The Oklahoma City Thunder are the favorites to win their second consecutive NBA title this year. But they will only do so by playing their best - which means shortening their rotation and kicking some players to the proverbial curb.
That is because the road will not be easy. Victor Wembanyama is an alien skyscraper. Nikola Jokic is a triple-double machine. The Boston Celtics and New York Knicks are sharpening their knives for a chance to knock off the defending champs. The Thunder cannot take their status as favorites for granted.
Head coach Mark Daigneault didn't waste any time on Sunday, arming the team for the playoff crucible by shortening the rotation. While as many as 13 players on the roster could make a strong case for rotation minutes, the reality is that when the lights are brightest, only nine or at most ten are going to hear their names called.
In Sunday's blowout win over the Phoenix Suns, the Thunder ended up bringing in the bench for the fourth quarter, but we are not going to count garbage time. What does the first half tell us about who will be a part of Daigneault's rotation? Namely, that three players in particular are on the outside looking in.
No. 1: Aaron Wiggins
This decision was expected, but that doesn't make it any easier for Aaron Wiggins to swallow. He can do a little of everything, is a consistent shooter, defends his position, all of the things you want from a role player. He played 22 games in last year's playoff run.
This year, although he was a key fill-in when Jalen Williams missed much of the season, the minutes just are not there for Wiggins. With Ajay Mitchell emerging, they don't need his shot creation, and between Cason Wallace and Alex Caruso, there are better defenders. Wiggins drew the short straw.
No. 2: Kenrich Williams
This was always going to happen. Kenrich Williams is the ultimate swiss army knife, able to defend multiple positions, knock down shots and do all the glue things. Like Wiggins, he is the quintessential Thunder role player.
He just so happens to be on a team with Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein, Jalen Williams and Jaylin Williams in the frontcourt. With "Jay-Will" emerging even further this season, Kenrich was bound to get excised from the playoff rotation. He is the ultimate "stay ready" player, however, and could be called upon if injuries or adversity strike.
No. 1: Jared McCain
The largest open question heading into the playoffs was whether Isaiah Joe or Jared McCain would be higher in the pecking order for Mark Daigneault. The answer was Joe, and it wasn't particularly close.
In the first half on Sunday, Joe played eight minutes off the bench -- roughly the same as Cason Wallace and Alex Caruso, a touch more than Jaylin Williams. McCain, the team's newly-acquired bench gunner, saw just 46 seconds of action.
McCain can shoot and score with impunity, but he is also small and has had less time in the Thunder's system. Trading a first-round pick for McCain is a long-term move, but in the short term, he doesn't appear to have cracked the rotation.
He joins Wiggins, Kenrich and the rookies on the bench, kicked to the curb - at least for now - as the playoffs begin.
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