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3 Free agent role players OKC Thunder should consider to fill roster gaps

By Noah Schulte

CLEVELAND, OH - MAY 4: Rodney Hood #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots the ball during practice as his team prepares for Game Three of the NBA Eastern Conference Semi-finals against the Toronto Raptors on May 5, 2018 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images
CLEVELAND, OH - MAY 4: Rodney Hood #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots the ball during practice as his team prepares for Game Three of the NBA Eastern Conference Semi-finals against the Toronto Raptors on May 5, 2018 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images /
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SACRAMENTO, CA – MARCH 31: Patrick McCaw #0 of the Golden State Warriors looks on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on March 31, 2018 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA – MARCH 31: Patrick McCaw #0 of the Golden State Warriors looks on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on March 31, 2018 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Patrick McCaw

There aren’t many rookies who hit their sophomore slump quite as hard as Patrick McCaw did with the Warriors last year. After breaking onto the scene as a 3&D guard seemingly built for the modern NBA, he barely registered on the league radar this season.

Even though his counting stats were almost identical to that of his rookie year, his advanced numbers were rough. McCaw’s defensive rating slipped three points between this season and the one prior, while his true shooting percentage and effective field goal percentage dropped 6.3 percent and 6.5 percent respectively.

So, why would the Thunder take a chance on him?

The short answer is, he still fills a staggering number of their holes. They’ve needed more three-point shooting on the wings for a millennia and, though he shot just 23.8 percent from downtown last year, his mechanics and free throw shooting–76.6 percent from the line last season–suggest he has more potential from deep. Furthermore, he’s a versatile defender who could provide the kind of depth that was evidently missing after the Andre Roberson injury last year.

Plus, he has a knack for making winning plays not many other players can make. Like the one below where he sprints to the rim just in time to grab the offensive rebound and flush the put-back, Thurl Bailey-style:

And it’s not like his regression was a mere product of his skill level. He only played 57 games last year due to a myriad of injuries, but none more terrifying than this one from late March:

McCaw also wouldn’t cost too much money for the OKC Thunder, making him a perfect low-risk free agent target for a team strapped for cash and upside.

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