Thunder forward Andre Roberson continues to make progress in his attempted comeback, writes Jenni Carlson of The Oklahoman. Roberson was one of the NBA’s top perimeter defenders before suffering a ruptured patellar tendon in his left knee in January of 2018, then an avulsion fracture later that year. Head coach Billy Donovan offered an encouraging update as Roberson tries to return to action for the first time in 30 months.
“He’s doing great,” Donovan said. “I think he’s gaining confidence. I think he’s got confidence in where he’s at physically. I think he’s trying to gain confidence right now in terms of being out from playing competitive basketball for two years.”
The injury has kept Roberson sidelined for almost the entirety of the three-year, $30MM contract he signed in 2017. He is earning $10.74MM this season and a strong performance could make him an intriguing name on this year’s free agent market.
There’s more on the Thunder:
- Luguentz Dort was effective during his time as a starter, but there’s no guarantee he will keep that role in Orlando, according to Joe Mussatto of The Oklahoman. Dort began the year as a two-way player, but seized an opportunity when Terrance Ferguson missed eight games in January for personal reasons. Dort impressed OKC’s coaches with his defense and started the final 21 games before the shutdown. Dort, Ferguson and Roberson are all candidates for the starting wing spot. “Lu’s done a really good job,” Donovan said. “For me to sit here and say that he’s starting when we get back to playing, I wouldn’t say that. I’m really trying to be open-minded to let these guys play and compete and find out where they’re all at and how well they’re playing with one another.”
- No Thunder player is enjoying his time at Disney World more than 20-year-old Darius Bazley, Mussatto writes in a separate story. Part of Bazley’s excitement comes from being fully healed after missing the final 11 games before the break with a bone bruise in his right knee.
- Donovan said his younger players in particular did a great job of staying in shape during the hiatus, telling Paris Lawson of NBA.com that Dort, Ferguson, Bazley and Hamidou Diallo look different than when he last saw them in March. “You can see a physical difference I think when you’re dealing with young players that are 19, 20, 21 years old,” Donovan said. “Their maturation and how much they can develop through four, five or six months can be really amazing.”
NBA standing
Thunder 40-24
Can Thunder win 50 games next year?
Should Thunder tank for top pick next year？
They plan to rebuild this offseason
They won’t win 50 games next year, the West is too deep for most teams to even dream of winning 50 games. You can pretty much count the teams that can win 50 games on a single hand: Clippers, Rockets, Lakers, and Nuggets are all capable. Then teams like Golden State, Utah, Dallas, Portland, and possibly New Orleans or OKC also have a good chance to win 40 games, but will struggle to reach 50.
Thunder are very underrated
They can win 55 if they trade 6 out of 15 future Firsts
DEN, LAL & LAC are locks to win 50 next year, but so is DAL, but no other team is in the west!
Depends what they do with Gallo. (Keep or sign n trade?). We resign him to keep and we are a playoff team again. We trade him and can somehow dump CP3 for anything (not giving up picks) then it’s rebuild time.
Otherwise 0.0% thought we were going to be any good this year and the thunder proved otherwise.
Roberson certainly was a waste of $30M considering he only played 39 games during the 3 years of his extension. Now they just have to wait for CP3 to retire.
Twas great decision to pay non shooting guys like Adams and Roberson big money to start with a non shooter like Russ.
So happy that Westbrook is where they utilize him properly – by spreading the floor
Darius Bazley in his last 15 games per BasRef. had no minus “GmSc” and made significant mprovement. In games he scored at least 9 points, OKC went 9-1. So the year off must have worked? He’s not bragging on it though.