Thunder Might Lose Lu Dort in Expansion Draft

Oklahoma City has too many good players to protect in a potential NBA expansion draft.

Mar. 27, 2026 at 3:52pm

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The Oklahoma City Thunder are facing a dilemma as the NBA considers expansion. When new teams are added, they will be allowed to select players from existing rosters in an expansion draft. With the Thunder having a deep and talented roster, they may be unable to protect all of their key players, putting someone like Lu Dort at risk of being selected by an expansion team.

Why it matters

The Thunder have built a strong team through the draft and smart roster moves. Losing a key player like Dort to an expansion draft would be a setback, as he is a valuable two-way player. This highlights the challenges faced by successful teams when the league expands and forces them to leave talented players unprotected.

The details

The NBA expansion draft rules typically allow new teams to select one player from each existing team's roster. With the Thunder having too many good players to protect, they may be forced to leave someone like Dort exposed. Dort is a strong defensive player, but his shooting has declined, making him a potential target for an expansion team looking to add talent.

  • The NBA is considering expansion to Seattle and Las Vegas in the coming years.
  • An expansion draft would likely take place a couple years after those new teams are awarded.

The players

Lu Dort

A key two-way player for the Oklahoma City Thunder who is at risk of being selected in an NBA expansion draft.

Alex Caruso

A player the Thunder could potentially use to replace Dort if he is selected in an expansion draft.

Cason Wallace

Another player the Thunder could potentially use to replace Dort if he is selected in an expansion draft.

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What they’re saying

“The Thunder have too many good players to protect. One of their rotation pieces is going to get taken in this expansion draft. Dort makes the most sense. He's a great defender, but his shot has fallen off. Oklahoma City has ways to replace him with Alex Caruso and Cason Wallace in the fold.”

— Stephen Noh, Sporting News Writer

What’s next

The Thunder will need to carefully evaluate their roster and determine the best way to protect their key players in the event of an NBA expansion draft.

The takeaway

The Thunder's success in building a deep and talented roster has created a potential problem, as they may be unable to protect all of their best players in an NBA expansion draft. This highlights the challenges faced by successful teams when the league expands and forces them to leave talented players unprotected.