As NBA teams reconvene and make preparations for travel to Florida, the league has made some necessary changes to its schedule.
We’ve known for quite some time that the 2020 NBA Finals could go well into the second week of October, and recently, we’ve learned that the 2020 NBA Draft would take place on October 16.
Pretty soon, we’ll probably learn about the fate of 21-year-old guard Luguentz Dort, whom the Thunder currently have signed on a two-way contract.
Heading into Orlando, the league made one other important ruling: teams will have a seven-day period from June 23 to June 30 to complete transactions prior to the playoffs.
On Monday, Davis Bertans of the Washington Wizards and Trevor Ariza of the Portland Trail Blazers each exercised their right to withdraw from competition for the remainder of the season, and accordingly, both the Wizards and Blazers will have the opportunity to sign players to fill their roster spots.
The Thunder will have a similar opportunity.
Dort, who started 21 games for the Thunder this season, is believed to be under consideration to be signed to a standard NBA deal by Oklahoma City. Whether he is or isn’t, he will be eligible to compete in Orlando, but if the Thunder do not sign him to a standard NBA contract, he could enter restricted free agency at the conclusion of the season.
Signing him now — depending on the terms of the deal — could allow the Thunder to lock the rookie up through the conclusion of 2020-21 season, at least.
At this point, the prevailing sentiment is that the club will attempt to re-sign Dort, especially with general manager Sam Presti publicly singing the praises of the young guard not too long ago.
“We have to just see what the options are and then make our best decision there, but he’s clearly someone that we want to have with us going forward, and that would be my expectation,” Presti was quoted as saying earlier this month by The Oklahoman.
In 29 appearances this season, Dort is averaging 6.2 points and 1.9 rebounds per contest.