As the 2024 Summer League comes to a close for the Oklahoma City Thunder, the focus shifts to the upcoming season. Key players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Lu Dort are set to represent Team Canada in the Olympics, while the rest of the Thunder organization prepares for the 2024-2025 NBA season. With high hopes of building on last year’s success as the youngest number-one seed in history and winning 57 games, there are still questions lingering for the Thunder – most notably, who will fill the final roster spot?
One potential candidate to fill this crucial spot is Keyontae Johnson. Despite a strong offseason with additions like Isaiah Hartenstein and Alex Caruso, as well as retaining players like Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe, the Thunder are still looking to solidify their roster. With their top draft pick Nikola Topic expected to be out for the next season, the final spot becomes even more vital. Adam Flagler is also in the mix, having impressed during the summer league and potentially earning a standard contract with his performances.
Should the Thunder opt to explore external options, Tyus Jones emerges as a potential playmaking guard to bolster the team’s depth. With the departure of Josh Giddey and Topic’s injury, the Thunder lack another ball handler to support Gilgeous-Alexander. Jones could provide that much-needed playmaking in the backcourt. Doug McDermott is another veteran option for the Thunder, bringing shooting expertise and experience to the roster. Head Coach Mark Daigneault’s preference for deep rotations and shooters could make McDermott a valuable addition in limited minutes.
Adding a big man to the roster is also a consideration for the Thunder, who currently rely on Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein in the frontcourt. Jaylin Williams adds depth but lacks the size of their primary centers. Strengthening the center position could provide additional support and depth for the team. Ultimately, whether the Thunder choose to focus on guards or big men for the final roster spot remains to be seen, but it’s clear that every decision matters as they aim to continue their success in the upcoming season.
