As the OKC Thunder kick off the new season, rookie Thomas Sorber looks to make his highly anticipated NBA debut. It's been over a year in the making, as he missed all of last season due to a torn ACL.
According to OKC's official camp roster, Sorber lost 10 pounds over the offseason. The development is impressive, especially given that he had a clean-up procedure on his knee in July.
Assuming he will be able to move around the floor more swiftly due to the lighter load, he could potentially fix the Thunder's frustrating center logjam by playing minutes at the power forward position. But he has one key development left to go, and time will tell if he has put in the work to improve in that aspect.
Thunder would need Thomas Sorber to develop a three-point shot
Coming out of college, Sorber was touted for his elite defensive skills, basketball IQ, and ability to see the floor on offense. His perimeter shooting, however, was never a strength. The big man made just six of his 37 perimeter attempts in his lone season at Georgetown.
Given that he has yet to see NBA minutes, his jump shot is still very much in question. In order to play power forward for coach Mark Daigneault, he would need to be able to knock down catch-and-shoot opportunities when defenses crash on drives by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams.
If Sorber were able to develop an effective perimeter game, it would greatly free up the rotation, especially on defense. Daigneault would be able to play both Aday Mara and Thomas Sorber simultaneously, which could completely stifle opposing teams' second units. The Thunder's front court already boasts the elite rim-protecting combo of Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein, but a tandem of Mara and Sorber would cause fits for an entire 48 minutes.
Thomas Sorber's future with Thunder could hinge on perimeter growth
Sorber's progression on the outside may not be a luxury at this point. As it stands, he is unlikely to carve out a consistent role at center, with both Hartenstein and Jaylin Williams entrenched in the nightly rotation and Mara looking like the leader to consume what's left.
The fact that OKC went out and drafted another center speaks to how little they were relying on Sorber to make a full comeback this year. GM Sam Presti has already come out and said that Sorber will miss the start of training camp, and it doesn't appear he'll play much of a role early in the season.
If the youngster isn't able to expand his offensive repertoire, the weight loss may have all been for nothing. One thing is certain, though. Sorber's minutes are far from a guarantee, and a positional shift could allow him to earn a larger piece of the pie in Bricktown.
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