Why the OKC Thunder are exercising Hamidou DIallo’s team option

The OKC Thunder have exercised Hamidou Diallo’s team option. Here is what it means for the franchise.

The OKC Thunder have decided to exercise their $1.6 million team option for Hamidou Diallo. With the way the Thunder are conducting their firesale, this is a smart move for the franchise. This now becomes the final year of his contract.

The Thunder have traded most of their bigger contracts are as things stand at the time of writing are under the salary floor. If Diallo can step into a bigger role then the Thunder will have the money next year to pay the 22-year-old.

Last season Diallo averaged 6.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 0.8 assists in 19.5 minutes per game. These numbers showed growth and for a team at the start of a rebuild, this is crucial. The Thunder are not going to win much next year but development is amazing to watch.

https://twitter.com/NBATV/status/1193343754473656320?s=20

How the OKC Thunder are going to use Diallo.

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It is a fairly safe assumption that Diallo is going to continue to come off the bench as he has for most of his two-year career. The energy and athleticism which has defined Diallo’s career so far are too valuable to the squad to be lost as a starter.

As mentioned earlier, Diallo has grown from year one. He has the opportunity to grow even further now that the Thunder have cleared their roster of the more established players. He will get more court time next season.

Diallo has also played under new head coach Mark Daigneault before during his stints in the G-League back in 2018-19. He has a level of familiarity with the systems Daigneault will be implementing in training camp.

This year there is so little time from the draft to free agency to training camp. Any previous knowledge is going to be beneficial as the season is starting so soon as well. Diallo should get big minutes at the start of the season. It is up to him if he keeps them as the season progresses.