Should the OKC Thunder re-sign Andre Roberson?

Andre Roberson’s return was one of many OKC Thunder season highs but as he hits free agency should the team re-sign him?

The OKC Thunder had a season with so many highs it seemed nothing could top the way they played, from a fan’s perspective anyway. Then Andre Roberson stepped on the court in the bubble which certainly tugged at my heart-stings. What a tremendous story during a torrid time.

Roberson was injured midway through the 2017-18 season and did not return until the COVID-19 bubble. He was at the OKC Thunder preseason and despite reports that he was fully participating in all practices, mysteriously, he was not playing.

Then he went away from the main group of the OKC Thunder to continue his rehab. The franchise was not forthcoming on why Roberson was not able to play but coming back from a horrific knee injury cannot be easy.

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By this time the Thunder had unleashed rookie Luguentz Dort on the league. This meant Roberson would struggle to make his way back into the rotation. In the seven games he played, Roberson averaged 2.9 points and 3.9 rebounds in 12.4 minutes per game.

So the question is now, why would Roberson sign on again with the Thunder. They have Dort and probably Terrance Ferguson in the rotation ahead of him.

Reasons why Andre Roberson should re-sign with the OKC Thunder.

Roberson was an All-NBA defender who is struggling to get his body fully back to pre-injury form. If he can continue to progress and get his body right then the Thunder would have Roberson and Dort who can lock up opposition guards and wings. Ferguson would be available to back them up next season assuming the team kept all three.

Roberson has an immense amount of knowledge he can pass on to Dort to help this natural defender become one of the best in the game. This educator/mentor role that Roberson can take on cannot be underestimated during this potential rebuild.

Roberson has played every one of his games with the OKC Thunder since being drafted back in 2013. They have stood by him through this injury. They have also helped develop him into the player that he is today.

Why Andre Roberson does not sign with the OKC Thunder

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Roberson serves this team best when he is locking down the opposition best wings. The emergence of Dort puts this at risk. If Roberson wants to be on the court more then he may have to sign with another team

With Roberson’s injury, there is a question mark as to whether he can be as effective on defense. As Roberson is almost a liability on offense, he needs to be elite defensively. There is no way to know prior to the next contract how Roberson will perform next season.

Should the OKC Thunder re-sign Andre Roberson?

The answer to this question is a resounding yes. Andre Roberson is a major part of the DNA which is the OKC Thunder. Even players who had not played with him were so happy to see him back on the court.

He is also such a tremendous leader and mentor that the Thunder need to sign him to a team-friendly deal so that he can impart his wisdom to the younger players coming up the ladder. For that reason alone, Roberson is a key piece for the OKC Thunder over the next few seasons.