2 Thunder who could directly benefit from recent Isaiah Hartenstein update

When everything seemed to be going perfectly for the OKC Thunder, they received yet another chomp from the injury bug. Thursday, it was announced that newly acquired center Isaiah Hartenstein will miss the next 5-to-6 weeks with a small, nondisplaced fracture in his left hand. 

This leaves Oklahoma City in a tricky spot, as their other two backup big men, Jaylin Williams and Kenrich Williams, are still out with their own injuries. With a week left to go until the start of the regular season, Loud City will need to make a big-time decision regarding their lack of size behind rising star, Chet Holmgren. 

This is where two potential players come into mind who can help out down low for the Thunder while their big offseason acquisition is sidelined. This responsibility falls onto two intriguing players in Ousmane Dieng and Dillon Jones. 

Thunder could look to Dieng, Jones following string of injuries

Ousmane Dieng seems like the choice OKC will go with, as the former lottery pick has more time in the league than any of their other options. He also brings something to the table that many other players do not, and that is size.

Dieng measures in at a solid 6-foot-10, 222 pounds. This will help the team with their interior presence, especially on the defensive end. 

Hartensteins impact was going to be more obviously shown on the defensive end, as he already turned this Thunder squad into a brick wall. Without the former Knick to back up Holmgren, Dieng could see himself taking over this spot for the club.

OKC will still have a top-tier perimeter defense, but the question then becomes whether they handle the paint. So far in the preseason, the Frenchman has shown he can block shots and play up to his size when called upon. 

Offensively is where Dieng’s impact will be most evident.

With shooters all over the court like SGA, J-Dub, and Chet, the ball club now needs a facilitator. Dieng has really improved with his playmaking and is showing that he can pass well for his size, make off-ball reads to get open, and has also slightly improved his screening ability.

With his athletic frame, you could see him coming off the bench to run pick-and-rolls with players like Jalen Williams, as this now gives the Thunder a shooting threat to incorporate pick-and-pops, something that was not possible with Hartenstein. 

With these minutes now available, the third-year player could prove his value to the Thunder, showing that they need to keep him for the long term. 

Dillon Jones could also be a candidate for these backup minutes.

At this point, it seems that the only thing rookie lacks is size. Measuring in at 6-foot-5, it will be hard for the Weber State product to fight with NBA bigs down low. Of course, this has not yet stopped the rookie from getting rebounds, however, as his wingspan and strength have helped him pull down 5.8 boards per game thus far into the preseason.

Defensively the 26th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft is a solid all-around contributor. He can guard the perimeter, knows how to read passing lanes, and is not afraid to take charges.

The most impactful parts of his defensive presence are his tenacity and willingness to get physical when needed.

Jones is the type of player who regularly dives for every loose ball, guards in the paint, and boxes out opponents, a craft you do not see much anymore.

The downside to his efforts, though, is the fact he falls on the wrong side of a ton of foul calls. He is still adjusting to the officiating of the NBA, which can take time. That said, time may not be on the side of the Thunder with the regular season right around the corner. 

Offensively he is a great facilitator and finisher. Dillon Jones made a living in college by using his strong frame and body to drive in and bully opponents.

This is something we have seen from him as well during these early stages of his pro career, as he's dishing out 2.3 assists per night.

His playmaking also brings a much-needed passer into the mix, especially with the underrated distributions of I-Hart no longer in the fold.

A guard for the majority of his career, the rookie knows how to get his teammates the ball for easy scoring opportunities. This right here could give him the edge to obtain these backup minutes over Dieng. 

Dillon Jones getting time so early in his career on a contender could improve his value. A player who could have entered the draft a season prior, the youngster decided to return to college one more year to further improve his game.

Developmental minutes with a high-level team in his first year could make him a key player for the Thunder for years to come. 

The case for both players is strong, and both have their strengths over the other.

Dieng brings much-needed size to the bench and knows Oklahoma City's system well. Jones is a great playmaker and can guard almost every position.

With the season starting October 24th against the Denver Nuggets, the Thunder will need to make a decision soon.

Whether that be Dieng or Jones, someone needs to man the paint down in Hartensteins absence. Ousmane Dieng will probably be the answer, but it would not come as a surprise if fans see Dillon Jones in that role.