The Oklahoma City Thunder made a bit of a surprising decision to trade Lu Dort to the Atlanta Hawks as part of a three-team deal.
Dort went to Atlanta, with Oklahoma City receiving three second-round picks and former No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher going from the Hawks to the Dallas Mavericks.
Dort’s name had been mentioned in trade rumors, and four teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers, were in on a potential deal, according to Michael Scotto of Hoops Hype.
“Several teams expressed trade interest in acquiring Dort before he was traded to Atlanta, including the Los Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets, Toronto Raptors, and Miami Heat, league sources told HoopsHype,” Scotto wrote.
The Thunder moved Dort and his expiring $17.22 million contract because OKC has to pay some of their other stars.
As for the Lakers, acquiring Dort would’ve been a major move, especially since LA needs some defense with Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic together in the backcourt.
The Miami Heat figure to be waiting for a decision regarding LeBron James, and the Raptors acquired Kawhi Leonard before the NBA paused the transaction as they wait for the conclusion of the Aspiration investigation.
The Lakers did sign wing Matisse Thybulle to a one-year deal, and he plays excellent defense, but the thought of adding Dort to a team with Reaves, Doncic and Walker Kessler would’ve been a fun group for JJ Redick to work with.
