2 Risers, 1 faller through early stages of preseason for OKC Thunder

The OKC Thunder have managed to rattle off two wins through three contests during these early stages of the 2024-25 NBA preseason.

Most recently, they stomped the NBL's New Zealand Breakers out in Tulsa without any of their core rotation players by a commanding final score of 117-89. By the game's end, the team had six of their eight participants total double-digit points while all registered a positive box plus-minus rating.

This bout may have been their latest showing, but it was far from the only exhibition that provided fans, pundits, and the club's coaching staff with noteworthy and overall valuable takeaways, especially when it comes to their bubble players, for Oklahoma City has seen several names impact their stocks within the organization with their respective performances.

And while there have predominantly been positive alterations made to individual values, some players have unfortunately failed to make the most of their preseason opportunities to this point in time.

Though there's still time for things to change, as training camp is still underway and there are two preseason games left on the docket, at this stage of the schedule there are two clear risers and one faller on this Thunder squad.

Risers and fallers for OKC Thunder through three games into preseason

Riser: Dillon Jones

Through these early stages of the preseason, Dillon Jones is showcasing the versatile skill set and overall attributes on the hardwood that initially made him a first-round selection this past June.

The rookie has been proving that his talents transcend what is generally expected from a wing player in the association, as he's been found used anywhere from an on-ball handler to an off-ball pivot.

His most recent outing against the Breakers served as his best-yet from a statistical standpoint, as he dropped 23 points, 13 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals, and 2 blocks in his 35 minutes of action, but his efforts have been widely recognized in all three contests played.

To this point, the 20-year-old has made an impact in a multitude of areas on the floor and finds himself regularly stuffing the stat-sheet with averages of 12.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.3 steals.

Should he keep this level of production up, there's a chance that he could end up sneaking his way into the regular season rotation, perhaps even to fill a specific void now present with the departure of Josh Giddey this summer.

Faller: Ousmane Dieng

Following the hamstring injury sustained by Jaylin Williams that's slated to keep him out through the infancy stages of the regular season, many saw the unfortunate situation as a possible opportunity for former lottery pick, Ousmane Dieng to receive meaningful minutes and show that he's finally ready to serve as a regular contributor at the NBA level.

While the first projection has clearly come to fruition, as he's averaging a whopping 27.6 minutes a night and came out hot with a surprising start during the Thunder's preseason opener against the Spurs, the latter has yet to become a reality.

Still seemingly as raw as ever, the 21-year-old has struggled mightily with his shot, as he's converted on a measly 36.6 percent of his attempts from the field while averaging just 10 points per contest. What's worth mentioning, however, is that 20 of his total 30 points scored this preseason came against the non-NBA opponents in the New Zealand Breakers.

On top of his offensive follies, defensively he's flashed the upside that made him a top prospect coming into the league back in 2021 though for every impressive block swatted (4) he has committed even more personal fouls (5).

While there's still hope that the youngster can still find a way to turn his NBA career around, during these early parts of the preseason it seems clear that his stock is continuing to plummet.

Riser: Ajay Mitchell

Though he may have been selected in the second-round of this year's draft, Ajay Mitchell is seemingly having a similar level of impact as that of first-rounder, Dillon Jones.

Like Jones, Mitchell proved himself to be a highly versatile player during his three-year stint in college, and wrapped up his final season at UC Santa Barbara with impressive all-around averages of 20.0 points, 4.0 assists, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.2 steals while shooting 50.4 percent from the floor and 39.3 percent from deep.

So far into his stint with the Thunder, it seems his multi-faceted brand of production is shining right on through, as he's posting averages of 13.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.5 steals while showing off his willingness to drive the lane and compete against bigger opponents.

Attached to a two-way deal, the expectation should be that Mitchell will spend the majority of his rookie season in the G League with the OKC Blue honing his skills.

However, considering just how well he's been playing this far into the preseason, there's a reality where he could push up against the edge of his specific contract's 50-game limit of being called up to the NBA in 2024-25.