With Chet Holmgren, Ousmane Dieng and a swath of different new Thunder gamers added, basic supervisor Sam Presti’s imaginative and prescient for the workforce is lastly turning into extra clear.
Of course, Presti has at all times valued size, dimension and athleticism. But there may be now a tangibility to his additions.
Holmgren will undeniably anchor the OKC protection for years to return, utilizing his mixture of extremely distinctive attributes to awe and wow with blocks and alterations. Potentially, Holmgren might operate in a variety of offensive roles.
Ousmane Dieng, the eleventh general decide within the 2022 NBA Draft, presents a completely completely different skillset. While Holmgren has guard like abilities, Dieng immediately capabilities like a guard, and can probably make his title identified out on the perimeter.
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is already an even bigger guard, who was extra of a defensive challenge popping out of faculty. Now with an offensive onslaught of strikes at his disposal, Gilgeous-Alexander ought to lead the Thunder cost for the foreseeable future.
And then there’s former NBL standout Josh Giddey, whose 6-foot-8 body and premier court docket imaginative and prescient make him some of the enjoyable watches within the NBA. Giddey will operate as a commandeer of kinds, making the fitting choices and permitting others to flourish whereas nonetheless having the ability to create for himself.
There’s lots extra gamers that may be plugged into varied holes all through the roster that can enable OKC to succeed: Luguentz Dort, Tre Mann, Jalen Williams and extra. But for my cash, Gilgeous-Alexander, Holmgren, Giddey and Dieng most exemplify what Presti envisioned years in the past within the blockbuster commerce that kicked off his rebuild.
All 4 taller than their averaged place. All 4 have above-average deal with relative to their place, and the sky is the restrict for all 4 ought to they hone every of their distinctive and versatile abilities.
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