The OKC Thunder have one standard contract up for grabs and, with over two months to go before final rosters need to be set, there are bound to be a ton of names thrown out there as possible options to fill this spot.
While scouring the free agency pool and trade market for potential targets may be a fun exercise to partake in, in actuality, Oklahoma City might already have the ideal player to fill their rotational void within their grasp in the likes of Otega Oweh.
Thunder may want to consider Otega Oweh for final roster spot
Oweh may have been a mid-second-round selection, but he boasts the kind of defensive intensity, high-end athleticism, and positional versatility that this Thunder team always covets.
Throughout his collegiate career, the wing built up a reputation for being a scrappy on-and-off-ball disruptor and a willing offensive slasher who can force the transitions from swiping a steal to running a fast break seemingly all on his own.
He even posted 1.28 points-per-possession as the ball handler in when out in transition.
Now, while he's still a player in need of some refinement, particularly in the shooting department where he cashed in on just 33.3 percent of his long-range attempts last season at Kentucky, it must be understood that we're not talking about the Thunder needing to fill a key piece to their rotation but, rather, the last to their entire roster.
Thunder would get a head start on properly developing Otega Oweh
At this point, whoever they bring on shouldn't be seen as an automatic difference-maker from day one. Instead, it should be someone who could potentially be molded into a steady role player over time.
Over the years, Sam Presti and company have shown more than a willingness to take full-scale swings on second-round prospects, with rising star Ajay Mitchell serving as his latest success story in this department.
Some already believe Oweh may be next in line, and getting a head start with their rookie project to allow him to properly learn their system could set him up for far more than what long stints in the G League would likely teach him.
Especially considering the numerous departures from key backcourt talents like Lu Dort, Isaiah Joe, and Aaron Wiggins, coupled with coach Mark Daigneault's willingness to dive deep into his bench unit, there's a rather realistic chance that the 24-year-old could come across some meaningful and highly valuable action early on in his NBA career.
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