Thunder: Roster Moves Still To Be Made In Oklahoma City

“There’s going to be competitors on the roster, that’s wholesome and good,” mentioned Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder GM Sam Presti on the finish of final season.

It was no secret that the Thunder would have a roster crunch in coaching camp main as much as the 2022-23 season, however that’s one thing Presti was wanting ahead to. It’s not a foul downside to have, because it means the roster is loaded with expertise the entrance workplace likes.

As of now, Oklahoma Metropolis has 18 gamers on the energetic roster on full-time NBA offers. By the top of camp, that quantity will should be trimmed down to fifteen.

Whether or not that’s by slicing gamers or making trades to clear up the roster, strikes should be made. Three gamers won’t make the reduce.

Who on the energetic roster is almost definitely to not be in a Thunder uniform subsequent season?

Theo Maledon

The expectations for Maledon final season had been excessive, however for good motive. After a strong rookie marketing campaign, he seemed prime to take a leap throughout his second NBA season. Nonetheless, he didn’t dwell as much as expectations.

In actual fact, his function was almost reduce in half on the NBA stage and he spent fairly a little bit of time within the G League. On a roster that’s crammed with high quality guards, Maledon wasn’t in a position to carve out an actual function on the Thunder.

After being taken simply exterior of the primary spherical in final yr’s draft, the French guard isn’t value giving up on. With that in thoughts, he’s received a ton of competitors shifting ahead. Oklahoma Metropolis doesn’t have many guard minutes to go round, so Maledon is in a spot the place he is perhaps expendable earlier than the beginning of the season.

Standing at 6-foot-4, Maledon is a strong ground normal however doesn’t play a flashy sport. He’s put collectively some actually good video games during which he’s produced excessive help or level totals, however not persistently sufficient.

If the Thunder employees doesn’t suppose he can break by means of and earn a spot within the rotation this season, it could make sense to maneuver ahead with out him on the staff.

Maledon has produced 8.8 factors, 2.9 assists and a couple of.9 boards per sport over the course of his profession, however after two seasons in Oklahoma Metropolis it’s unclear the place he can be subsequent season.

Vit Krejci

Of the gamers that might probably not make the roster subsequent season, Krejci may need essentially the most upside. By way of potential, being a 6-foot-8 prospect with guard expertise is difficult to disregard.

Nonetheless simply 22 years outdated, the Czech prospect has solely gotten higher with time. When chosen by the Thunder, he was recovering from a big knee harm and took some time to get again to sport form. Simply final month in NBA Summer time League, he seemed as athletic as we’ve seen at this stage, flashing bounce and quickness that he hadn’t beforehand showcased.

Krejci shot 32.7% from past the arc final season as a rookie and could be very fluid total offensively. He doesn’t flip the ball over at a excessive charge for a way typically he has it in his arms. In his first NBA season, he averaged 6.2 factors, 3.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists in a restricted function.

Whereas he’s essentially the most unknown participant on this listing of candidates, which may additionally make him essentially the most intriguing to maintain round.

Derrick Favors

At 31 years outdated, Favors is in contrast to the opposite present Thunder gamers that could possibly be elsewhere subsequent season. He’s a key veteran within the locker room and considered one of solely two gamers over the age of 30.

Alongside rookie Chet Holmgren, Favors may truly be impactful subsequent season in a mentorship function and likewise as a frontcourt associate on the ground. The veteran massive didn’t play a ton final season, however was extraordinarily environment friendly when he was on the court docket. He produced 11.4 factors and 10.1 rebounds per 36 minutes in the course of the 2021-22 marketing campaign.

Whereas he was a strong contributor on the court docket in restricted motion, he’s not a participant many groups can be prepared to surrender an asset for. Nonetheless, he’s on a roughly $10.2 million expiring contract that could possibly be helpful for Oklahoma Metropolis.

If the Thunder need to make a commerce on the deadline, Favors is perhaps a key wage filling piece to get one thing carried out. Moreover, any staff that desires to unlock cap house totally free company subsequent summer time could possibly be focused on taking over his contract. This consists of OKC, who may open issues up as soon as Favors’ deal is off the books on the shut of the season.

All issues thought-about, Favors truly could possibly be choice to fill the fifteenth and last roster spot coming into the 2022-23 season. If the staff isn’t satisfied considered one of these different prospects can be contributors now or sooner or later, why not preserve Favors round?

Ty Jerome

A former first-round decide, Ty Jerome has been up-and-down in his three NBA seasons. Now 25 years outdated, it’s nonetheless unclear if he’s the shooter he projected to be coming into the league.

In his first NBA season, the 6-foot-5 guard shot simply 28.0% from deep. From there, he knocked down 42.3% of his triples in his second season and seemed to have turned issues round. Nonetheless, final season Jerome as soon as once more struggled and transformed on simply 29.0% of his 3-point makes an attempt.

Which pattern needs to be taken critically? So far, it’s laborious to pin down what stage of shooter Jerome actually is.

Exterior of taking pictures, Jerome can also be able to different issues on the court docket. He’s an underrated passer and has produced 2.4 assists per contest over the course of his profession. He’s additionally received good positional measurement as a combo guard.

Jerome is nice associates with franchise cornerstone Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who the Thunder want to preserve completely happy. Nonetheless, the NBA is a enterprise and Gilgeous-Alexander ought to need the staff to do no matter it takes to win down the highway.

Can the previous first rounder develop into a extra constant shooter and satisfactory defender? Regardless, Jerome’s ceiling appears to be fairly clear which may issue into his future with the staff.