Several NBA franchises moved to strengthen their rosters by retaining experienced players on Monday, with the Oklahoma City Thunder leading the way by exercising the team option on defensive standout Luguentz Dort.
The decision keeps Dort with the only NBA franchise he has represented and preserves a key member of Oklahoma City’s championship-winning core from 2025. The 27-year-old swingman is one of only four players in Thunder history to earn All-Defensive First Team honours.
Dort has averaged 11.6 points per game across seven seasons with Oklahoma City. During the most recent campaign, he contributed 8.3 points per game while shooting 38.5 percent from the field, continuing to play an important role on both ends of the floor.
The Utah Jazz also moved to retain center Jusuf Nurkić after a season that was cut short by nasal surgery. Nurkić appeared in 41 games after arriving from the June 2025 trade that sent Collin Sexton the other way.
Before his season ended, the 6-foot-11 center averaged 10.9 points, 10.2 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.3 steals per game, providing a consistent presence in Utah’s frontcourt. The move was first reported by ESPN, with Nurkić’s strong relationship with Jazz coach Will Hardy reportedly playing a significant role in the decision.
Veteran forward Harrison Barnes is also set to remain with the San Antonio Spurs. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Barnes intends to sign a one-year contract worth $8 million, with the move also reported by the San Antonio Express-News.
The 14-year NBA veteran averaged 9.9 points in 26 minutes per game last season and featured in all 82 games during his first year with San Antonio before appearing in 77 regular-season contests as the Spurs advanced to the NBA Finals. Barnes, an NBA champion with the 2015 Warriors, owns career averages of 13.6 points per game and has shot 38.5 percent from three-point range.
Meanwhile, the Golden State Warriors are reportedly bringing back center Kristaps Porziņģis on a two-year contract worth $40 million, with the second year believed to be a player option.
Charania first reported the agreement. Porziņģis averaged 16.1 points in 15 games for Golden State after arriving from the Hawks at the trade deadline. Across 533 NBA games, the 7-foot-2 center has averaged 19.5 points per contest and won an NBA championship with the Boston Celtics in 2024.
Batters can now lose five runs for their team if they are caught wasting time… Read More
England manager Thomas Tuchel says the national team will not find another Harry Kane as… Read More
Arsenal have reportedly been handed a boost in their interest in Real Madrid forward Endrick,… Read More
Argentina dispatched four unanswered goals against Bolivia in an international friendly ahead of Lionel Messi’s… Read More
Cristiano Ronaldo has left Portugal’s international training camp and says he will explain the reasons… Read More
Andre Drummond grew up supporting the New York Knicks, and now the veteran center has… Read More