OKC Thunder at the break: The good, the bad, and the ugly
The Sudden Lack of Wing Depth
There was a chance the 2019 version of the Thunder could have been their deepest yet. Thanks to some unfortunate circumstances, it might be their thinnest squad in a while.
After a season-ending injury last year, Andre Roberson was supposed to be back by January at the latest. Thanks to multiple setbacks, he has yet to suit up this year and has no timetable for a return. While the Thunder remains optimistic he will return at some point this year, it seems incredibly unlikely.
He’s not even participating in basketball activities yet. Even if he does come back at some point, what will he look like? How much time will there be to shake off the rust? Odds are he gets shut down at some point and spends the rest of the year in a suit.
There is a sad, but real possibility Roberson has played his last game with the Thunder. He will be a valuable trade asset this offseason as an expiring contract. And with Ferguson’s rise, Roberson has become more expendable than ever.
On the topic of sad departures, Alex Abrines personal struggles left a major void in the Thunder lineup. It’s important not to speculate on what he’s dealing with, but rather understand he is clearly going through something difficult, and to wish him the best. Of course, it’s understandable to be frustrated from a fan perspective that we have no idea what’s going on.
Hamidou Diallo has also hit a wall, which is understandable considering he’s a second-round rookie. Anything the Thunder can get from Diallo this season will be a bonus. He is only 20-years-old and will continue to get better.
Right now, the Thunder are in a pinch. Schröder is the only reliable perimeter player OKC has coming off the bench. That’s either going to mean too much Abdel Nader, or a heavy dose of minutes for Westbrook, George, Ferguson, and Schröder.
The pending addition of Markieff Morris helps the depth but really doesn’t address the wing positions. The only way this can help is if Jerami Grant can play the three. If not, that only means the Thunder just used a roster spot to find a better Patrick Patterson.