Monday's news break regarding OKC Thunder guard Nikola Topic's sudden testicular procedure is already devastating in the sense that he only just made his way back to on-court action following a year-long rehabilitation from a torn ACL.
Add on the fact that he will be re-evaluated in four to six weeks and, in turn, is now slated to miss the first month of regular season action as a result, and the situation only seems to get more unfortunate for the recent lottery pick.
However, this admittedly bleak circumstance for Topic creates an opportunity for his fellow rookie, Brooks Barnhizer, to not only see more run in the preseason but also potentially during the early stages of the regular season as well.
Brooks Barnhizer now has opportunity to rise in Thunder ranks
The Thunder have built up a reputation of giving their second-round selections a long leash and a chance to prove their worth on the hardwood over the last several years.
From Aaron Wiggins to, most recently, Ajay Mitchell, coach Mark Daigneault is clearly willing to use any player, regardless of draft status, should they show flashes of potential.
Upon joining the team as the 44 pick in this past June's NBA Draft, the Northwestern product has drawn a considerable amount of attention as being a possible hidden gem, late-round snag for Oklahoma City.
With his combination of ball-handling, rebounding, defense, and all-around standout effort, Barnhizer has established himself as a talent worth watching throughout the summer and into training camp.
Now, with Topic sidelined, coach Daigneault has already pivoted to experimenting with the 23-year-old as a starting option in preseason, as he got a nod against the Dallas Mavericks on Monday night, where he would finish with an impressive stat line of 16 points (game-high), 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and a steal in 37 minutes played.
While perhaps not a seamless pivot option, as Topic and Barnhizer boast highly different play styles, considering training camp and preseason was viewed as a time where the Serbian stud would push for a rotation spot, his surprise shelving could now open a path for the second-rounder to get more eyes cast upon him which, hopefully, will open a path for early season minutes.
As fans are well aware, this Thunder team cherishes a player's ability to hustle and provide the dirty work that doesn't necessarily register in the box score. By all accounts, Brooks Barnhizer's player profile fits this descriptor to a tee.
With Topic out of the picture for the time being, expect OKC's coaching staff to continue to give the rookie wing more opportunities to prove himself.