OKC Thunder: B/R ponders on if Darius Bazley is a legit cornerstone

The OKC Thunder are a team building for the future, and Bleacher Report questions whether one of their presumed ‘cornerstones’ is actually the real deal.

Sam Presti has set sail for a full-out rebuild for the OKC Thunder, having their sights set on the future.

Attaining copious amounts of draft capital over the past several seasons, the franchise could see themselves in possession of up to 18 first-round picks during the next seven seasons.

Off to such a great start to their rebuild, there are even some who believe that the Thunder could continue to stay competitive throughout the next several seasons while still setting themselves up nicely for a bright future.

This is in large due to the fact that the team already has their franchise player in place in third-year guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as well as several other talents seen as key pieces moving forward.

However, some are not completely sold on everyone found within their core and, most recently, Bleacher Report questioned one specific player in regard to if they can actually live up to expectations of being the second-centerpiece on this OKC Thunder roster.

That player: Darius Bazley.

Writer Dan Favale went on to cite the question marks surrounding the second-year forward’s role within the rotation and stated the curiosity that surrounds his potential high-ceiling based on the talents that he has managed to showcase thus far:

"His ceiling is also an exception. He is showing enough to recalibrate the way we view this season. It isn’t about gauging SGA’s alpha viability, identifying long-term glue guys and seeing whether the Thunder can add a second primary cornerstone in the 2021 draft.It is about all of those things—and also about determining whether Bazley’s place in their future must be upgraded from complementary building block to full-fledged pillar.His start to the season is that impressive. He is running the floor. Finding cracks in the defense off-ball. Letting ‘er rip from deep without hesitation. Taking on impossible defensive assignments, like Jimmy Butler and Zion Williamson. Holding up as a rim protector.The list goes on, and it includes flashes of self-creation. Bazley finished a drive to his weak side with his off hand, after some creative dribbling, in Brandon Ingram’s face during Oklahoma City’s Jan. 6 win over the New Orleans Pelicans. I haven’t stopped thinking about it since.Declaring Bazley—who, by the way, doesn’t turn 21 until June—a star prospect is premature. Here’s the thing: asserting that he’s not is, too."

We here at TI believe the future is bright for Darius Bazley. That said, the question undoubtedly remains in regard to if he can become that second cornerstone moving forward alongside SGA.