OKC Thunder will be catalyst to developing the positionless roster

With the league trending toward positionless rosters, the OKC Thunder could be at the forefront for how this dynamic grows into the norm

While the OKC Thunder may not match the talent of opposing squads on most nights they will be ahead of the curve in one particular dynamic.

The NBA is addicted to trends. Progression occurs in the sport via these trends. The adoption of the use of analytics, increased perimeter shooting, and advanced ball/player movement have become the norm.

The most recent trend is bigs with the capacity to space the floor and who are capable of shooting from range. Old school bigs are virtually obsolete and only remotely remain on rosters due more to playoff basketball when the pace slows and the need to physically handle size.

OKC Thunder at the forefront of developing positionless rosters

The next trend will be the shift in lineups to become entirely positionless. The ultimate goal will feature guards, wings, bigs all being interchangeable in terms of skill sets. Ideally, each will have the ability to handle the ball, initiate the offense, guard every position, score from all areas of the floor, and rebound.

At the moment the teams who have jumped on this trend are using it primarily on defense. Bigs who can spread the court and hit from range has witnessed a sharp rise.

But the next step in this trend will be every player at every position having a fully developed skillset with an interchangeable ability on both sides of the floor.

While the Thunder doesn’t have the full complement of what will form their next championship-level team they do have youngsters who’ll be given every opportunity to excel in this system and claim a place in the future core.

And, by the time the perfect pieces are added via the draft and/or assets, they’ll be light years ahead of the competition in the style. Just as teams reap the rewards of constancy so too with Daigneault’s charges who’ll form the foundation of that core.

There may be numerous nights in this season where this squad doesn’t add a ‘W’ but keep your eyes transfixed on the players who grow and develop in this particular aspect of the team’s new offensive identity.