NBA Power Rankings: Tiering all 30 projected starting small forwards for 2023-24

Tier 5: Fringe stars

As we enter a new tier of small forwards, we’ll now focus on the fringe stars of the position. These are the players who are trending upward but still haven’t been able to reach star status in the league. This doesn’t mean that these players won’t be able to reach star status in the league, just that they still have some room to develop in order to do so.

18. Lu Dort, Oklahoma City Thunder

Lu Dort may not be a player that is at the forefront of many casual NBA fans but he’s been a difference-maker since he emerged as a consistent contributor for the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The big concern for Dort is that he’s never been the most efficient of offensive players and that has ultimately limited his ceiling as a player. At this point, it wouldn’t be surprising if he was viewed as a possible stopgap if he can’t bounce back from this past season. But at just 24 years old, the hope is that Dort will be able to.

The Thunder don’t need him to be amazing, they just need him to find the right balance between aggressiveness and efficiency. There’s still a good chance that he’ll be able to do that.