Why It's Time for Oklahoma City Thunder to Give Up on Jeremy Lamb's Future
The Oklahoma City Thunder have been waiting for Jeremy Lamb to finally live up to the hype. Rather than continue to tread water with their inconsistent shooting guard, it's time for the team to move on.
Lamb is a former No. 12 overall pick and was one of the key pieces in the 2012 trade that sent James Harden to the Houston Rockets. By now, he should have solidified his position in the backcourt with All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook or at least show signs of improvement.
However, a month into his third season, the 22-year-old has been a disappointment. He failed to win the starting shooting guard position in the preseason. When injuries forced him into the lineup, there have been bright spots like his 24-point outing against the Detroit Pistons on Nov. 14. Unfortunately, those moments have been few and far between.
This year, Lamb is averaging 12 points per game and shooting 40.7 percent from the field (including 39.6 percent from three). Those would be decent numbers for a fourth or fifth option, but with the roster short-handed due to injuries, he should have used this opportunity to show signs of development.
Just look at what not having Westbrook or Kevin Durant around has done for Reggie Jackson's numbers (19.5 points, 7.5 assists, 5.3 rebounds, 41.5 percent from the field). Granted, Jackson is a better player, but he's also an example of someone who saw a chance to emerge and took it.
Furthermore, here's how Lamb stacks up against some of the guards taken after him.
| Name | Team | Points Per Game | Field-Goal Percentage | Three-Point Percentage | Player Efficiency Rating |
| Jeremy Lamb | OKC | 12 | 40.7 | 39.6 | 14.99 |
| Evan Fournier | ORL | 15.4 | 45.5 | 43.6 | 13.13 |
| John Jenkins | ATL | 12 | 50 | 33.3 | 16.11 |
| Tony Wroten | PHI | 17.9 | 41.4 | 26.6 | 15.15 |
A potential split would work for both parties. It would allow the team to streamline its guard rotation while also providing the UConn product a chance to develop with a team that believes in what he brings without him having to look over his shoulder.
No Confidence, No Consistency
You don't need to be a psychology major to figure out Lamb has confidence issues.
When Lamb is feeling good, you get stat lines like this one in a 97-82 win against the Utah Jazz on Nov. 26: 21 points on 7-of-8 shooting (3-of-3 from downtown), four rebounds and three steals in 24 minutes.
"Jeremy came in and gave us a good game,” head coach Scott Brooks said, per Anthony Slater of The Oklahoman. “Obviously he scored a bunch of points, but he competed on the defensive end. ... He earned his minutes tonight.”
When his mind is clouded with doubt, you get the guy who failed to make a field goal in the team's 91-86 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Nov. 23. Lamb clanked all six of his shots, including one from behind the arc, and played just 12 minutes.
The problem for the Thunder is that the latter version of Lamb seems to show up more often than the former. Throughout his career, he's had some bright moments, but he doesn't sustain those stretches long enough to build momentum.
In the end, that lack of confidence causes a vicious cycle. If he's out of sync, he's not productive. If he's not productive, the team will have less faith in him. If the team lacks faith, it will become harder for him to find his groove.
Three's a Crowd
One of the biggest obstacles standing in the way of Lamb's development is the lack of a defined role. He's not the Thunder's starting shooting guard. That job belongs to the team's perimeter pit bull, Andre Roberson.
Is he the next-best guard off the bench? No. That's Reggie Jackson, whose breakout performance this season mandates increased playing time both alongside and in place of Russell Westbrook.
Is he the team's best shooter in the backcourt? Lamb statistically holds the lead right now, but it's a safe bet that Anthony Morrow will eventually earn that distinction. Morrow's a career 42.7 percent three-point shooter, while Lamb holds a 35.7 career mark from long range.
Lamb isn't a starter. He isn't the sixth man, and he isn't a specialist. So, what is he? The answer could be trade bait. Jon Hamm of The Oklahoman pitched the idea of moving the third-year guard:
"The Thunder could choose to do Lamb a favor, much like they did with D.J. White and Byron Mullens, and send him to another team where he can attempt to prove his worth. Such a move could resolve rotation conflict and net the Thunder a future asset.
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With Roberson entrenched as the team's shooting guard of the future and a proven sniper in Morrow as the backup, Lamb is the odd man out in Oklahoma City. Even if he goes on a spirited run in the near future, he's not going to unseat Roberson in the starting rotation.
Traditionally, Scott Brooks has always chosen a fine defender over a good scorer. It's why Thabo Sefolosha was in the starting lineup for so many years. It's also why Roberson got the nod to replace Sefolosha before the season.
A change of scenery to a team that will make his development a priority is the only way Lamb will reach his true potential. He'll never grow with his minutes fluctuating on a game-by-game basis in Oklahoma City, where the focus is on winning a championship.
It should have never reached this point with Jeremy Lamb and the Oklahoma City Thunder.
By now, he should be a vital cog on a championship contender. Instead, he's a potential bust stuck in limbo on a team that doesn't have the patience to develop him.
The blame for Lamb's failures falls on both the player and the team. Oklahoma City never fully committed to the crown jewel of the biggest trade in the franchise's history, and Lamb never gave it a reason to do so.
Instead, the club continued to add depth by bringing in guys like Morrow and Roberson. That should tell you something about where it sees Lamb in its big picture. The end game now is to cut its losses and admit defeat.
What was once considered a possible bright spot for the team's future has now become a mistake of the past.
Note: Unless otherwise noted, all stats current as of Dec. 1 and are courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com.
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