1 Rotational weakness 2 vastly different Thunder players are clearly competing for

The OKC Thunder objectively had one of the best offseasons in the entire league this summer, and the rest of the NBA is well aware of it.

From adding on two first-round picks while striking on trades and splashy free agency signings to bolster their rotation, GM Sam Presti clearly had an agenda to try and shore up any and all sore spots that aided in the club's second-round demise against the Dallas Mavericks last postseason.

And while they managed to hit on two of their most glaring weaknesses from the 2023-24 campaign with their summer shakeups in backcourt shooting and frontcourt size, simultaneously, they created a new one in the playmaking department via the exchange that sent Josh Giddey to the Chicago Bulls in a swap for veteran 3-and-D specialist, Alex Caruso.

Since arriving in Loud City back in 2021, the former lottery selection served as arguably the best facilitator the Thunder had within their rotation. From his flashy set-up skills seen with the eye test to his on-paper metrics of 5.7 assists per game throughout his tenure, Giddey regularly was utilized as the focal point distributor within coach Mark Daigneault's scheme.

Now, with him out in the Windy City, the club currently lacks a clear-cut replacement option in this area of the game, as none of their returning commodities outside of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander have proven themselves to be reliable table-setters.

However, interestingly enough, OKC does seem to have two recently acquired talents at completely different positions who, in theory, could be the experimental successors to Giddey in the facilitation game.

Dillon Jones, Isaiah Hartenstein could be assist men for OKC Thunder

Rookie Dillon Jones and top-billed free agent center Isaiah Hartenstein might be two players with games that are miles apart but boast a natural ability to share the rock and find teammates for scoring opportunities.

The former proved to be a highly versatile combo forward throughout his four-year tenure at Weber State who, during his final season in 2023-24, managed to lead the Wildcats in assists per game with 5.2.

This innate ability to dish the ball flashed at times during Monday's preseason debut against the Spurs, where the first-rounder showed off his skills as an offensive mover and flat-out dime-dropper.

As for Hartenstein, though he may be best known for being a low-post bruiser, shot-swatter, and board gobbler, his confidence when it comes to getting teammates an opportunity to buy a bucket is remarkably evident, and the advanced metrics only seem to back up his claims of being "one of the best passers in the NBA."

In two of the last three seasons, the 26-year-old has averaged 5.0 or more assists per 100 possessions and, last year, registered an assist-to-turnover ratio of 26.6, which, for context, was a better mark than guys like Luka Doncic (23.9), Damian Lillard (23.2), and Cade Cunningham (23.8). Ironically, this was also the same mark the now departed Giddey sported.

Though the general rule of thumb when it comes to replacing a player within the rotation is to find a successor at the same or similar position, what's exciting to see with this Thunder team is that the two individuals who seem to have the tools necessary to make up for the guard's now offloaded distribution skills reside at the forward and pivot spots on the depth chart.

Moving forward, it will be interesting to see how coach Mark Daignteult opts to maximize both Dillon Jones and Isaiah Hartenstein's abilities as facilitators, as Oklahoma City could certainly use them in this department with Josh Giddey no longer in tow.