LAS VEGAS — The Oklahoma City Thunder signing Branden Carlson to a two-way contract not only gives them a complete steal, but based on his Summer League performances thus far, it adds a very necessary skill next to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: A floor-spacing big man. Carlson has displayed some three-point shooting chops in Vegas, and that could be very useful for OKC.
Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein, and Jaylin Williams make up one of the best center rooms in basketball. Of them, Holmgren and Williams can stretch the floor a bit. But if Carlson can develop into more than just an occasional shooter, it would be incredible for the Thunder.
And he could give Gilgeous-Alexander and OKC something they didn’t even know they needed.
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Carlson didn’t play in the Thunder’s first couple of Summer League games, by on Tuesday, he made his Vegas debut. And that one game was enough to make everyone in OKC raise their eyebrows.
The 26-year-old got the start for OKC, and though he only played 19:09, he still managed to accrue an extremely impressive statline. Carlson finished the game with 23 points, seven rebounds, and two blocks, but perhaps most impressively, he shot 9-of-13 from the field and an electric 4-of-6 from beyond the arc.
This wasn’t the first time Carlson impressed, either. He played very well in his limited G League games with the OKC Blue last year.
In just 13 appearances, Carlson averaged 16.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 2.3 blocks per game while shooting 49.4% from the floor and 36.6% from deep on 6.3 three-point attempts per game.
Obviously, Carlson shooting 4-of-6 from three-point range in a single Summer League game doesn’t mean he’s going to turn into Karl-Anthony Towns. However, he certainly flashed the exact skill that the Thunder would love to add to their current rotation.
Landing Carlson on a two-way contract is an absolute steal for the Thunder, and his showing off some three-point shooting finesse at Summer League is perfect. If he can continue to grow in that role with the Blue next season, Gilgeous-Alexander may have a new pick-and-pop partner in the future.
Plus, considering how much money the Thunder have spent on their top-end talent, adding a guy who can space the floor at the center position on a cheap contract would be a dream.
It was only one Summer League game, but Carlson is absolutely a name to watch as the Thunder continue to gun for championships with Gilgeous-Alexander at the helm.