Theo Maledon scores 16 points in FIBA tournament for Team France

Theo Maledon is entering a summer of uncertainty regarding his future with the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder currently are carrying the maximum number of players, and the roster looks to stay that way through Training Camp. OKC Thunder General Manager Sam Presti and Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault have made it known that when October rolls around the big theme will be competition.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are comfortable waiving guaranteed money this offseason to free up a roster spot, so Theo Maledon’s contract becoming guaranteed over the weekend does not factor into whether he will stay or go. Maledon is owed 1.9-million dollars for the 2022-23 season, with a club option for 2023-24 making it so OKC could cut the young point guard and only owe him 1.9 million.

For the second-round pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, it will be a summer and fall of competition and proving himself that he deserves one of the 15 standard NBA contract roster spots for the Oklahoma City Thunder. After playing in NBA Summer League last year where his body looked completely overhauled, this summer Maledon is playing for Team France in the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers.

Theo Maledon scores 16 points for Team France in the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers while his Oklahoma City Thunder future remains up in the air

Theo Maledon was the lead point guard for Team France against Montenegro and logged 20 minutes of action. The 21-year-old poured in 16 points, dished out three assists, grabbed four rebounds, and swiped two steals in this contest.

Maledon turned the ball over twice while shooting just 38 percent from the floor, and 1-for-4 from distance. Team France lost 70-69 despite the OKC Thunder guard being a plus seven for the game in the plus/minus category.

The discouraging part from an Oklahoma City Thunder perspective is that Maledon continued to struggle shooting the ball, specifically off the catch-and-shoot an area of his game he desperately needs to improve upon if he wants to stick in the NBA. Last year in those chances, he went 36-for-130.

Theo Maledon also continued to struggle finishing at the rim, an area of his game he has never thrived at during his NBA career shooting just 53 percent at the cup last season, an improvement from his rookie year when Maledon turned in a dreadful 42 percent shooting at the rim.

The positive from this game was the 6’5 guard’s defense. Maledon was aggressive and active in the passing lanes, closed out shots very well, and fought through screens.

There is still a lot to improve on for Theo Maledon if he hopes to make the roster cut in October. Last year for the Thunder, he averaged seven points, two rebounds, and two assists per game shooting 37 percent from the floor, and 29 percent from deep.