OKC Thunder: 3 specific opportunities created via roster turnover

On the job training

For rookies and young players on clubs who play for elite teams, their roles are often monitored closely. For the most part, these individuals learn in practice settings, at the G-League level, or receive a short window of playing time.

While the top draft picks typically land on developing teams the two Thunder rookies will benefit from the new direction of the club. Subsequently, Theo Maledon and Aleksej Pokusevski are likely to receive more minutes than they would’ve had they been drafted last year for example.

Likewise, there are a number of youngsters on this iteration of the Thunder who arrive looking to make an impact. For various reasons they failed to fit into their previous roster whether it was due to depth at their position or their strengths not fitting into their previous team’s system.

Often the coaches of elite teams won’t allow a rookie or youngster to play through their mistakes. As such a young player who commits an error would be immediately yanked. That can create anxiety as the individual is constantly worried one mistake will result in the loss of playing time.

Since the OKC Thunder are dedicated to developing the youngsters they’ll be able to play freely knowing mistakes will happen and they’ll remain on the court. Daigneault will use those mistakes as on the job training. The result for the players who embrace learning is they’ll expedite their growth and conceivably be ready to make an impact sooner than if they were left to develop outside of competitive action.