Time for OKC Thunder to Shake Up the Starting Lineup?

Feb 4, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Dion Waiters (23) passes as New Orleans Pelicans center Omer Asik (3) defends during the first quarter of a game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Option 3: Start Dion Waiters at shooting guard

This would have seemed laughable a month ago. Prior to his renaissance in the last two games, Waiters had averaged 11.1 points on 35.8% shooting with 2.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists. Couple his paltry numbers with his on-the court antics (hands-up begging for the ball, screaming “AND-1” after every single shot) and Waiters seemed like the last person the typically conservative Thunder would insert into their starting lineup.

That is, until they had to. With Durant and Jones suffering from nagging injuries, Waiters was asked to start and flourished in the role. He has done the unprecedented, upping his numbers across the board (averaging an 18.0/5.0/1.5 line) while also increasing his efficiency (upping his shooting to 51.0%). Clearly, Waiters has responded well.

The move also makes sense as it allows the Thunder to break up Waiters and Jackson, allowing for more fluidity off the bench and a smoother offense in the starting lineup. For whatever reason, Waiters flourishes alongside Westbrook and is certainly adding punch to the two-guard spot that has been missing in Oklahoma City since James Harden donned number 13 for the Thunder.

Waiters is also vastly superior to both Morrow and Jackson defensively. While he still has lapses off the ball, he’s been nothing but a bulldog on-ball, averaging 1.55 steals per contest since arriving in OKC. Most importantly, Waiters is big enough to be able to D-up with larger wing players, relinquishing some of Westbrook’s defensive burden.

While Waiters isn’t quite the floor spacer that Morrow is (his catch and shoot numbers from beyond the arc are still hovering at 20%), he makes up for it with his driving ability. Defenders can’t sag off of Waiters on the perimeter to cheat to Durant or Westbrook’s side simply because Waiters has proven that adeptly at the rim.

The one downside would be if Jackson were to be traded (still a looming threat). Moving Waiters into the starting lineup and dealing Jackson would leave the bench essentially void of a playmaker. Asking a unit highlighted by Morrow and Perkins to tread water offensively is a tall order and might prove too much against teams – like Golden State or Memphis – with deep benches. Dealing Jackson would likely net a nice playmaker for the bench but the concern is still there if the buyer’s market for Jackson dries up.

Bottom Line: Waiters has proven over the last two games that he is fully capable of starting and would thrive in the role. It stands to take some of the bench’s punch away but given how the team has fared with him in the starting lineup, it’s hard to argue against expanding his role.

Next: The Final Verdict