OKC Thunder: B/R picks Darius Bazley as team’s most underrated player

The primary goal of the OKC Thunder season is development. If growth is 1A on VP Sam Presti’s list then undoubtedly 1B is for the team to experience a competitive tanking season.

It’s a bit of a catch 22 for the young stars on the team as no athlete likes to lose in bunches. But on the other hand, getting to play copious minutes and develop facing the Association’s elite tends to help expedite growth.

All but four players on the team are under 24-years old. Even the returning OKC Thunder core is young with 23-year old cornerstone Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the way. Generally, younger players have to fight for starting assignments but with the Thunder tanking objective the situation in OKC is drastically different.

Specifically, the trio of SGA, Luguentz Dort, and Darius Bazley has already made their mark by earning the starting assignment.

B/R picks OKC Thunder forward Darius Bazley as most underrated

OKC wants to lose their way to the top draft pick so it’s a given everyone on the club will get the opportunity. Unlike the two prior seasons with Chris Paul and Al Horford, there isn’t a vet who’ll push the team into the play-in mix. Derrick Favors will help with development but won’t be a player who dramatically affects the win/loss column.

Of the above trio of starters, SGA will likely be in the mix for Most Improved while Dort is considered as one of the top defenders in the Association. Bazley however hasn’t established his mark yet and entering his third year could be poised for a breakthrough.

Bleacher Report writer Dan Favale seems to agree. In Favale’s recent article he assessed which player on every team is the most underrated with Bazley getting the nod for OKC.  The following excerpt offers a portion of his comments:

"No one, including in Oklahoma City, should know what to make of Bazley’s offense. That’s part of the appeal. He toes the line of wing and big, and the on-ball experimentation should pay off even more when the Thunder give him more runway with which to work.More from Thunderous IntentionsStealing one player from every Southwest Division team for the OKC ThunderShould the OKC Thunder chase after a disgruntled hometown hero?3 OKC Thunder players who can step up in Aleksej Pokusevski’s absenceAleksej Pokusevski sidelined approximately 6 weeks with ankle injuryDamian Lillard does not fit with the OKC ThunderAmid all those offensive trials, Bazley has seen harrowing defensive matchups. They aren’t on the same level as Luguentz Dort’s assignments, not even close. But the Thunder are taxing his 6’8″ frame, and he has a certain omnipresence off the ball as well as on the glass. Maybe everything, on both sides of the floor, will eventually come together. Maybe it won’t. The extent to which Bazley keeps exploring his limits is worth appreciating either way."

Bazley did make improvements last season jumping in all three key categories. Specifcally, he jumped from 5.7 points to 13.7 points, 4.0 to 7.2 rebounds, and 0.7 to 1.8 assists per game.  As Favale points out there is uncertainty regarding what the club will get from Bazley on any given night.

The Bleacher Report writer also notes how much time Bazley spent guarding top big men and showed glimpses of what his large frame could accomplish.  With the team set for a season of losing Thunder Nation will have to suffice with individual achievements. Darius Bazley taking that jump in his third season very well may be one of those shining moments this season.