Oklahoma City’s promising rookie duo has to provide depth to an already deep roster.
The Thunder’s rookie class appears to be off to a fast start after two solid Summer League games. AlthoughJones was selected in the first round, and Mitchell in the early second after the Thunder traded up to draft him. Oklahoma City had to trade up for both players, meaning management had specifically targeted the duo as quality NBA players. It was clear on draft night thatAfter two Summer League games, the talent is clear.
As Oklahoma City heads into a new season with hefty expectations, there’s actually a real chance one of the two rookies will have to play real minutes. The Thunder was the luckiest team in the NBA last season in terms of injury luck, as no starter missed real time other than a few games here and there. The team was dealt a hand of perfect health. That’s rarely ever the case in the NBA. If a guard goes down, one of Jones or Mitchell could be called on to step up.
It was also clear in the playoffs that the Thunder needed another primary ball handler and creator off the bench. Whengrows into that role. But if he’s still a spot-up shooter and an elite defender, Jones or Mitchell might be more comfortable in an on-ball role. It’s crucial that one of the two rookies starts to separate from the rest of the pack and prove they can make an impact. The Thunder will likely have to rely on them in some capacity this season.Ross is a 2023 Oklahoma University graduate who has formerly written for the OU Daily and Prep Hoops. He now works for the New Orleans Super Bowl Host Committee and covers OU sports for AllSooners.com. He has been covering the Thunder since the 2019-20 season.
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