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Thunder rumors: Will OKC look to replace Lu Dort in NBA Draft with NCAA champion?
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- Thunder rumors: Will OKC look to replace Lu Dort in NBA Draft with NCAA champion?
Thunder rumors: Will OKC look to replace Lu Dort in NBA Draft with NCAA champion? appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
Even if the Oklahoma City Thunder outlast the San Antonio Spurs and win their second straight NBA championship, difficult decisions are on the horizon. Building a legitimate dynasty is not easy in the tax-apron era, so executive vice president and general manager Sam Presti may be compelled to initiate roster changes this offseason.
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Lu Dort and Isaiah Hartenstein each have upcoming team options. OKC could potentially replace the former in the NBA Draft.
The Thunder own the No. 12 and No. 17 selections in the draft, which come via the Los Angeles Clippers and Philadelphia 76ers , respectively. According to ClutchPoints NBA insider Brett Siegel, the expectation is that they will try to trade these assets to either acquire future picks or move up in the draft. However, if the Thunder do decide to pluck a prospect from the 2026 class, Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg makes perfect sense.
What better way to replace an All-Defensive selection who helped the franchise win its first title than by adding a national champion who has notable length and impressive intangibles? Taking Lendeborg at No. 12 would give Presti options.
"From the Thunder's perspective, Lendeborg could fall in their lap and immediately fill gaps between Shai Gilgeous-Alexander , Jalen Williams , and Chet Holmgren ," Siegel writes in his latest mock draft.
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"This is 100% a spot where the Thunder could either replace Luguentz Dort , who has an $18.2 million team option, or they could trade the pick to someone attempting to move up and take either Lendeborg, [fellow Wolverines player Morez Johnson Jr. ], or [Baylor guard Cameron Carr]. It is worth mentioning that Lendeborg did meet with and work out for the Thunder recently."
The aging Golden State Warriors have the No. 11 pick and could potentially covet a polished prospect like Yaxel Lendeborg as well, but if Sam Presti gets a clear shot at the Big Ten Player of the Year, OKC will have the opportunity to steal headlines at the draft yet again. None of these scenarios are of interest to Lu Dort right now, however.
The 27-year-old wing is focused on helping his squad hang up another banner. Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals tips off on Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. ET.
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