OKC Thunder: 2 high-potential scorers team should consider pursuing
By Mark Nilon
OKC Thunder target No. 2) Lauri Markkanen
Unlike Jalen Green, Lauri Markkanen is a player who has already shown what he’s capable of when going up against full-time NBA talents and, throughout his tenure in the league, if there’s one thing he’s proven, it’s that he knows how to buy a basket.
Closing in on his fourth completed season in the association, the Finnish-born baller is coming off of perhaps his least impressive campaign since being drafted seventh overall back in 2017. That said, despite this negative connotation, he still managed to continue showcasing his impressive array of scoring skills throughout.
In 49 games played, the 23-year-old posted per-game averages of 13.6 points and 5.3 rebounds on 48 percent shooting from the field and 40 percent shooting from deep, both splits being career-bests for the big man.
Again, yes, we understand that Markkanen may not have played his best brand of basketball this season, as he was relatively inconsistent all year long and even wound up losing his starting gig.
However, at his age coupled with his impressive size (7-0, 240 pounds) and specific offensive skill set, many teams will still likely be vying for his services.
Due to the fact that they have both cap space (could likely have $50 million in salary room this offseason) and a need for bolstered frontcourt depth, the OKC Thunder should certainly be one of those teams.
Even in a down year, the man still managed to shoot better than anyone not named Gilgeous-Alexander, Kenrich Williams, Ty Jerome, and Darius Miller, score better than anyone not named Gilgeous-Alexander, Al Horford, Luguentz Dort, and Darius Bazley, and likely has a higher ceiling than anyone not owning the initials SGA.
In the two years prior to this one, Markkanen posted per-game scoring averages of 18.7 in 2018-19 and 14.7 in 2019-20 all while boasting unassisted two-point field goal percentages of 47.3 and 46.5, respectively.
To put this into perspective, two of the best scoring big men in the league this season in Zion Williamson and Anthony Davis only are converting on 44.7 and 43.5 percent, each, on said attempts, while both have never surpassed or even matched these aforementioned numbers posted by the Chicago Bulls big — for Zion, this isn’t all that shocking due to the fact that he’s a sophomore but, for AD, it’s a bit surprising.
Let him inside the 3-point arc and watch him thrive with an array of post-ups, handles, and pull-up jumpers. Give him space along the perimeter, and watch him cash it in with his sound shooting stroke.
No matter which way you look at it, should the OKC Thunder wish to bring on a high-potential shot-creator this offseason and don’t mind adding them via the free agency pool, we believe that Lauri Markkanen could certainly prove to be worth the gamble.