The Thunder group leveraged a significant victory this week.
As first reported by Joe Mussatto of The Oklahoman and coated by Inside The Thunder on Wednesday, the Oklahoma City Blue will stay in the Paycom Center subsequent season.
The Blue, who completed 15-20 in the common season, have been a presumptive return to the Paycom Center going into the offseason. However, Sam Presti famous in his exit interview in regards to the franchise’s locational uncertainty.
“We have a challenge on our hands because the NBA or the G League doesn’t want (the Blue) playing in our arena next year,” stated Thunder GM Sam Presti. “Conversation probably not for the public, but it is an NBA arena, so it should be good enough for the G League.”
As a model, the NBA G League has expanded its horizons tenfold in the previous few seasons. Notably, their implementation of the G League Ignite has sparked newfound curiosity, whereas the rise of basketball content material by social media has helped to floor a marketplace for the NBA G League.
Because of the Paycom Center’s shared venue, the Blue performed 16 residence video games no later than midday final season, sharing the sector with the Thunder 15 instances final season.
While scheduling could trigger commotion inside the G League ranks, the Blue’s extension in the Paycom Center will pave the best way for pivotal development all through the rotation.
Chris Landsberger / The Oklahoman-Imagn Content Services, LLC
At the floor stage, it’s clear to envision the upside because of this news. With the Thunder and Blue being in the identical metropolis, much more so the identical area, the Blue’s sources will likely be bar none in contrast to different groups in the league.
For instance, the Miami Heat’s G League Affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, performs 1,821 miles away from one another. That’s a 27-hour automobile experience or five-hour, 30-minute flight away. As a results of the Skyforce enjoying lengthy distance, it’s a tricky activity sending Miami Heat scouts and workers on journeys to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, frequently.
In the case of Thunder personnel and scouts, they’re ready to watch the Blue observe and compete in contests persistently by setting the alarm just some hours earlier. Based on the brief distance, it’s no surprise why the franchise tends to keep in-house for call-up candidates. They are nearer than every other workforce with their gamers.
On matter with the up-close examinations, the Oklahoma City Thunder will likely be finishing up a lot in each coaching camp and in the common season. With a rotation taking type round Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey and Chet Holmgren and a slew of veterans and prospects alike, it’ll be simpler stated than achieved allotting game-to-game minutes.
Because of the jam-packed rotation, sending Thunder gamers similar to Ousmane Dieng, Jaylin Williams and Vit Krejci on same-day assignments with the Blue ought to be a routine transaction in November and December. As a end result, a participant similar to Dieng, who thrives in on-ball creation, could have loads of alternatives to create with the Blue and work on his shot with no stakes hooked up.
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To tag together with the Thunder’s customary contract signees, the workforce’s pair of two-way signees Lindy Waters III and Eugene Omoruyi additionally earn some clear advantages from this news. Under a two-way contract, gamers are allowed up to 50 regular-season video games on the NBA roster whereas being prohibited from playoff basketball.
For Waters III and Omoruyi, the clear benefit right here is having Thunder workers constantly monitor their G League growth and schedule them advantageously on call-ups.
However, the largest winners of this news aren’t the two-way signees and even Thunder members – it’s the G League signees themselves.
As famous earlier, a workforce such because the Miami Heat hardly ever ever fosters homegrown expertise from their G League affiliate. Duncan Robinson is the clear exception. While distinguished call-up figures similar to Max Strus, Haywood Highsmith and Omer Yurtseven all have made notable contributions for the Heat. All three of their G League roots began outdoors of their group – with solely Strus ever enjoying for the Skyforce.
In regards to the Miami Heat, they’re a cream-of-the-crop in G League growth. Despite leaning extra so on different groups’ gamers, their ornamental resume proves it pays dividends to scan a big floor space.
However, in the event you slim your search efforts, you’re seemingly to uncover some diamonds. That’s precisely what the Oklahoma City Thunder have achieved, two-way deal or not.
Outside of some outliers, notably Justin Robinson, the Oklahoma City Thunder have caught solely to Oklahoma City Blue gamers for contract upgrades, two-way signings, and 10-day alternatives. In the hodgepodge of offers, they’ve panned gems in Lu Dort, Moses Brown and Aaron Wiggins off two-way contracts. But, there’s extra daylight than ever for strict G League gamers to earn a shot on the massive stage.
Last season, the Thunder had some up-and-downs with Paul Watson Jr. As a 27-year-old sharpshooter, Watson Jr. failed to present hardly any consistency on the G League stage, making him a tough promote for NBA rotational minutes. Because of his downspell, the Thunder have been ready to collaborate with the Blue to discover a alternative for the wing. They in the end settled upon Lindy Waters III.
Following Wiggins’ contract improve, Waters III earned his ticket to a two-way deal. After waiving Watson Jr. one week later, Olivier Sarr climbed to a two-way spot.
The fingerprints are stained onto the Blue’s observe facility. All marks lead to Thunder executives. As highlighted final season, the Thunder aren’t afraid to shake up the scene on two-way contracts. With Waters III not persistently enjoying till January, it’s cheap to consider the Thunder could have gone a special course final 12 months had they not had NBA scouts in the Blue’s constructing.
Pivoting into subsequent season, the Oklahoma City Blue are sure to share a number of dates with the Thunder in the Paycom Center – and also you’re sure to see some NBA-level scouts in attendance.
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