The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder concluded its 2021-22 common season with a 24-58 file. With the season now behind us, let’s check out the roster and provides one thought of every participant’s season and future.
For this train, it’ll embody simply the 15 gamers on the roster and simply one of many two-way gamers; I’m excluding Melvin Frazier Jr. from this checklist as he’ll more than likely not be on the roster to start out subsequent season. Which means not one of the 10-day guys who had been on the roster within the ultimate week of the season will probably be included as their probabilities of making the roster subsequent season are near zero. Let’s check out one fast thought of all 16 gamers at present on the roster.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been phenomenal these final couple of seasons with the Thunder ever since taking on as the highest scoring possibility for the younger squad. When wholesome, he is among the brightest younger gamers within the league — with a key emphasis on wholesome, which Gilgeous-Alexander has had bother doing these final two seasons. Out of 154 attainable video games these final two seasons, Gilgeous-Alexander has solely performed in 91 of them (59.1 %).
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This included lacking the ultimate stretches of the common season in each years as a consequence of decrease leg accidents equivalent to plantar fasciitis and sprained ankles. Now whereas I’m certain the truth that the Thunder had been tanking — err, rebuilding — throughout these couple of seasons performed a task within the staff’s additional cautious strategy along with his accidents, it’s nonetheless one thing to write down down as a priority for the 23-year-old.
Josh Giddey aced his rookie season because the 19-year-old was among the best rookies in his class when wholesome earlier than being pressured to overlook a 3rd of the season as a consequence of hip soreness. In reality, Giddey ended up profitable Rookie of the Month in each month that he was wholesome. With that mentioned, the pre-draft considerations of Giddey’s taking pictures manifested this season as he shot poorly and was a beneath common shooter.
Giddey acknowledged this side of his sport needing work as nicely throughout exit interviews, when he mentioned that he plans on tweaking his shot with Thunder assistant coach Mike Wilks this summer season.
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“I feel numerous it’s simply psychological and staying assured, getting up numerous reps. I’m going to spend so much, numerous time within the fitness center this summer season getting up pictures,” mentioned Giddey. “Hopefully subsequent season, as I mentioned, that’s a swing issue for me.”
Lu Dort had his greatest offensive season of his younger profession as he achieved profession highs in factors and shot over 40 % on almost eight threes a sport in his 51 begins. Dort’s season was lower quick as a consequence of a shoulder harm that required surgical procedure to get better a torn labrum.
Now the harm got here on his non-shooting shoulder, so I don’t anticipate it to have an effect on his shot sooner or later, however contemplating that Dort admitted throughout exit interviews that he’s nonetheless two to a few months away from being absolutely recovered, it’s nonetheless one thing to be careful for — particularly in Dort’s case, who will probably be an unrestricted free agent subsequent summer season. A torn labrum isn’t a career-altering harm, nevertheless it’s nonetheless not one thing to sleep on.
Kenrich Williams’ future
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(AP Photograph/Bruce Kluckhohn)
Kenrich Williams has made it identified a number of instances this season that he desires to retire in Oklahoma Metropolis and spend the remainder of his profession with the Thunder. And contemplating the Thunder have handed on buying and selling Williams regardless of there being a marketplace for him, it’s laborious to not guess that the sensation is considerably mutual.
With that mentioned, Williams solely has one 12 months left on his present contract, so I feel the Thunder ought to simply lower to the chase and both prolong or commerce Williams this summer season. There’s actually no have to threat him strolling away and letting him play out the ultimate 12 months of his contract this upcoming season it doesn’t matter what Thunder GM’s Sam Presti’s true intentions are with him.
Darius Bazley’s taking pictures
Credit score: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports activities
Darius Bazley has been one of many Thunder’s defensive cornerstone as his versatility and talent to contest pictures with out fouling has supplied worth to the staff. With that mentioned, Bazley is three seasons into his profession and the taking pictures is suspect at greatest. Bazley ended the season taking pictures 29.7 % from three on 4 makes an attempt per sport; for his profession, Bazley is a 30.5 % shooter from three on 4 makes an attempt per sport.
That’s merely not going to chop it for a starting-caliber participant within the league until they’re elite sufficient on the defensive aspect of the ground to abdomen the poor taking pictures on the offensive aspect of the ground — which, regardless of being a pleasant defender, Bazley shouldn’t be. If Bazley is to earn a second contract, the taking pictures must be extra constant.
That is now the second consecutive season in as a few years the place Aleksej Pokusevski had a very gradual begin that induced the staff to assign him prolonged G League stints with the Oklahoma Metropolis Blue. Pokusevski nonetheless deserves numerous leeway as he is among the youngest gamers within the league, but when he begins off his third season in a equally gradual begin, it is likely to be time to start out severely questioning Pokusevski’s future with the staff and within the league.
Tre Mann’s Summer season League
Credit score: Rob Ferguson-USA TODAY Sports activities
Outdoors of whoever the Thunder draft with its prime choose, Tre Mann is likely to be probably the most attention-grabbing identify to be careful for throughout Summer season League. The Thunder often use Summer season League to present its second-year-players an opportunity so as to add to their obligations and try it out within the water in opposition to pseudo NBA competitors.
I anticipate to see Mann deal with the ball extra as a main playmaker for the staff this summer season to see if he can deal with the extra duty for his sophomore marketing campaign. The Thunder have performed this earlier than with its younger guards like Reggie Jackson and Terrance Ferguson throughout their ultimate Summer season Leagues, so I anticipate an identical food plan for Mann.
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Jeremiah Robinson-Earl’s well being
Credit score: Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports activities
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl’s rookie season was restricted to simply 49 video games as a consequence of a foot fracture he suffered in early February. Robinson-Earl was capable of return and play 5 restricted minutes video games within the final couple of weeks within the common season.
Foot fractures is usually a difficult factor to take care of because it may linger for a number of years Thunder followers ought to know that too nicely as a foot fracture principally costed the staff a season of Kevin Durant. It was good sight to see Robinson-Earl return and play some video games, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a wait-and-see strategy for Robinson-Earl to see how his surgically-repaired foot reacts to enjoying the heavy load of an NBA schedule as soon as once more with out a minutes restriction.
With the Thunder probably including 4 new gamers to its roster this draft, Aaron Wiggins’s rotation spot is likely to be in some jeopardy as he’s a robust candidate to be a primary 4 out man. I doubt the Thunder merely launch Wiggins as he just lately signed a full-time NBA contract, however he’s not assured to see constant minutes to start out the season.
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For what it’s price, Wiggins acknowledged this risk throughout exit interviews and welcomes the problem of competitors and mentioned that’s the one method for the staff to enhance:
“That’s how groups get higher. You herald guys which might be good, and it form of will increase the aggressive degree inside the group, inside the group. I imply, clearly that’s going to be a giant motivation behind not solely myself however for lots of different gamers to form of push themselves just a little bit more durable.
After which when these guys, whoever will get drafted, whoever finally ends up right here, after they are available it’ll be a extremely aggressive atmosphere, and that’s how a staff actually will get higher, that’s how groups develop collectively, that’s how chemistry is constructed. It’s within the hearth pits. It’s form of going via all of it and preventing each other, after which placing that into the season the place you’re going up in opposition to different guys, different groups, and preventing with one another.”
Lindy Waters III may many Thunder followers by shocked by simply how nicely he performed in his 25 video games. Waters III shot the ball like a professional as he went 36.3 % on almost six three-point makes an attempt a sport. Waters III is at present on a two-way deal that features subsequent season, so his roster spot is principally secured.
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Contemplating how nicely he regarded, one has to marvel how doubtless it’s that the staff decides to simply go forward and convert his two-way deal right into a full-time NBA contract. The Thunder have beforehand proven it’s not afraid to transform its two-way gamers in the event that they present any glimpses of NBA potential, however the staff may additionally really feel like it’s in no rush to decide as Waters III is already underneath contract for subsequent season.
Waters III spoke about this briefly throughout exit interviews and mentioned getting a brand new contract shouldn’t be on his thoughts proper now and that he’s extra centered on enhancing within the offseason:
“When that day comes, it’ll be a giant day for me and my household, however like I mentioned, sooner or later at a time, one foot in entrance of the opposite. I can simply management the issues I can management. That’s getting my conditioning to the highest degree, my power and basketball knowledge on the highest degree it may possibly probably be.”
The Thunder have a participant possibility for Mike Muscala that may pay him $3.5 million. Muscala’s ankle troubles that costed him half the season as a consequence of ankle surgical procedure may complicate that call just a little bit. Certain, Muscala’s two greatest taking pictures seasons of his profession have are available Oklahoma Metropolis and certain, $3.5 million isn’t a ton of cash to spend money on — particularly within the Thunder’s case, who failed to succeed in the wage ground this previous season — however the quantity, in a vacuum is a bit too wealthy for Muscala’s providers.
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Finally, I feel the Thunder will choose it up in the long run, nevertheless it’s not as a lot of a layup resolution because it as soon as was just a few months in the past.
Derrick Favors potential buyout candidate?
Credit score: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports activities
Derrick Favors already introduced that he plans on selecting up his $10.2 million possibility for subsequent season, which isn’t shocking because it’s laborious to examine the 30-year-old even appeal to half of that quantity within the open market. When that turns into official, the Thunder might want to resolve what to do with Favors subsequent when it comes to his future with the staff.
The one method Favors will get traded is that if he’s in a bigger commerce to make the cash work or if the Thunder connect an asset together with him. Each situations are laborious to think about proper now. A extra doubtless route could be to easily waive Favors and chunk the bullet of his wage. And who is aware of, possibly Favors will return a few of his $10.2 million in change to be a free agent. The largest hurdle of stopping that is possession getting just a little bit irritated of getting a lot lifeless cash in its books for subsequent season because it already has to pay $28.4 million in lifeless cap as a consequence of Kemba Walker and Kyle Singler.
Theo Maledon is likely to be the odd man out in a jammed backcourt room if the staff spends one in every of its three first-round picks on a guard. Regardless of a robust end to his sophomore season, Maledon has not constructed the strongest of instances for the staff to maintain him aboard for a 3rd season. If the Thunder have to compensate with its guards, Maledon will doubtless be one of many first ones out in a transfer.
Ty Jerome’s future
Credit score: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports activities
Every little thing that was simply mentioned about Theo Maledon may be copied and pasted right here for Ty Jerome too. Besides Jerome’s age (24 years previous) and contract state of affairs ($4.2 million subsequent season on his ultimate 12 months of his rookie deal) makes him a a lot bigger candidate to eat the axe in a possible guard logjam.
Vit Krejci’s sturdiness
Credit score: Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports activities
Vit Krejci’s future can be murky at greatest as he underwent one other surgical procedure to his knee after the common season concluded. Krejci missed the whole lot of the 2020-21 season as a consequence of recovering from a torn ACL. Krejci’s knee points proceed to plague his younger profession and contemplating he was a second-round-pick, he not might need a ton of room for error as his teammates do. If Krejci has one other season ruined by accidents, he’ll more than likely not final with the Thunder.
Isaiah Roby is a tough however to crack when it comes to the place his place within the league is in the long term. Roby has proven indicators of being a possible second/third-string ahead/heart, however he’s now about to enter his fourth season with a $1.9 million staff possibility for subsequent season. Roby doesn’t actually match the staff’s timeline at 24 years previous, so it doesn’t actually really feel like Roby has a long-term dwelling in Oklahoma Metropolis.
Oklahoma State football running back Ollie Gordon II was arrested on accusations of driving under the influence early on Sunday, according to multiple reports.
As first reported by News On 6 on Monday night — citing a probable cause affidavit from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol — Gordon was pulled over on Interstate 35 near Moore, south of Oklahoma City, after a trooper reported Gordon driving 82 mph in a 65 mph speed limit zone and swerving through traffic.
Here is everything to know of Gordon’s reported arrest:
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More: Oklahoma State football recruiting tracker: Which players are committed to 2025 class?
Ollie Gordon arrest details
According to additional reporting by Oklahoma City-based KOCO, the trooper who pulled Gordon over at roughly 2:30 a.m. reported smelling “an odor associated with an alcoholic beverage” from Gordon, who is 20 years old. Gordon reportedly denied drinking, saying he had been around friends who were. He then reportedly refused to take a field sobriety test before telling the trooper he had consumed one alcoholic beverage.
The trooper then reportedly asked Gordon whether he had any alcohol in the vehicle, to which Gordon replied he had two open containers of liquor. The trooper then reported finding “a half-full bottle of lemonade vodka and a half-full bottle of tequila,” per the report.
Per the report, the trooper again asked Gordon whether he would take a field sobriety test, which he again refused. He was then arrested on complaints of DUI under the age of 21, transporting an open container of alcohol, failing to manage a single lane of traffic and speeding 16-20 mph over the speed limit.
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Gordon reportedly had a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .11 and .10 when tested twice at the jail. The legal drinking limit in the state of Oklahoma is a .08 BAC.
More: Why Oklahoma State commit Adam Schobel wanted to be a quarterback ‘ever since I was little’
Oklahoma State statement
When reached by the USA TODAY Network for comment on Gordon’s reported arrest, an Oklahoma State spokesman said the university is aware of the situation but has no further comments at this time.
Gordon, listed as a junior on OSU’s football roster, is coming off a season in which he won the Doak Walker Award as the nation’s top running back. The Fort Worth, Texas, native is coming off a breakout season in which he rushed 285 times for 1,732 yards (6.1 yards per attempt) and 21 touchdowns.
Today is a historic day for the University of Oklahoma. The Sooners are officially SEC members and have left the Big 12 after years of dominating the conference.
Monday is a day of jubilation in Norman, with a flurry of activities and events planned to commemorate the historic move to the nation’s premier conference. The addition of four-star wide receiver Cortez Mills only adds to the excitement for the Sooners.
Mills, a terrific wideout out of Florida, chose the Sooners over offers from Clemson, Nebraska, LSU, and Florida. Oklahoma hosted Mills on an official visit in the spring, and he made it known then how much of a fan he was of what the Sooners were about.
🚨BREAKING🚨 4-star WR Cortez Mills has committed to Oklahoma⭕️
Emmett Jones built a strong relationship with the Mills, and the other 2025 wide receiver commits for OU also helped chip in. In short, Oklahoma stole Mills from Clemson’s hands, and the Sooners effectively stopped. Clemson entered the summer as the presumptive favorite, and Oklahoma made that ground up to overtake the lead.
After his official visit, the whispers around Oklahoma got louder, and ultimately, the Sooners and Jones earned his commitment.
With Mills on board, the Sooners bring in the No. 196-ranked player in the 247Sports rankings and the 88th-ranked overall prospect in 247’s Composite rankings. He’s a consensus four-star prospect on every primary recruiting service.
Mills wins with long speed and athleticism, allowing him to turn 50/50 balls into 70/30 balls. He will be an excellent addition to the Sooners and should thrive winning on the outside in this offense.
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Brent Venables’ team now has 20 commits for the 2025 class, passing Texas A&M and the Oregon Ducks to possess the fifth-ranked recruiting class in the 247Sports team recruiting rankings.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions.You can also follow Bryant on X @thatmanbryant.
FRISCO, Texas – Over the past several years, especially since Texas and Oklahoma announced they were coming to the SEC, the team over at SEC Shorts has rarely missed an opportunity to include them in their comedy sketches.
So, with a new football season technically underway with the official entry of the Longhorns and Sooners early this morning and SEC Media Days in Dallas in a couple of weeks, the Alabama based comedic team wasted no time in offering its 2024 season premiere Monday morning. With Texas and Oklahoma the clear focal point of this year’s opening skit, enjoy what will probably be the first of many jabs the group takes at their expense with a slight hint of Arkansas on the side.
Just try to not get too worked up on who officially inducts them into the league.
HOGS FEED:
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• Arkansas loses key commitment in 2026 recruiting class
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