Takeaways on the OKC Thunder from Orlando Summer League

Photo courtesy of David Ramil, Thunderous Intentions

Summer League holds a strange place in the minds of most NBA fans. The rosters are filled with relatively unknown players, the court feels somewhat unprofessional and games can often be painful to watch. Even if a player should succeed, that success will often be diminished because it was accomplished against, as many people claim, “inferior” competition.

All of that is ridiculous and doesn’t do the tournaments the justice they deserve.

The Orlando Summer League is an intimate gathering that feels ideally suited for the Amway Center practice gym where games are held. It’s true that the court feels somewhat cramped but that’s by design – a few hundred spectators composed of team executives, agents, media and the occasional spectator sit just feet away from the action. The games are a showcase for players looking to prove themselves, from the multi-million dollar rookie to the undrafted player out of Nowhere State.

And being in attendance only heightens the experience.

When it comes to the Oklahoma City Thunder, the 2015 Summer League is more difficult to break down. Next year’s roster is virtually set, with 14 players already under contract. The team isn’t grooming the same level of talent as they have in years past. So why care at all?

Because for a franchise that has the reputation of being notoriously careful with how it presents itself, there is an opportunity to witness crucial details that go on behind the scenes. With a new coaching staff, a front office that nervously looks to the future and a group of hungry players looking for a spot in the NBA, there’s much more to the tournament than simply playing five games in seven days.

Years later, people will look back at this make-or-break season for the Oklahoma City Thunder and recognize the signs that first became evident in a perfectly-cramped practice gym in the heart of downtown Orlando.

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