Following Wednesday’s win over Detroit, Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault was asked by Berry Tramel of The Oklahoman how important it is to the team to make the play-in. Daigneault’s response didn’t exactly make it sound as if Oklahoma City is going all-out to secure a top-10 spot in the Western Conference.
“I think if it is an outcome that’s downstream of our process and the way that we’re trying to do things, it would be great, because it would be a marker along the way,” Daigneault said, per Joe Mussatto of The Oklahoman (Twitter links). “Not so important that it’s gonna distract us from our way of doing things. We need to bet on that day over day over day. We’ve done that for two or three years. That’s what’s put us in a position to compete for the play-in, so for us to abandon that at this point would be hasty.”
The Thunder were projected to finish at or near the bottom of the NBA standings coming into training camp, especially given that No. 2 overall pick Chet Holmgren had been sidelined with a season-ending injury. As a result, player development rather than short-term success has been the primary goal in OKC this year
Daigneault’s comments suggest player development is still the top priority, but some of the Thunder’s young players – including breakout rookie Jalen Williams – have been so good that the club may still find itself in a play-in game. With five contests left in their season, the Thunder hold the No. 10 seed in the West and hold a one-game lead over the 11th-place Mavericks.
Here’s more from around the Northwest:
- Within a profile on Luguentz Dort, who is in the first season of a five-year contract with Oklahoma City, Jason Quick of The Athletic notes that the Thunder forward drew high praise from Damian Lillard. The Trail Blazers star referred to Dort as the NBA’s best defender. “I think he has the perfect balance of strength, quickness, speed and desire to do it,” Lillard said. “And he’s young. So I just think he is the best at it.” Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander also raved about his teammate, telling Quick that “every team needs a Lu Dort.”
- As his Lakers prepare for a big game in Minnesota on Friday night, point guard D’Angelo Russell had nothing but praise for his former team and his former city, as Chris Hine of The Star Tribune details. Russell was traded from the Timberwolves to L.A. at last month’s deadline. “Fans here were amazing. I have nothing bad to say about Minnesota,” Russell said. “If you’re not here or you haven’t lived here or anything like that, then you’re not aware of how good of a city (Minneapolis) is and a sports town, how committed fans are to their sports, things like that. So the city has a lot to offer. They treated me with great respect.”
- Talen Horton-Tucker is still learning the ropes at point guard for the Jazz, but he has shown some “undeniable talent” in the process, including on Wednesday when he scored 41 points in 30 minutes in San Antonio, writes Tony Jones of The Athletic. “There aren’t that many pure point guards left in the league,” head coach Will Hardy said of Horton-Tucker, who holds an $11MM player option for 2023/24. “Talen is dynamic. He knows how to run pick and roll. He has to know how to react when teams play him differently. He has to know to get off the ball when teams give him a lot of attention. But he’s very talented.”
Have to wonder if they’ll push Chet to play in the postseason for help with size. If they get him in there Oklahaomer could be dangerous…just might be risky
I’m pretty sure Holmgren just started on-court work earlier this month. Not sure he’d even be ready.
Definitely not going to risk it when he doesn’t have non important games to just work out with the team.
Every team may need a Lu Dort, but no teams need a Dort contract.
talen avg almost 7 ast over the last 10 is encouraging.
Really interesting to see how OKC go with their rebuild, they have an all nba level guard in SGA who gives them 30 a night. Josh Giddey some nights looks really really good and overall his averages of 16.5/8/6 are really solid. A big concern with him was his efficiency and he’s actually improved a lot (+7% FG% and +6.5% 3P%). Jalen Williams has been great as a rookie and really grow as the season has progressed. Dort is a solid young defender but still hasn’t added a consistent jumper to his game.
Obviously Chet has been out all year and he will be a solid addition when fit and healthy. Isiah Joe has been a great pick up for nothing, he’s one of the leagues best shooters. Then beyond that you still have projects in Deing, Williams and Poku.
Not to mention the endless supply of picks.
I think at some point you eventually need to be like we want to win and start this push for playoffs and eventually a championship. That means willing to give up picks, and wanting to make a couple splashes in free agency.
Just to throw out some names I’d like to see them try get Patrick Williams from Chicago, he’s wasting his time. They don’t use him to the best of his ability, they haven’t done anything to develop him and make him better. Think he’d be great as a 3 and D forward with upside in OKC.
I’d also look into Naz Reid or Mo Bamba in free agency and see how much they are looking for. Both as a back up centre to play with Chet, both as a shot blocking, three point shooting big that keeps the paint open for Giddey and Shai on offence but will help contest on defence.
These aren’t guys that’ll make them a championship calibre side but they are young guys with potential that could elevate them to be a better side and make the playoffs. For now you have stars/future stars in SGA Giddey and Chet, just build around that