OKC Thunder coach Billy Donovan commenting on Darius Bazley versatility hints at team flexibility for future.
Throughout the time in Orlando at the Disney campus, the OKC Thunder has been working toward preparing for a season restart. In all but one day since clearing quarantine, the players have practiced.
Following each practice session, the head coach Billy Donovan has spoken via virtual video to the assembled media answering questions. For the most part, Donovan has discussed what the team is working on, individual player status, and the trials involved in getting the team ready with the issues the hiatus caused due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Most days, the player most inquired about has been Andre Roberson as he appears to finally be ready to return to action after more than a two and a half year injury absence.
On Saturday, however, the bench boss updated on two players from the frontcourt. First, he acknowledged Nerlens Noel was dealing with a sprained ankle so the team is exercising patience in terms of bringing him back slowly.
Bazley versatility affords Presti versatility
The most intriguing comment Donovan made focused on rookie Darius Bazley. The rookie had missed the last 11 games prior to the season suspension due to injury and was set to return when the league shut down. We’ve often opined about the potential of Bazley and the high ceiling the youngster will aim to reach.
His passing is an underrated asset and in games when he allows the game to come to him his offense offers hints of what’s to come. The main takeaway is how easy the game looks for the former New Balance intern. Much like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, when Bazley allows the game to come to him he makes the most difficult look simple.
At the match in Toronto for example, Bazley connected on four 3-pointers. The impressive part of that game, however, had more to do with how the rookie would get open, and smoothness of his shot. That victory also featured two blocks and five rebounds by the rookie.
Through 53 appearances this season Bazley is averaging 4.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, 0.5 assists, and 0.7 blocks. The coach and several players have stated the rookie improved over the hiatus so many in Thunder Nation are eager to see how Bazley will be utilized in Orlando and witness those improvements.
His size and strength are physical elements he will need to work on. Noel is another player who dealt with those issues early in his career and given Donovan’s post-practice comments will be a player the franchise potentially sees Bazley emulating.
“If he puts on size and strength and continues to get better physically, then I think he could be a guy that could be so unique that I think he could play the small forward, power forward, and if you went to a small lineup, play at the center spot.”
Because Noel can’t partake in all areas of practice, Donovan noted he’s played Bazley at center in some practice sets. Apparently the impression Bazley made was impressive enough to have the coach looking at him playing there in the future. With Steven Adams firmly entrenched as the starting center, Noel solidly there as the reserve and Mike Muscala capable of playing there in the pinch to offer floor spacing at the position there is no immediate sense Bazley would get run there in Orlando.
Yet, the comment in itself provides two key takeaways. First of all, the fact Donovan is thinking about Bazley’s role in the future sure seems to indicate he intends on being in OKC for the long haul. With Donovan in the last year of his contract, there were questions about whether he would remain in OKC.
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Even if Sam Presti elected to re-up the coach the question was whether Donovan would want to re-sign in Oklahoma City after a strong performance this season or investigate his options elsewhere. Sure, the coach’s job is to look at the present scenario and long term but it’s unusual for a coach to offer up tidbits of their thought process for the future unless they plan on being the one who’ll implement those moves.
The other point, which in truth isn’t that surprising is how valued Bazley is viewed by the franchise. Other than Gilgeous-Alexander the next most protected player in the franchise is Darius Bazley.
The fact the coach sees the potential for Bazley to play in either forward position or at center in a small-ball lineup is telling.
With Donovan stating he thinks Bazley could play all three frontcourt positions in a few years it also points to the versatility Presti has moving forward in formulating the team. Cue my desire to go all out to grab Brandon Ingram this summer!