OKC Thunder Summer League Thread

[Big nick]

It’s pretty remarkable how little progress Dieng has made. Even Terrance Ferguson and Darius Bazley had parts of their games that were clearly improved in their final year. Dieng seems like the exact same player. I still maintain that I didn't hate the pick at the time but I can’t imagine him turning it around at this point.

I agree with this exactly he is never going to make a nba play especially for us. What a waste.

[Clav]

It’s pretty remarkable how little progress Dieng has made. Even Terrance Ferguson and Darius Bazley had parts of their games that were clearly improved in their final year. Dieng seems like the exact same player. I still maintain that I didn't hate the pick at the time but I can’t imagine him turning it around at this point.

I agree with this exactly he is never going to make a nba play especially for us. What a waste.

Unfortunately I'm with you guys. I don't mind the 'big-swing'' for a player with Rashard Lewis-esque ceiling for our PF, but I can tell he's going to be like Perry Jones III instead.

If only we had Naz Reid

[getrichordie]

Haven't been able to catch any of the SL games, but has Dieng really been that bad?

[ThunderBolt]

Haven't been able to catch any of the SL games, but has Dieng really been that bad?

He’s had moments but I think it’s the fact that he doesn’t look any better. It’s year three in summer league. As a lottery pick, it’s discouraging that he seems to have stagnated.

[retrobro90]

4th SL game I've caught now. I'm still pretty unsold on Dillon Jones. His strength is pretty worthless if he doesn't know where to be on defense. Right now he's like a worse version of Kentucky Julius Randle

[ThunderBolt]

4th SL game I've caught now. I'm still pretty unsold on Dillon Jones. His strength is pretty worthless if he doesn't know where to be on defense. Right now he's like a worse version of Kentucky Julius Randle

I feel the same way but I was wrong about Cason. Topic excites me the most. Unless we get lucky with another teams pick we’re going to be entering the Darius Bazley/ Terrance Ferguson range of guys for the foreseeable future.

[retrobro90]

4th SL game I've caught now. I'm still pretty unsold on Dillon Jones. His strength is pretty worthless if he doesn't know where to be on defense. Right now he's like a worse version of Kentucky Julius Randle

I feel the same way but I was wrong about Cason. Topic excites me the most. Unless we get lucky with another teams pick we’re going to be entering the Darius Bazley/ Terrance Ferguson range of guys for the foreseeable future.

DJ looks outclassed as an athlete and outside of the defensive glass he has no defensive +'s. Cason showed pretty early he had plug n play 3&D capabilities. I just don't see it with DJ yet but hope I'm wrong. Ajay has been consistently good but he likely won't find much if any time outside of the g league.

That mid to late first round is not always TFerg's and Bazely's but unfortunately for our FO that is almost always the case. Hopeful they're able to hit on solid rotation guys in the middle. Loved the Topic pick and think he's going to be great for us a year from now.

[Clav]

I didn't get to catch the Summer League game vs Miami last night. How was Ware for the Heat ? The guy I wanted us to draft He put up a double-double last night.

So far, in 4 game I've watched (the Utah league and vs TOR) I think Jones is pretty far from NBA minutes, seeing him in the GL is an inevitability. I have appreciated his drive to the rim, but he has a lot to work on with his defense for consistent NBA minutes.

Ajay Mitchell continues to look decent, but like I said, I didn't see him last night except in the highlight reel, but he was still putting some pts up. I'm not sure how to completely grade his defense either. Both he, and Keyontae, and Maldonado were the losers in the +/- dept vs MIA.

Without Dieng, who seems to have been shut down for LV SL, we have reduced the shooting, even if Dieng is not the greatest shooter, he provides threat at this level.

[retrobro90]

I didn't get to catch the Summer League game vs Miami last night. How was Ware for the Heat ? The guy I wanted us to draft He put up a double-double last night.

So far, in 4 game I've watched (the Utah league and vs TOR) I think Jones is pretty far from NBA minutes, seeing him in the GL is an inevitability. I have appreciated his drive to the rim, but he has a lot to work on with his defense for consistent NBA minutes.

Ajay Mitchell continues to look decent, but like I said, I didn't see him last night except in the highlight reel, but he was still putting some pts up. I'm not sure how to completely grade his defense either. Both he, and Keyontae, and Maldonado were the losers in the +/- dept vs MIA.

Without Dieng, who seems to have been shut down for LV SL, we have reduced the shooting, even if Dieng is not the greatest shooter, he provides threat at this level.

Ware looked okay. Needs to work on his flexibility. Def explosive and I think they'll tighten his bolts in miami so he knows where to pick his spots as a play finisher. Wasn't super efficient even against our pushover pnr coverage.

Fully agree on DJ and said as much. He's not an NBA level defender. That's looking like 5 2nds down the toilet for an older rook who won't contribute this year.

[Devilanche]

Tristan looking mighty great as a plug and play option.

[Clav]

Tristan looking mighty great as a plug and play option.

Yeah, he has looked really good in SL. Orlando had a fun squad this Summer, I think they made a good selection for sure. Ware, de Silva, were both available, both putting up great #s against this competition. [meanwhile OKC is winless with poor post play on our SL squad by and large]. Sigh...

[retrobro90]

Tristan looking mighty great as a plug and play option.

Yeah, he has looked really good in SL. Orlando had a fun squad this Summer, I think they made a good selection for sure. Ware, de Silva, were both available, both putting up great #s against this competition. [meanwhile OKC is winless with poor post play on our SL squad by and large]. Sigh...

I still think Topic was the correct pick at 12. Da Silva is quite old and SHOULD look ready against SL competition. He might be solid and it's better to play well than not in SL but there's no way I would have taken him over NT.

DJ however...

[Clav]

We snuck out a win in the final SL game over Dallas. finishing 1-4 in Vegas and 2-1 in Utah [3-5 aggregate]

Here's a little review...

Dieng [all appearances in Utah SL]
3GP
15.7p/5r/6a/2.7stocks/34%FG%/40%-3pt

Dieng was effective enough, but not a standout player. We've talked about his level of play already. In Vegas our team was pretty bad without him if that's a positive thing to say
24-25 season: GL or 12th spot on OKC roster

Dillon Jones
5GP
13PPG/7r/5a/1.4stocks

Jones showed some a decent all-court game but needs work defensively, and to adjust to the speed of the NBA. He only played 2 games in Vegas and I think that's fine, but he played poorer in Vegas compared to Utah. Has nice handles but needs work on using it with purpose. I think he can be a really good player in the future but this season could be rough for him.
24-25 season: GL primarily, 13th spot on the roster
(Topic is #14 unless we get some DPE??)

Ajay Mitchell
5GP
15.5/2.7r/4.7a

Mitchell was pretty solid and put up a lot of nice looking shots in SL, he shot 33% from 3 in Utah and 50% in Vegas for 2 games. I see a deep bench role behind Wiggins and Joe would either have an injury hit. Otherwise, he will be getting reps in the second tier.
24-25 season: GL, TW contract


Adam Flagler
5GP
12 PPG in Utah as 3rd guard / 25PPG in Vegas as primary guard

Night and day between the two SLs but yeah, Flagler is our lead guard for the OKC Blue currently and a TW contract holder. He has good shooting touch, he is a pretty tough defender, and needs to work on his playmaking but I think there is a place for him in the NBA.
24-25 season: GL starting PG, TW contract


Ducas
0GP

We didn't see our other TW contract player on the court.
24-25 season: ???, GL perhaps, TW contract


Keep and eye on:
Tre Mitchell, PF/C. (not that we need more players with the same last name, see, Ajay Mitchell) - shot well from deep, but is a very unseasoned post player. I could see him being signed to exhibit-10 or replacing Ducas on the TW contract and being a part of the OKC Blue. I think there's some game here we could benefit from developing.

Malevy Leons - had a wiry frame but played decent all things considered. Has defensive chops, but seems to be a project overall. I could see him being on the OKC Blue as well. He had finishes around the rim and didn't hesitate to shoot. Needs weight room and development if he has any chance in the NBA - there is a foundation to go on, which is good.


OKC Blue bound players - unless signed elsewhere:
Jaden Shackleford - 5GP in SL, shooting SG, we force him to initiate and it's not his strongest card to play
Keyontae Johnson - 7GP in SL, if he's back on our 2nd club, he's its PF. Seems like a good guy and a tough hooper, another year of dev might get him to NBA level.
KJ Williams - 6GP in SL, big body but isn't a strong rebounder or shooter, had some decent SL games though
Miller Kopp - 6GP in SL, shooter, poor defender but looked better in SL to me
Hunter Maldonado - 7GP in SL, defensive winger


Clav's Cuts:
Kylor Kelley - screen setting / rebounder big - no range
Cormac Ryan - undersized and slow shooter that didn't hit shots
Jack Gohlke - didn't get to see him much, he's got a little name cred from big game vs Kentucky in the NCAA tourney
Buddy Boeheim - slow wing, didn't shoot that well overall, or play great D. Has name cred from legendary coach Boeheim