OKC Thunder Guard Lu Dort Earns Five-Year, $87.5 Million Deal

It wasn’t long ago that Lu Dort was fighting for a full-time NBA contract during his rookie season. Now, he’s set to make $87.5 million over the next five years.

An undrafted free agent that landed with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Dort started his career on a two-way deal. Towards the end of the 2019-20 season, he had proven he was enough of a contributor to be promoted to a standard NBA deal.

From there, he became a key contributor in the postseason for the Thunder in a seven-game series against the Houston Rockets.

Now entering his fourth NBA season, Dort has evolved into a spectacular young prospect in OKC. Just last season, he produced 17.2 points and 4.2 rebounds per contest while also being one of the best perimeter defenders in the league.

Although he’s made less than $5 million in his career to this point, Dort was set to earn a sizable payday this summer or next. Oklahoma City just had to make a decision on the final season of his deal which would affect the timing of his contract.

Just last weekend, Thunder GM Sam Presti alluded to potentially picking up Dort’s option which would mean he would play the upcoming season for $1.9 million then become unrestricted next summer.

“We have an option on that agreement and obviously it’s our plan to exercise that, pending anything different. So, I’d plan on that happening unless something changes,” said Presti on Saturday. “He’ll be a free agent after next season.”

Instead the team changed paths and declined that option earlier this week, immediately making Dort a restricted free agent and ready to sign a new deal. Taking this route and working on a deal now was a smart move by the Thunder. Rather than letting him showcase his talent and improve in the upcoming season and then risking him going to a different team for nothing in return next summer, Oklahoma City locked him in longterm.

The official terms of Dort’s new $87.5 million contract haven’t yet been released, but he’ll earn an average of $17.5 per season moving forward. This puts his deal on the same timeline as backcourt teammate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, whose max extension kicks in this season.

Although Oklahoma City has a crowded young frontcourt, it’s even more clear now that Dort is part of at least the immediate plans. With what seems to be a team friendly deal, he will be affordable over the next five years but also has an attractive contract if needed for trade purposes.

Especially at the rate the salary cap is expected to rise over the next several years, Dort’s deal ultimately won’t break the bank. Even two seasons from now, he could be considered underpaid if his rate of improvement continues.

Dort will be the second-highest paid player on the Thunder roster next season.

Following his signing, unrestricted Mike Muscala was also reported to have signed a new one-year deal to return to Oklahoma City next season. It’s still early in the free agency process, but the Thunder have already made most of the moves they’re expected to.