2 Thunder players who could be cut from the playoff rotation

The Oklahoma City Thunder currently feature 11 players on the roster that average at least 10 minutes per game.

Without question, depth is necessary during the regular season given its long, grueling nature and the inevitable injuries. However, the playoffs cause rotations to shrink because teams must throw their best punch at all times in order to make a deep run.

Role players with highly exploitable flaws subsequently get the axe, as opposing teams relentlessly attack their weaknesses to create advantages. 

For example, the Los Angeles Lakers were itching to trot out defensive ace Jarred Vanderbilt last postseason in order to help neutralize scorers. His extremely poor outside shooting completely compromised spacing though, and he did not possess the playmaking chops to serve as vital connective tissue for Los Angeles’ passing network.

As a result, he cratered their offense when on the court, thus giving head coach Darvin Ham no choice but to slash his minutes. 

Thunder players could be at risk of being axed from playoff rotation

With exploitable flaws being a catalyst for reduced playoff usage, which of the 11 Thunder players may see a significant decrease in minutes or even be cut from the rotation entirely?

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren form OKC’s star trio and combine to average roughly 67 points per game on elite shooting efficiency. They will assuredly receive the bulk of the work come playoff time, but the rest of the rotation is still a bit murky. 

It’s worth mentioning that Oklahoma City possessing too many options is similar to a king deciding which jewels to feature on his crown. The roster has come a long way since Sam Presti tore it down, and this issue can be classified as a luxury that few other teams currently encounter.

With all this in mind, there are still a couple of names that run the risk of being removed from the rotation come the start of the postseason.