Notice: Undefined offset: 1 in /home/digit572/adidasblog.com/wp-content/themes/jnews/class/ContentTag.php on line 86
[ad_1]
One month from right now, the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder will open their preseason slate.
Whereas clearly nonetheless entrenched in a rebuild, Sam Presti’s eclectic assortment of younger prospects ought to present loads of intrigue.
However the Thunder are nonetheless years away from competing for a playoff spot, no less than on paper, and the 2022 NBA Draft is shaping up properly once more on the high.
What is going to the OKC roster seem like underneath Mark Daigneault in 2021? Listed below are three burning questions for the upcoming season:
How a lot will Shai Gilgeous-Alexander play?
Presti’s transfer for the previous Kentucky star regarded genius final yr, as Oklahoma Metropolis’s new franchise cornerstone took one other big leap on the ground, enjoying at fringe All-Star ranges.
The one drawback was that Thunder followers solely obtained to see him take the ground 35 occasions.
OKC performed it secure with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, opting to take a seat him on the sidelines whereas he healed from Plantar Fasciitis within the hopes that it might stop Gilgeous-Alexander from being saddled with a lingering damage.
It seems that mission was profitable, however it will likely be intriguing to see simply how a lot run Gilgeous-Alexander will get this upcoming season. The Thunder aren’t anticipated to be a contender for something apart from the No. 1-overall choose, and whereas Gilgeous-Alexander’s continued growth, successful isn’t the highest precedence this yr.
How good will Josh Giddey be?
The Thunder raised just a few eyebrows by taking the 6-foot-8 Australian level guard with the No. 6-overall choose.
Sadly, Josh Giddey didn’t get an opportunity to depart an impression on anybody through the NBA Summer time League, as he logged 5 minutes earlier than a sprained ankle saved him sidelined for the remainder of OKC’s keep in Las Vegas.
OKC’s sixth choose is the very best they’ve drafted for the reason that James Harden draft, so there can be large expectations on Giddey that weren’t positioned at different Thunder rookies from the soar.
Giddey will hope to comply with within the footsteps of LaMelo Ball, making the seamless transition from Australia’s NBL to the NBA, changing into an instantaneous contributor as a rookie.
Make or break for Bazley?
Darius Bazley has a giant yr forward of him.
The previous New Steadiness intern has flashed nice potential in his first two seasons with the Thunder, however he’s additionally been infuriatingly inconsistent.
Bazley wants to begin off 2021 on the precise foot, as a result of if he doesn’t there could also be choices behind him who want the minutes.
Aleksej Pokusevski truly had a pleasant near his rookie season after a rocky begin, and he could possibly be primed to push Bazley in his sophomore marketing campaign.
If Bazley is unable to take a step ahead, he could danger touring the trail of Hamidou Diallo, getting dealt on the deadline because the Presti opts to roll the cube on one other asset as a substitute of extending Bazley.
An ideal season, nonetheless, will cement Bazley as part of the Thunder future, permitting Presti to construct a staff round Gilgeous-Alexander, Bazley and Lu Dort.
Need to be a part of the dialogue? Click here to grow to be a member of the message board group right now!
Like SI Thunder on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter to remain updated on all the newest Thunder information.
[ad_2]
Source link
