The Oklahoma City Thunder, despite their sub-par record in the days leading up to the All-Star Break, had some positive developments.
Jalen Williams looked splendid in his return from injury, although a re-aggravated hamstring held him out of their final matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks. Nikola Topic made his miraculous return to basketball after the adversity he faced coming into the league. Jared McCain looked like a strong contributor in his first few games with the team.
Yet the breakout play of one player, sixth-year wing Isaiah Joe, was also something worth marveling at. In his final six games before the All-Star Break, he averaged 17 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.5 assists while shooting a spectacular 52.4% from beyond the arc.
For the Thunder, who will rely on their depth to remain atop the West and take on another championship run, this is an excellent development. But they will need to give Joe more extended minutes upon their return to action, and the return of their star players from injury could make that decision difficult.
Isaiah Joe could have a tougher path to minutes after the All-Star Break despite his elevated performance
Over the past four seasons, Joe has become a highly important contributor for Oklahoma City. When the team has needed him most, he's stepped up.
That is exactly where the Thunder's greatest strength lies: in the depth of their rotation. With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Ajay Mitchell, and Williams largely out in the stretch leading up to the break, Joe took on extra ball-handling and off-ball shooting responsibilities.
He averaged 27.2 minutes per game in that span.
Yet after the All-Star Break, Oklahoma City will soon see the return of both Gilgeous-Alexander and Mitchell. On one hand, this should be a major relief. The return of two of their most important players will help them steady the ship as they enter the final stretch of the season.
On the other hand, heavily restricting minutes for players like Joe (and even McCain and Cason Wallace) could have disastrous effects down the line. Despite their dominance in the early portions of the season, it's become clear the Thunder need another reliable scorer off the bench: someone who can step up when their stars are having a sub-par game.
That player can and should be Joe. But, with their stars returning, the Thunder must figure out how to balance minutes across their rotation without cutting Joe out of the fray. Keeping him ready for action in the playoffs should be a priority.
It will be a difficult needle to thread when they get back to action.