Small Ball: Meet the OKC Thunder Summer League roster
By Rylan Stiles
OKC Thunder Summer League roster guards:
#3 Josh Giddey, 6’9, 210 pounds, G, Australia
The sixth overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft will have a ton of attention on him during this Vegas run. While the official roster lists him at 6’8, Josh Giddey himself, and Sam Prest have both called him 6’9. While it is not that big of a deal, if true, Giddey is the tallest player on this roster.
The most important thing to watch for in this summer stretch for Giddey is how he plays off-ball. While he will dazzle with his ball-handling and passing ability, the two traits that earned him the sixth selection, how he plays away from the ball offensively will be just as important.
The 18-year-old mentioned he has never played with a guard of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s caliber, much less a ball-dominate point guard. That has always been Giddey’s role. While SGA can thrive off-ball, the recently maxed player is the Thunder’s point guard of the future.
Still, the Australian will not play with SGA in Vegas, but he will play alongside Theo Maledon. Another player who can play on and off the ball on that end of the floor, Giddey getting comfortable not being the point guard every possession should be a priority for Grant Gibbs and his coaching staff.
#44 Charlie Brown Jr., 6’6, 199 pounds, G, St. Joseph’s
He is entering his third year in the NBA and is facing a critical summer league stretch. The guard’s future in the NBA is largely hanging by a five-game stretch in Vegas.
The team has Brown Jr. on a non-guaranteed deal, being able to be waived at a moment’s notice with the Thunder easily getting off the contract. For a team that needs roster spots, that is an easy call to make.
Charlie Brown Jr. will enter Vegas hoping to force Sam Presti’s hand to keep him around for the 2021-22 NBA season. While an uphill battle, it is not impossible. He played in nine games with the team a year ago, averaging four points, an assist, and two rebounds per game.
#25 Rob Edwards, 6’5, 205 pounds, G, Arizona State
Rob Edwards was a fun player to watch with the OKC Blue a year ago in the NBA G-League bubble. The team saw Edwards averaged 12.5-points, three rebounds, and nearly two assists per game in the 15-game Bubble period.
A sharpshooter from Arizona State, Edwards knocked down 44-percent of his three-point shots.
#14 Jalen Lecque, 6’4, 185 pounds, G, Brewster Academy
Lecque was originally acquired by the OKC Thunder a year ago in the Chris Paul trade with the Suns. The lifelong Thunder fan was quickly shipped out of town to the Indiana Pacers.
Lecque is a guard that can jump out of the gym, he averaged 14-points per game in the NBA G-League Bubble.
#31 Ryan Woolridge, 6’3, 175 pounds, G, Gonzaga
Woolridge also played with the OKC Blue in the G-League Bubble a year ago, averaging six points on 33-percent shooting from beyond the arc. The 24-year-old averaged four rebounds per game, a steal per game, and four assists per game for Grant Gibbs club.
#21 Aaron Wiggins, 6’6, 200 pounds, G, Maryland
The 55th overall pick in this year’s NBA Draft, Wiggins has already inked a two-way contract with the OKC Thunder. The Maryland product with 3-and-D potential has his first chance to prove himself at this stage.
#23 Tre Mann, 6’5, 190 pounds, G, Florida
The Oklahoma City Thunder selected Tre Mann with the 18th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. Mann is a pure bucket getter that will be exciting to watch all season long. Going up against his peers in this setting should allow him to thrive.
Related Story. Tre Mann will thrive with OKC Thunder. light
#11 Theo Maledon, 6’5, 180 pounds, G, France
The 2020 second-round pick led the Thunder in minutes a year ago. Maledon flashed a ton of potential both as a point guard and shooting guard a year ago. His defensive ability was shocking, his three-point shooting had spurts of greatness, and while his finishing needs work he was at least able to get to his spots.
For a player that did not get to depart the team and attend the G-League bubble and only saw action in one pre-season game, Summer League should be an event that Maledon dominates earning a confidence boost heading into the 2021-22 NBA season.
Now it is time to meet the wings for the OKC Thunder Summer League roster.