OKC Thunder: Who should start at center this season?

The OKC Thunder are inching closer toward the 2021-22 regular season, conveniently, my doorbell rang at 8:30 this morning and it was a package from Amazon that contained 60 more K-cups of my Starbucks Carmel blend coffee. The Thunder have set their 17-man roster by waiving Mamadi Diakite on Saturday afternoon, now the only question ahead of Wednesday’s season opener in Utah is who will be the starting five?

When head coach Mark Daigneault was asked this question after practice, he was very non-commital going as far as to say he does not know who will be the man in the middle against the Jazz, he just knows they have to have one to legally play the game. That sly grin aside, he makes a valid point. All three centers in the running (Derrick Favors, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, and Isaiah Roby) present such different skill sets that treating them as a bullpen with specialists coming into the starting role depending on the matchup might be the best option.

Who should the OKC Thunder start at the center position?

The starting five in Salt Lake City in a matter of hours (are we too far out to call it hours? I do not know, but it makes it sound cooler as the season rapidly approaches), is almost set. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will be joined by Lu Dort, Josh Giddey, and Darius Bazley. That is a given, for each game the foursome has been active this preseason, they have been in the first five.

Derrick Favors only saw action in one preseason game and had spotty attendance in practice. The Thunder elder statesman is nursing a knee issue, and has spent time sidelined with what is described as “knee maintenance.”

In his lone preseason contest, Favors started and the OKC Thunder earned their first win against the Denver Nuggets last Wednesday. The win and opponent do not matter, but what does matter is what Favors brought to the team.

The veteran big man brought calmness, a much better defensive presence against one of the best big men, and reigning MVP, Nikola Jokic, as well as an automatic mid-range shot which allowed Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to have one of his best preseason games.

Favors finished with ten points, five rebounds, on 71-percent from the floor. Against a big man like Rudy Gobert and the playstyle of the Utah Jazz, Favors might be the best bet against his former team. He has played over 600-games for Utah in his two stints, opening night will likely feel special for him inside Vivint arena.

Starting the former third overall pick helps elongate the team’s bench unit, sliding versatile bigs in Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and Isaiah Roby, who can play multiple positions, down in the rotation.

Luckily, the Thunder have three different style centers that can match up well with almost any team’s starting group. Who would you like to see the OKC Thunder start?

My official pick: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Lu Dort, Josh Giddey, Darius Bazley, and Derrick Favors.