During Sam Presti’s season wrap-up, he teased the idea of the Thunder retaining all four of their 2022 draft picks. As for how to compress the lineup? Let’s talk about it then.
Ultimately, Presti traded one of the four picks, but then regained one on draft night - he traded for the No. 11 pick and selected French forward Ousmane Guion.
With rookies Dieng, Chet Holmgren, Jaylen Williams and Jaylin Williams joining the team, not counting Lindy Waters III and Eugene O With Morrui's two-way contract, the Thunder will have 19 players with or expected to have guaranteed contracts.
During the offseason, the team can have 20 players on the roster (not including two-way contracts), but before the start of next season, the Thunder must reduce their roster to 15 players.
"We're not going to miss out on a player that we believe in or that we want to invest in just because the roster doesn't have room," Presti said of his approach to the draft.
This summer, Thunder players will have fierce internal competition because the team's roster is already overflowing.
"They're going to be ready to compete because there's so much at stake," Presti said. "It's part of being a professional athlete"
The Thunder may trade, perhaps waive several players in mid-October. At some point, the Thunder may have to cut a player with a guaranteed contract.
"This is our competitive advantage," Presti said, "We are willing to do it."
With the NBA draft over, free agency and summer league are also coming in full swing, let's take a look at the Thunder How about the big list.
Three cornerstones of the Thunder
Josh Guiddy
Position: Guard
Height/Weight: 6 feet 8, 205 pounds
Age: 19
2022-2 3 Salary: $6.3 million
This last year’s No. 6 pick has nearly A perfect rookie season, starting 54 games, averaging 12.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 6.4 assists per game. Guiddy, who is even 100 days away from his 20th birthday, is already one of the best passers in the NBA.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Position: Guard
Height/Weight: 6-foot-6, 180 pounds
Age: 23
2022-23 Salary: 30.9 million US$
Gilgeous-Alexander may be the most valuable NBA All-Star gem. Excellent player. Although SGA was heavily defended by opponents every night last season, it still averaged a career-high 24.5 points per game. The cornerstone guard is entering the first year of his max contract.
Chet Holmgren
Position: Center
Height/Weight: 7-foot-1, 195 pounds
Age: 20
2022-23 Salary: $9.9 million
Holmgren is the highest draft pick in Thunder history. He is expected to be the cornerstone of the Thunder's defense. On the offensive end, Holmgren's ability to spread the floor will perfectly complement SGA and Guiddy. Holmgren may have the highest ceiling among the 2022 rookies, but there is some risk given his slight frame.
The team's young core
Osman-Gion
Position: Wing
Height/Weight: 6-foot-10, 185 pounds
Age: 19
32022-23 Salary: $4.6 millionThe Thunder traded three future first-round picks for With the 11th overall pick this year, Dieng was selected. This is a considerable investment and reflects how much the Thunder think of this young guy. He is a large defender who fits the Thunder's new system very well. However, you have to give Giang enough time. After all, he is only 19 years old.
Luggantz-Dort
Position: Guard
Height/Weight: 6-foot-3, 215 pounds
Age: 23
2022-23Salary: $15.1 million
Dort just agreed to renew a five-year contract with the Thunder. Annual contract worth $87.5 million. The Thunder were generous enough to retain their best defender, and Dort certainly deserves the contract. In the future, whether Dort can improve beyond the three-point line will determine whether the Thunder's move is right or wrong.
Trey Mann
Position: Guard
Height/Weight: 6-foot-3, 178 pounds
Age: 21
2022-23Salary: $3 million
Man did not live up to the team's expectations of him. The expectation of growing into a dynamic scorer, though. He still has a ways to go on defense before he's given a bigger role. Currently, he plans to serve as the Thunder's sixth man next season. One year later, taking Mann with the 18th overall pick looks like a good choice.
Jaylen Williams
Position: Guard
Height/Weight: 6-foot-6, 195 pounds
Age: 21
2022-23Salary: $4.3 million
Jaylen had an amazing junior season at Santa Clara University . He averaged 18 points on 51% shooting, 4.2 assists and 4.4 rebounds. He will be another high guard that the Thunder likes.
Key veteran
Mike Muscala
Position: Center
Height/Weight: 6-foot-10, 240 pounds
Age: 31
2022 -23 Salary: $1.8 million
Muscala signed a veteran’s minimum salary with the Thunder to continue Stay in Oklahoma . Next season will be his fourth season with the Thunder. Muscala is a reliable backup big man who can space the floor well and defend fiercely. He will be a valuable mentor to Holmgren.
Kenrich Williams
Position: Wing
Height/Weight: 6-foot-6, 210 pounds
Age: 27
2022-23 Salary: $2 million
Ken Way said he wants to retire at Oklahoma. Such loyalty is rare, especially from a 27-year-old role player. Williams should be the most respected player in the Thunder locker room. Oh, and he performed very well. The swingman 's performance on the court far exceeded his salary.
Waiting for Good News
Darius Bazley
Position: Forward
Height/Weight: 6-foot-8, 208 pounds
Age: 22
2022-23 Salary: $4.3 million
It’s hard for us to determine Bazley ’s position. Last season, he took huge leaps in improvement on the defensive end, but his offense was somewhat stagnant. Of course, he is only 22 years old and still has a promising future in the NBA, but he may not be with the Thunder. Next season, he will enter the final year of his rookie contract.
Alexey Pokusevsky
Position: Forward
Height/Weight: 7-foot-0, 190 pounds
Age: 20
2022-23 Salary: $3.3 million
Poku played a total of 106 games in the first two seasons, but the sample size that can make reasonable predictions about his future is still small. His numbers aren't great and his form has been up and down, but given his size, skill set and age, he still has a lot of potential.
Jeremiah Robinson Earl
Position: Forward/Center
Height/Weight: 6’8, 242 lbs
Age: 21
Salary: 200-2022 $10,000
Robinson-Earl’s rookie season was mediocre but not outstanding. . But a season like this is all you could hope for from a second-round pick. He started 36 games last season, but no one knows what role he will play in year two.
Jaylin Williams
Position: Forward/Center
Height/Weight: 6-foot-10, 240 pounds
Age: 20
2022-23 Salary: Unknown
The Thunder use a two-way contract Signing Omoruyi means Jaylin will get a guaranteed contract. Williams, the No. 34 overall pick, should play a backup frontcourt role in the rotation. His size and skill set are enough to help him play both forward and center.
outlook unclear
Tai Jerome
Position: Guard
Height/Weight: 6-foot-5, 195 pounds
Age: 24
Salary 2022-23 :$4.2 million
Jerome is the only one in Chris- Paul is a player who stayed with the Thunder after that trade. In his first season with the Thunder, he averaged 24 minutes per game, but dropped to 17 minutes last season. His three-point shooting percentage also plummeted from 42% to 29%.
Witte Krejic
Position: Wing
Height/Weight: 6-foot-8, 195 pounds
Age: 22
2022-23 Salary: $1.6 million
Recurrent knee injuries hampered Krejic's progress. He has intriguing defensive skills for his size, but his athleticism is questionable. Assuming he stays healthy, Krejic could easily earn a spot on the roster. But the other way around...
Theo Maledon
Position: Guard
Height/Weight: 6-foot-4, 175 pounds
Age: 21
2022-23Salary: $1.9 million
at In his rookie year, Maledon seemed to be the Thunder The best choice as a backup point guard in the future. Then he plummeted last season. There are many guards on the Thunder's roster, and his status is already shaky.
Aaron Wiggins
Position: Wing
Height/Weight: 6-foot-6, 200 pounds
Age: 23
2022-23 Salary: $1.6 million
Wiggins has great advantages over players of his level . He started 35 times last season and had a pretty good defensive performance for a rookie. He initially signed a two-way contract with the Thunder, but worked his way up to a fully guaranteed contract.
Two-way player
Eugene Omoruyi
Position: Forward
Height/Weight: 6-foot-7, 244 pounds
Age: 25
2022-23 Salary: Two-way contract
On Saturday, the Thunder signed Omoruyi A two-way contract. Omoruyi played football at Rutgers University and the University of Oregon. Also played four games for the Mavericks last season. Omoruyi was born in Nigeria and grew up in Canada.
Lindy Waters III
Position: Guard
Height/Weight: 6-foot-6, 215 pounds
Age: 24
2022-23Salary: Two-way contract
Start of last season , Waters was placed in the little blue team Bench. But at the end of last season, he had some consistent playing time with the Thunder. Waters shot 36% from three-point range last season. How to improve this number is the key to whether he can stay in the NBA.
Players who may be leaving
Derrick Favors
Position: Center
Height/Weight: 6-foot-9, 265 pounds
Age: 30
2022-23 Salary: $10.2 million
Favors is at the end of his contract In this year, it is very likely that he will be traded or waived. The Thunder already have a veteran Muscala at the center position. At the same time, with the additions of Holmgren and Jaylin Williams, there is no room left for Favors on the roster.
JaMychal Green
Position: Forward
Height/Weight: 6-foot-8, 227 pounds
Age: 32
2022-23 Salary: $8.2 million
Green, as the oldest player on the roster, is unlikely to suit up for the Thunder. jersey. The Thunder accepted Green for a draft pick from the Nuggets . Now, Green is likely to be traded or bought out to a new owner. This shooter with a career three-point shooting percentage of 37% still does his best.
