The Oklahoma City Thunder have exercised third-year contract choices on guards Josh Giddey and Tre Mann, in addition to ahead Aleksej Pokusevski’s fourth-year contract choice, per Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.
While all have been straightforward selections, Giddey, who completed because the Western Conference Rookie of the Month in all however months he was sidelined as a consequence of harm, was doubtless the simplest.
A key piece of the Oklahoma City rebuild alongside guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and No. 2 general choice Chet Holmgren, Giddey will doubtless be a mainstay on the OKC squad for a protracted whereas.
He performed and began in 54 video games in his rookies season, averaging 12.5 factors, 7.8 rebounds and 6.4 assists per recreation.
Giddey had an distinctive 2022-23 preseason, and will look to proceed bettering as a sophomore.
Mann’s choice was a possible no-brainer as effectively. The guard averaged 10.4 factors, 2.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists in round 22 minutes per recreation, and has already proven large progress within the preseason slate.
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Mann is about to see a lift in minutes this season, and might be one other key piece of Presti’s plan shifting ahead.
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While Pokusevski hasn’t finished something statistically to earn his extension, he’s appeared much-improved in preseason this yr.
He’s taking part in extra inside the offense. His shot reveals cleaner, flowing mechanics and a wider base. All over the court docket he’s oozing with extra confidence. His defensive versatility has been on full show.
It doesn’t occur in a single day, and it nonetheless gained’t for Pokusevski, who doubtless now has one other laborious yr forward of adjusting to a full, persistently rigorous NBA season. But in just a few video games, the Serbian 7-footer has proven progress, and probably much more enchancment on the horizon.
Oklahoma City now appears to their season opener in opposition to the new-look Minnesota Timberwolves on Oct. 19 at 7 p.m.
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