OKC Thunder extend training camp invite to a familiar face – Richard Solomon
The OKC Thunder extended a training camp invite to former OKC Blues G-League player Richard Solomon who’ll contend for the 15th roster spot.
All teams can bring 20 players to their training camps. Due to the buy-out of Kyle Singler the OKC Thunder enter training camp with 14 roster positions cemented.
While most squads will take advantage of bringing extra players to camp it’s not a certainty those athletes will make the varsity squad although they may land on the G-League affiliate. The other side of this coin is teams want to have a full training camp squad in order to facilitate ample competition.
This is the position Donte Grantham finds himself in and as of Monday Richard Solomon joins him as another OKC Thunder training camp invitee.
This is the second time the Thunder have invited Solomon to their camp. The first occurred back in the summer of 2014 when Solomon was undrafted.
| Tota | Tota | Game | Game | Game | Game | Game | Game | Game | Game | Shoo | Shoo | Shoo | Per | Per | Per | Per | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | G | MP | FT | FTA | ORB | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS | FG% | 3P% | FT% | MP | PTS | TRB | AST |
| 2010-11 | 33 | 517 | 47 | 90 | 45 | 145 | 20 | 21 | 27 | 184 | .558 | .333 | .522 | 15.7 | 5.6 | 4.4 | 0.6 |
| 2011-12 | 13 | 236 | 26 | 41 | 26 | 81 | 2 | 8 | 16 | 78 | .456 | .000 | .634 | 18.2 | 6.0 | 6.2 | 0.2 |
| 2012-13 | 33 | 829 | 67 | 103 | 72 | 226 | 20 | 23 | 37 | 293 | .472 | .308 | .650 | 25.1 | 8.9 | 6.8 | 0.6 |
| 2013-14 | 30 | 875 | 80 | 151 | 83 | 307 | 39 | 33 | 39 | 330 | .543 | .530 | 29.2 | 11.0 | 10.2 | 1.3 | |
| Career | 109 | 2457 | 220 | 385 | 226 | 759 | 81 | 85 | 119 | 885 | .512 | .250 | .571 | 22.5 | 8.1 | 7.0 | 0.7 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 9/11/2018.
A California university product he spent the full four seasons in College. There are similarities to the type of player Sam Presti tends to favor and not necessarily good qualities. Solomon’s lack of a perimeter shot and poor free throw shooting for example.
And, clearly Sam Presti is still concerned about his front court given who he’s extending invites to. Last season the 6’11” forward played overseas with the Turkish club Usak Sportif. In 19 games he averaged 10 points and 4.8 rebounds.
Source: The Oklahoma City Thunder are signing big man Richard Solomon to an Exhibit 10 for training camp. Solomon has played in the NBAGL (with the OKC Blue) and in Japan, France and Turkey since going undrafted out of California at the 2014 NBA Draft.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) September 10, 2018
| Season | G | MP | FG | FGA | FG% | 2P | 2PA | 2P% | FT | FTA | FT% | ORB | DRB | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-15 | 28 | 18.0 | 3.4 | 5.4 | .618 | 3.4 | 5.4 | .623 | 1.8 | 2.9 | .625 | 2.5 | 4.4 | 6.9 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 8.5 |
| Career | 28 | 18.0 | 3.4 | 5.4 | .618 | 3.4 | 5.4 | .623 | 1.8 | 2.9 | .625 | 2.5 | 4.4 | 6.9 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 8.5 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 9/11/2018.
As per the above basketball reference table Solomon played 28 games with the Blues posting game averages of 8.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, 0.6 steals and 0.5 blocks.
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His shooting efficiency is 61.8 percent and is primarily taken from the paint or two point range.
Although Solomon returned to play on the OKC Thunder Summer League team he did not return to play with the OKC Blues.
Atlanta had a cup of coffee with him last season, but nothing panned out as he elected to play overseas instead.
While the training camp invite comes with a $50k signing it’s not guaranteed. It’s likely Solomon will either re-join the OKC Blues or return overseas as Presti isn’t likely to give up the 15th roster spot unless it moves the bar upward.
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With apologies to both Grantham and Solomon neither accomplish that for the Thunder.