OKC Thunder: Extra floor spacing could make SGA All-NBA

Unlike most teams, the in-game problems and weaknesses that the OKC Thunder may come across this season should not be viewed as major concerns, for 2020-21 is merely a development campaign.

Based on the various moves made throughout the season thus far, with their most recent decision to bench Al Horford for the remainder of the year, it appears the team has simply chalked up this season as a relative wash and, in turn, will focus their attention on the offseason to fill the gaps and weaknesses found on the roster.

For any rebuilding team, there’s guaranteed to be a plethora of holes within the rotation that could use for some mending. Though OKC already has the All-Star snub, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, in tow in the backcourt, perhaps their biggest weakness resides in their frontcourt, specifically in regard to their floor spacing abilities at the four and five positions.

The OKC Thunder might want to look into upgrading their floor spacing abilities in the frontcourt

Of the players at said slots, the only two that are converting on over 32 percent of their 3-point attempts this season are Horford (.368) and Mike Muscala (.370), both of whom are likely to not be back with the team next season.

The remaining notable fixtures down low in Isaiah Roby, Moses Brown, and Aleksej Pokusevski have yet to prove capable of efficiently spacing the floor and, in turn, tend to remain down low which, in Bleacher Report’s opinion, is a major handicap when it comes to the potential ceiling of SGA.

In a recent article discussing each rebuilding team’s biggest need this offseason, writer Grant Hughes stated that frontcourt floor-spacing should be atop of the list for the OKC Thunder, and stated that, should they address this properly, it could be the exact addition needed to land Gilgeous-Alexander on an All-NBA team:

"Put simply, SGA is one of the best defense-piercers in the league. He leads the NBA in drives and points scored on drives per game while ranking fourth in assists. The Thunder have to surround him with as much shooting as possible, particularly from the 4 and 5 positions. When you’ve got a player as gifted at getting into the lane as Gilgeous-Alexander, the natural performance-enhancer is spacing.If opponents have to stay home on their assignments beyond the arc, Gilgeous-Alexander will feast on layups and in the short mid-range. OKC already has a promising roll-man option in Moses Brown, who dunks everything, and it’s typically easy enough to find non-spacing bigs who can go get a lob. SGA will still produce with surrounding talent like that.But if Oklahoma City can unleash Gilgeous-Alexander in five-out looks? Just put him on an All-NBA team now to save time."

On the season, Gilgeous-Alexander is posting averages of 23.7 points, 5.9 assists, 4.7 rebounds, and just shy of a steal per game on 51 percent shooting from the field and 42 percent shooting from deep and has established himself as the main building block for the OKC Thunder moving forward which, in comparison to most rebuilding teams, puts them ahead of the game.

While the team’s 20-31 overall record may make things seem a bit bleak at times, with SGA on the roster, the future remains astoundingly bright.