After last season’s success, the OKC Thunder will look to build on their achievement of making the play-in for the 2023-24 season. The roster is loaded with young talent, and many guys will be competing for roles, minutes, and a spot in the rotation.
A few players currently lie on the outside looking in; without a distinguished or clear role, the upcoming season could be a ‘make or break’ opportunity for them to prove themselves as a long-term piece of the roster and rotation.
The OKC Thunder are embarking on a massive season that will serve as a make-or-break chance for some of their roster.
With the OKC Thunder trying to develop young talent and be competitive, some players on the roster will be left without a clear role throughout the season.
With the starting five of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey, Lu Dort, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren seems like a lock, the fight for bench spots become more intense, and the rotation will undoubtedly change during different stretches this season.
The upcoming campaign comes with enormous questions for the OKC Thunder. The team is still finding the balance between development and selling out for wins and will likely still trend toward giving young players chances.
The Oklahoma City Thunder will see intense battles for roster spots as training camp is less than a month away. Three players enter the season facing a make-or-break campaign.
Can former OKC Thunder first-round pick Tre Mann turn things around?
Since being a first-round pick in 2021, Tre Mann has found an inconsistent role with the Thunder. Despite not shooting the ball well from the field, Mann had a very promising rookie season, averaging 10 points per game in just over 22 minutes a night.
Some standout rookie performances from Mann had him in the spotlight, including 30 points against the Knicks at the Garden and a Thunder rookie record 35 points against the Celtics.
Going into year two, Tre Mann struggled at Summer League and saw his role shrink over the season. His minutes dropped to just over 17 per game, and as the season went on and the Thunder kept winning games, his role dwindled even more.
In March, Mann only averaged 14 minutes per game, and it was clear he was relegated to a permanent bench role due to the surge of rookie Jalen Williams.
Mann’s spot as a rotation guard has become even more unclear recently due to the signing of highly respected European guard Vasilije Micic and the lottery selection of tenacious guard Cason Wallace.
Mann brings a unique skill set to the OKC Thunder, with his shooting ability paired with his extremely high-level pace with the ball and shot creation skills. He has shown flashes of his handle and capability to get to spots where he is comfortable, which really entices the Thunder.
However, his shooting percentage still remains below 40 percent for his career, which can keep him off the floor.
Not all is bad for Mann, as he was superb in July’s Summer League. He displayed improved shot-creating and making, but his confidence was vital. He scored confidently through finishes at the rim, hot shooting from beyond the arc, and even a highlight reel poster dunk.
If he continues to play with a high level of confidence and knocks down a few more shots, Mann may well find himself as a critical contributor to the offense and a bench scorer next season. However, if his role continues to dwindle and he remains lost, the Thunder may look in other directions about possibly moving on from Mann amongst the crowded backcourt.
Can Lindy Waters III stick on a highly competitive OKC Thunder squad?
When it comes to inspirational stories, there are not many more unique than Waters’ journey to the OKC Thunder. Over his 66 career regular season games, Waters has gained the reputation of a three-point specialist; he has to shoot the ball better than 36 percent to become a staple of an NBA rotation.
After playing well through two seasons, Waters was rewarded with a standard NBA contract before the team declined his team option this off-season. That was just paperwork for the OKC Thunder, as it bought them time to re-sign Waters to another two-way contract.
Lindy Waters III’s contract option is so interesting:
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) May 2, 2023
-+ defense
-100th percentile off screens (1.591 PPP)
-50% on corner 3’s
-small sample size rim (73%) mid-range (80%)
-Has to be better than 35% from 3
-roster spots are at a premium
pic.twitter.com/tDR8C5MYzu
This two-way contract may be the last chance for Waters to prove his NBA spot. His three-point accuracy must improve, as a career 36 percent shooter from deep needs to be better for a marksman that holds the role of knocking down threes at an elite level.
Lindy Waters III improved as a team defender last season, helping fight for extra possessions and making crisp rotations in Mark Daigneault’s scheme. However, improving his on-ball defense can make him a sought-after, valuable asset in the modern NBA.
Without significant improvement, Waters might find himself on the free agent market again following this season and with just one more season of two-way contract eligibility.
The OKC Thunder need to see a larger sample size from Aleksej Pokusevski
The most interesting and intriguing player on the OKC Thunder’s roster this season is Aleksej Pokusevski. He remains a raw, unpolished seven-footer but offers mobility and skill as a big.
Aleksej Pokusevski’s role is unclear, and it is unsure if he will be able to play alongside skillful big Chet Holmgren.
Pokusevski flashed potential in his rookie season, which he followed with a quite underwhelming sophomore campaign.
Starting 25 games last season, Pokusevski was able to carve out a role in the rotation surprisingly, with increased shooting percentages, most notably from three. His rim protection became extremely valuable, as he swatted 1.3 blocks per game.
This upcoming season will indicate a lot of the OKC Thunder’s future plans with Pokusevski. If Holmgren is the long-term answer at the center, where can Pokusevski fit in? His height is still valuable for the OKC Thunder, and he may play as a back-up forward or as a thinner center with the ability to step out to the perimeter.
If he is pushed out of the rotation, is it likely the OKC Thunder will extend him? How much longer can the OKC Thunder wait for him to develop? Will he ever reach his full potential? Another poor season could leave the organization frustrated and impatient. There may be more questions generated than answers shown, and the OKC Thunder may choose to move on.
For Aleksej Pokusevski, the pathway to meaningful minutes is to duplicate his November output from a year ago. Taking the pressure off of himself to be a star and, instead, be a connecting piece for the Thunder bench unit. His rim protection and hopeful three-point shooting can allow Mark Daigneault’s squad to play their second unit close to their starting group’s style of play, with Pokusevski filling in for Holmgren.
The Oklahoma City Thunder believe in Aleksej Pokusevski, and things were trending in a highly positive direction before his season-altering injury in December. Still, he has to scale that forward to a larger sample size this season.