughes suggested one trade all 14 lottery teams could make if they land the first overall pick. For the Oklahoma City Thunder, that involves them trading Lu Dort and their other two first-round picks to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for the sixth overall pick.
“Dort is on a bargain deal and brings valuable defense, but it’d be hard for the Thunder to turn down the opportunity to grab Holmgren and either Duke wing AJ Griffin or Iowa forward Keegan Murray. Neither would be on the board at No. 12, but one or the other should be there at No. 6.
The Blazers could desperately use a stopper if they intend to trot out Damian Lillard and restricted free agent Anfernee Simons together in the backcourt, and OKC should be looking to move Dort now before he hits unrestricted free agency in 2023 and commands a hefty raise.”
Honestly, I would be ecstatic if the Thunder could pull this trade off. While Dort is a fan favorite and an above-average starter, tying down with him with a hefty extension makes me a bit weary. Dort is a nice player but being able to get a top-six pick is hard to turn down, even if it costs the Thunder the 12th and 30th overall picks as well.
A young core of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey, Chet Holmgren and whoever is there at six is salivating enough to warrant the collateral damage of losing Dort.
The Thunder will find out soon enough where their two lottery picks end up as the 2022 NBA draft lottery will be held on Tuesday night.
