OKC Thunder: Future of team’s frontcourt is blindingly bright
Mark Daigneault was hired as the new OKC Thunder head coach with a view to having a young creative mind at the helm. His background in developing young talent was clearly a top hiring factor. Plus his familiarity with the Thunder franchise was essential to maintain the culture and identity.
Through the quarter segment of the 2020-21 schedule, his effect on the team is visible. Although Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and George Hill are the starting backcourt they aren’t the only players tasked with playmaking or bringing up the ball. As part of the positionless scheme, anyone on the court can lead the play or take charge of the offense.
That’s led to some glimmers of exciting play when everything is clicking. It’s also highlighted issues the Thunder will deal with as they progress to becoming a fully positionless squad.
Clearly, playing teams that have a star big man like Nikola Jokic or Joel Embiid presents its own quandaries. Firstly, having a player big enough to defend those stars is key, but also being able to rebound against bigs of this nature or teams who are extremely long.
As Sam Presti begins to add players in the frontcourt who can rebound and spread the floor this will become less of an issue. The simple answer to that problem is to seek fundamentally skilled big men who possess more of the typical European toolbox of skills.
OKC Thunder positionless ball work in progress at the quarter mark
Through the initial stages of this season, Thunder Nation is witnessing how the team is shifting to the new strategy of positionless ball and there have been growing pains, particularly up front.
Yet a trio of youngsters is cutting their teeth in the pros and developing within the system which will pay dividends long term.
Isaiah Roby – the positionless model:
A player like Isaiah Roby for example will become more of the norm than the exception.
His ability to do much more than simply rebound and score in the paint offers hints of what type of individual the next generation of OKC Thunder bigs will look like.
Roby has appeared in 15 of the 18 games the Thunder have played with seven starts. His production is significantly better in the starts which may simply be a product of increased playing time:
- Starts: 12.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.28 assists
- Reserve: 5.0 points, 3.2 rebounds, 0.3 assists
Clearly, Roby has a full set of skills and seems well-positioned to claim a role with team in the future. If Horford gets traded he’ll get additional starting experience, but long term he’s likely better suited as one of the first off the bench.
That said, he could make that decision tougher for Daigneault and Presti depending on what he accomplishes the rest of this season.