OKC Thunder: A look at the clutch time killers performances with new teams

With the season two-thirds complete, the OKC Thunder are performing above preseason expectations and arguably been better than they should want to be. That sounds like sacrilege for anyone to say about their team but the big picture is more like an IMAX high definition 3D image considering the upcoming draft class.

In reality, the Thunder who fell off the .500 mark some time ago is still in the mix for the play-in tournament. Entering gameplay on April 2nd, the Thunder is seeded 13th in the West, 2.5 games back of the Warriors who are in 10th. Leaguewide OKC ranks 22nd.

Although this team never quits, presumably some of the recent roster decisions should equate to more losses. For example, Al Horford will be a healthy scratch the remainder of the season to allow for his younger counterparts to gain experience and develop.  Factor in teams like the Sacramento Kings the trade deadline and it may turn out the Thunder are right on schedule to end up on one of those bottom three rungs.

For analysts wondering why this young squad is overachieving, it can be partially linked to the culture and identity instilled with the Thunder. That might seem like an unusual statement given Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the longest-serving player.

Yet, the front office is where the constancy remains and part and parcel of Sam Presti’s vision is the fact he puts a great deal of emphasis on character. That’s why players like SGA, Luguenctz Dort, and Darius Bazley are growing. Each is also a strong person of character.

The youngsters weren’t just mentored they had the goods required to step into their next role and deliver. Each spent time last season on another iteration of the OKC Thunder that overachieved and became known (at least here at Intentions) as the “Clutch Time Killers”.

OKC Thunder 2019-20 clutch time killers and their lasting impact

That lineup got decimated this offseason as one by one the players were traded. Only one member of that lineup remains in OKC – – cornerstone Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. In addition to the four members from the clutch time killer lineup, another nine players are no longer in OKC.

Of the 13 players who exited a pair are playing overseas including Kevin Hervey who joined the Lokomotiv Kuban of the VTB United League and the EuroCup. Devon Hall is in Germany with the Brose Bamberg of the Basketball Bundesliga. Deonte Burton’s name appeared on the Salt Lake City Stars G-Leauge team briefly but he’s no longer on the roster so the assumption is he’s available to be signed as a free agent.

That was the case for Andre Roberson and Justin Patton. Roberson appeared in five games for the Brooklyn Nets until they needed to clear room to sign Blake Griffin and LaMarcus Aldridge. The Rockets inked Patton to a two-way contract and utilized him in 11 consecutive matches, but less so since Christian Wood returned from injury.

Early in his tenure with the Thunder, Terrance Ferguson appeared poised to fulfill the role Roberson had delivered. Those days seem far removed from the equation now. Luguentz Dort’s emergence negated the need for Ferguson. He was packaged in the deal with Danny Green to the 76ers and since then traded to the Knicks at the deadline where he joins former OKC Thunder teammate Nerlens Noel.

Abdel Nader was part of the trade package that sent Chris Paul to the Suns. The most recent member of the 2019-2020 roster to leave was Hamidou Diallo. He was traded to the Pistons just prior to the trade deadline.

With Diallo gone, five players from last season remain with SGA, Luguentz Dort, Darius Bazley, and Isaiah Robys earmarked to form the core of the future. The lone veteran in the mix is Mike Muscala who’ll enter free agency this offseason and likely be headed for a new home.

While Thunder culture is strong we’d be remiss to ignore just how profound the impact the starting quartet who left this offseason had on the future quartet of OKC stars.

As such, Intentions decided to take a closer look at how those individuals are performing with their new clubs.