Biggest Takeaways from Oklahoma City Thunder 2015 Summer League
For a team built almost exclusively through the draft, the summer league is the first chance to see its handiwork in action. While the wins and losses will become moot once the real games start in October, there were some interesting tidbits to take away from the Oklahoma City Thunder's run in Orlando.
The Thunder went 3-2 in Orlando, closing the show with a thrilling 101-100 sudden-death double-overtime victory over the Los Angeles Clippers that ended on a Semaj Christon free throw. However, more important than the record, summer league coach Darko Rajakovic believes his squad showed a ton of heart, per Nick Gallo of NBA.com.
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"I think that our guys did a great job, not just today, but the whole week. We were dealing with several injuries. We were dealing with a couple of guys leaving our team and going to Las Vegas summer league, and just this group stayed together. They showed resiliency. They showed what it means to play together, and to be part of a system.
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The most notable injury on the Thunder's roster was 2015 first-round pick Cameron Payne, who missed all of the action due to a broken finger suffered before the draft. That left Mitch McGary and Semaj Christon, the gems of last year's OKC draft class, to shoulder most of the load. Undrafted rookie Quinn Cook from Duke also chipped in, finishing fourth on the team in scoring with 10.2 points per game.
Of course, a lot of what you witness in July should be taken with a grain of salt. After all, Jeremy Lamb was once a summer league star before struggling to crack the Thunder rotation during his tenure in Oklahoma City and has since moved on to the Charlotte Hornets.
Still, with the NBA going into a lull before picking up again in the fall, there were some interesting takeaways from OKC's five-game stint in Florida.
Thunder Forming Bonds on and off the Court
The Thunder's summer league squad got a pleasant surprise when Kevin Durant, Dion Waiters and Anthony Morrow dropped by to take in the action. The impromptu visit allowed the trio to spend quality time with new coach Billy Donovan as well as show support to the young prospects trying to crack the roster.
According to Morrow, moments like this are a testament to the kind of franchise the Thunder is, per Gallo.
"That's the type of organization we are. We're like a family, enjoying the time together. We need to check in with each other. We're checking on each other all the time anyway, but we saw an opportunity to come out here to Orlando and support. So, that's what we're doing.
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Rajakovic was appreciative that the team's veterans took the time to show their solidarity: "It means a lot for all of us coaches. It means a lot for all of those players on the roster. Seeing Kevin (Durant) over here, and Anthony Morrow and Dion Waiters, that means the world to us."
There aren't many teams that can brag about having the best player in its franchise history attend its summer league games, but it's that kind of commitment that makes the Thunder different from everyone else.
On top of attempting to make a comeback from bone-graft surgery on his foot, Durant will deal with the constant questions about his future as he hits unrestricted free agency next summer. In addition to getting rehab and rest, KD is watching guys he will likely never play with get their first taste of the pros.
As for Morrow, his goal this offseason was to knock down between 70,000 and 80,000 shots in preparation for the upcoming campaign but still find time to watch Chef Quinn cook. Waiters, also a free agent in 2016, took a break from working on his game to check out lesser-known players working on theirs.
2016 Could Be the Year of the Snake God
McGary is having an impressive—albeit quirky—offseason so far. Off the court, he took to Instagram to express his love for his reptilian friends and infamously dubbed himself "The Snake God."
More importantly, after a rookie season in which injuries affected his conditioning, the Michigan man pushed himself to get into better shape and has lost close to 30 pounds this summer, per Darnell Mayberry of the Oklahoman.
"I'm sick of being injured and not being able to play at full strength 100 percent. So this summer was really key for me. I stayed in Oklahoma City and just been working my tail off to get into shape. I feel great. This is the best I've felt in a couple years, in three years, since before back surgery.
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Orlando was the team's first opportunity to see the newly svelte McGary in action. The 23-year-old averaged 12.5 points and seven boards in four contests, and he impressed Rajakovic with the strides he's made as a shooter, per Mayberry.
"He's a more confident shooter than he was last year. I think his understanding of the system and his understanding of his position is a lot better. He’s not forcing plays. He’s playing more team basketball. He’s a very capable passer, and we want him to be that for us; able to create plays for other players and to be great on the ball.
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Oh, and he made plays like this, as well.
Even in a crowded frontcourt, a slimmer, more evolved McGary could make an impact for the Thunder next season, provided Donovan can carve out minutes for him. Beyond the club's $70 million man, Enes Kanter, OKC doesn't have a bevy of interior scoring options on the roster, though playing time for both Serge Ibaka and Steven Adams will factor into the equation significantly.
With excess weight and inexperience no longer an issue, McGary's combination of energy, rebounding, post moves and mid-range shooting could make him a sneaky offensive weapon coming off the bench.
Semaj Christon and Dakari Johnson Could Be Second-Round Steals
As exciting as McGary's progress is, fellow 2014 classmate Semaj Christon was Oklahoma City's real star of the show in Orlando. The former Xavier point guard tied for sixth in scoring with 15.6 points per game, while his 6.8 assists led all Orlando participants as well.
Christon's performance also had its share of warts, as he averaged 4.2 turnovers and converted just 33.8 percent from the field, including 12.5 percent from three. Still, despite the rough shooting, he remained undeterred, per Mayberry.
"Just being more aggressive. Shooting the shots I know I can make," Christon said after the team's Orlando finale. "My teammates still had confidence in me. They tell me when I’m open shoot it. When I get in the lane, if I can get it off get it off."
The good news for Christon is, if he can improve his outside jumper and take better care of the basketball, he could have a future in the NBA. The bad news is, with Russell Westbrook, D.J. Augustin and Payne already on the roster, that future likely won't be with the Thunder.
Instead, Christon will spend another season honing his skills in the D-League with the Oklahoma City Blue. In 44 games last year, he averaged 18.6 points and 5.7 assists while playing 35.4 minutes per contest, according to RealGM.
Meanwhile, Christon wasn't the only productive second-round pick on the Thunder roster. Center Dakari Johnson, the No. 48 overall pick in last month's draft, put in work. He contributed 7.6 points per game, and his 8.6 boards were third-best in the league, ahead of 2015 lottery picks Frank Kaminsky and Myles Turner.
Johnson's work on the glass earned him some props from Rajakovic, per Mayberry: "He’s physical enough he’s not shying away from the contact. And I think he has good length. He has good instincts to get those rebounds. And he just doesn’t back off. He’s doing a really good job fighting for position and being in the right spot."
Like Christon, Johnson will be hard-pressed to find a spot on the Thunder's loaded roster. However, both players should look to their summer league performances as the starting point to something bigger. With some extended time to work out the kinks in the D-League, the duo could materialize into intriguing trade chips down the road.
For most of the NBA, the summer league is like a trailer to a movie that is yet to be released. It's good for raising fan excitement, but what ultimately matters is the finished product.
However, for a team as committed to developing young talent as the Oklahoma City Thunder, this showcase is akin to planting seeds in hopes of building the perfect garden. Some may blossom, while others may never grow.
But the time spent nurturing makes it all worthwhile.
All Summer League stats courtesy of NBA.com, unless otherwise noted.
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