OKC Thunder: Should Abdul Gaddy be called up to the varsity squad?

Reviewing the year of OKC Blue point guard, Abdul Gaddy has he done enough to merit a call-up to the OKC Thunder varsity next season?

The OKC Thunder G-League affiliate the OKC Blue provided the perfect conduit for Luguentz Dort last season. Signed to a two-way contract, he showed his worth with the Blue before making it to the varsity squad. Point guard Abdul Gaddy might be able to do the same.

Let me say here that if Gaddy makes it to the Thunder squad, it will not be with the same impact that Dort made. He is a solid playmaker who seems to make all the right calls at a G-League level. We all know that the NBA is a step up from there.

However, there is a lot to like about the 28 year old guard out of Washington. He has been close to making the squad twice now, once in 2018 and the other time in 2019. Both times he has been signed by the Thunder only to be waived just prior to the season starting.

Why the OKC Thunder should take a look at Abdul Gaddy

Gaddy has since played both those two seasons with the OKC Blue and has performed admirably. Over the time with the team, Gaddy has averaged 10.7 points, 7.4 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 0.7 steals. As the primary ball-handler, his 2.5 turnovers per game is also impressive.

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However, where he has shown solid decision making skills is when he calls his own number. As a guard, Gaddy shoots the ball at 51.9 percent from the floor on just 8.0 shot attempts per game. He is also shooting 44.1 percent from deep on 2.2 shot attempts.

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In the season just gone, Gaddy averaged 12.3 points on 9.5 shot attempts. He took 2.8 attempts from deep, making 43.4 percent of them. He also handed out 8.2 assists per game. In two seasons he has dished out more assists than any other player in Blue history.

This shows that Gaddy wants his teammates involved. He is almost giving out as many assists and taking his own shots. For a team about to go through a rebuild, this would be an incredible asset to have.

If the Thunder manage to trade Chris Paul or Dennis Schroder, Gaddy would be a solid backup for the remaining point guard. From a roster management perspective, He would also be a low cost alternative as a backup in the short term.

His experience running a G-League team means that Gaddy is used to playing with a fluid playing roster. He learns the playbook and then implements it, which allows the coach to focus on the younger players the team wants to develop.