Los Angeles Lakers Receive: G Luguentz Dort

Oklahoma City Thunder Receive: F Talen Horton-Tucker, 2027 First-Round Pick (LAL – Lottery Protected)

This deal is probably more consistent with the type of move we should expect the Oklahoma City Thunder to make. It makes them worse, which for their purposes, is better. More importantly, it lands them a first-round pick.

Dort has developed into one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA. While his 33.3% career three-point accuracy doesn’t quite qualify him among the league’s best 3-and-D players, it sets a reasonable benchmark for him to improve from.

Horton-Tucker’s 27.6% accuracy does not. It’s that bad. He too has room to improve, but it’s hard to project him as any more than an average shooter in the future.

The Thunder may see potential in him as a non-shooting, playmaking forward. Alternatively, they may want him jacking up 3s on a routine basis to aid their tank. We’re not here to judge: as we said in the preamble, the Thunder have a plan.

LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: This Nets-Thunder Trade Lands Intriguing Big In OKC

If Lu Dort’s development as a high-end role player isn’t a part of it, they might want to move him before he raises their floor.