The Philadelphia 76ers will see half of the players currently under their roster possibly hitting the open market this summer, which means that the front office will have no choice but to seek external help. And in doing so, they will have a lot of chances to address their pressing needs, and one entry on the list that they cannot just gloss over is their perimeter defense.
To that effect, the 76ers might actually get to sneak themselves into the Lu Dort front. The 27-year-old wing has become a staple in Oklahoma City, but his ball club's pay roll is starting to become too expensive for him to stay. The Thunder hold an $18.2 million team option on his contract for next season, but for now, all signs point to them declining that to free up some cap space.
Dort, who is basically public enemy No. 1 across numerous fanbases in the league, is nevertheless one of those players who are built for playoff basketball. He is a relentless defender whose prowess goes way beyond his height, and while he can be pretty streaky on the offensive end, he is still someone whom teams have to respect from beyond the arc.
The 76ers could target Lu Dort if the Thunder part ways with him as expected
Philadelphia badly needs to shore up its team defense, especially out in the perimeter. They touted the 17th-ranked defensive rating this season, which is hardly a good mark for a team that parades itself as having real championship aspirations. If they truly want to maximize their chances, getting better defenders is a non-negotiable.
It remains to be seen whether Dort's price tag would remain significant if OKC does cut ties with him, but given his declined numbers this season, it is probably safe to infer that he will not be sniffing anything close to what he made in the last couple of seasons. That should put him within the 76ers' financial reach.
Offense is not really the 76ers' utmost concern given their litany of talented creators. For this team to truly thrive, making a leap on the less glamorous end of the floor will be of paramount importance. Dort, despite his reputation as a dirty players, is undeniably an impressive stopper who can latch onto numerous players. He can anchor a defense despite his short frame thanks to his on-court smarts and awareness, and immovability.
Lu Dort will probably not be the first thing on the mind of the 76ers front office this offseason, but if the stars align and he gets to be available for taking, they should be one of the first teams to strike. After all, defense still wins championships.
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