OKC Thunder: Why Mykhailiuk is better long term fit than Diallo
When the OKC Thunder executed the trade which sent Hamidou Diallo to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, I was a little upset. Diallo had grown every season he has been in the league. This season he was going to be in the running for the Sixth Man of the Year award.
However, the Thunder chose to look to the future, which is what Presti has been doing since the end of last season. They traded away the last of the Russell Westbrook era players and bought in a tremendous shooter in Mykhailiuk.
The problem for the Thunder and Diallo was the nature of the player that he is. Diallo is not a floor spacer, shooting at only 28.5 percent from deep over his career. What he does have is tremendous athleticism which he is able to use to great effect near the rim. However, the NBA has become a pace and space league which is where Mykhailiuk comes in.
The OKC Thunder have two eyes on the future.
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Mykhailiuk is a 6’7″ combination wing player who has made a name for himself as a long-range sniper. He has shot the ball at 36.6 percent for his career from behind the 3-point line. He has taken 4.1 shots from deep out of 6.0 total shots per game over his career.
This is where he is going to be more beneficial for the Thunder than Diallo and his athleticism. The Thunder are building around the talents of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander who is the most dangerous paint penetrator in the entire league.
In order to utilize this skill to the greatest benefit, the Thunder need to be able to deploy as many perimeter threats as they can. This will then allow Gilgeous-Alexander to create for himself and for others in a manner that will lead the Thunder to success in the future.
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While Mykhailiuk is out of contract next year, the Thunder should look to sign him to a long-term deal, He is a solid contributor off the bench who will benefit the team in the future.