Projecting the Position-by-Position Depth Chart for Oklahoma City Thunder

Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti spent the summer putting together arguably the deepest roster in franchise history. Now, it's up to new coach Billy Donovan to assign roles, allocate minutes and keep everybody happy. 

In his July 8 interview with ESPN.com's Royce Young, Donovan admitted he hasn't given the upcoming season's rotation much thought, but he will address it more as training camp draws near:

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I haven't really had much of a chance to do much with that right now, in terms of getting into that. I think as we get closer to September I'll have a little bit more of a chance to talk with the guys. Certainly Russell, and Kevin and Serge ...

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With Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka predictably taking three of the five spots in the starting lineup, Donovan's toughest decisions will be at center and shooting guard. He'll also have to make some interesting choices with his second unit. Mitch McGary made a compelling case for playing time with a solid summer league, while niche players like Andre Roberson and Steve Novak could be left out of the loop. 

Donovan's first glimpse at his new squad came during voluntary team workouts held in Los Angeles, per Berry Tramel of the Oklahoman. The rookie coach will also have training camp and the preseason to help solidify his group. 

This is what the 2015-16 Thunder depth chart should look like in Donovan's first season.

Point Guard

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Starter: Russell Westbrook

After averaging 28.1 points, 8.6 assists, 7.3 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game, as well as finishing second in the NBA with a player efficiency rating (PER) of 29.12, Westbrook established himself as a MVP candidate and one of the best all-around players in basketball.

One near-certainty about Westbrook's 2015-16 campaign is that, with the returns of Durant and Ibaka, the fiery point guard won't be burdened by shouldering all of the load. The 26-year-old's usage rate of 38.4 percent led the league and was nearly 4 percent higher than the second-place finisher, Dwyane Wade (34.7). 

Westbrook also has two quality backups in D.J. Augustin and rookie Cameron Payne to help give him a breather. On the floor, the UCLA product's ability to fluctuate between human freight train and elite facilitator makes him a good fit in Donovan's scheme, which is predicated on ball movement and tempo. 

Backup: D.J. Augustin

The combination of experience and Payne being sidelined with a broken finger he suffered during a predraft workout should give Augustin a leg up on the backup point guard job. However, the seven-year veteran should still worry about the promising rookie's breathing down the back of his neck. 

Augustin's short stint in OKC last season had its share of highs and lows. On the one hand, he contributed 7.3 points per game in 28 contests and shot a respectable 35.4 percent from three. On the other, he disappeared down the stretch, scoring in double digits just once during the final 14 games.

He also allowed 110 points per 100 possessions, which was second-worst on the team behind Steve Novak. If Augustin can't become more consistent and/or Payne develops quickly, it's possible the 27-year-old drops to third string. 

Third String: Cameron Payne

Payne already faced a steep learning curve after going from the light competition of the Ohio Valley Conference to playing with the big boys in the NBA. Now, after being forced to miss the Summer League due to injury, his development is a step behind most of his rookie brethren.

The bright side is the Murray State star has the tools to be a solid pro. He's 6'2" with a 6'7" wingspan, and is coming off a sophomore season where he averaged 20.3 points and six assists per game. His 37.7 percent from downtown is proof he needs to be accounted for on the perimeter. 

In the short term, he could eventually dethrone Augustin on the second unit and even play some minutes alongside Westbrook in a two-point guard set. Down the road, he could develop into a solid two-way player and an option to replace Westbrook, if the All-Star point guard leaves in 2017.  

Shooting Guard

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Starter: Anthony Morrow

Donovan hasn't made a decision on Russell Westbrook's backcourt mate, but Morrow would be the most logical choice. He's one of the league's most lethal outside shooters, having finished in the top 10 in three-point shooting percentage five times during his seven-year career, which fits Donovan's need for floor spacing. 

He doesn't require a ton of touches and excels in catch-and-shoot situations, where he drained a ridiculous 65.1 percent of his shots last season, per NBA.com. Defensively, the Thunder also allowed just 102.1 points per 100 possessions with Morrow on the court in 2014-15, which was fifth-best among players on the current roster.

By opting for Morrow, the Thunder would have a three-point option that opposing defenses always have to account for. 

Backup: Dion Waiters

When you look at Waiters' numbers last season, you can make a case for his placement among the Thunder's first five. He scored 14.6 points in 23 starts while shooting 41.3 percent from the field and 36.7 percent from three. As a reserve, his scoring dipped to 10.6 points per game, converting 38.8 percent from the field and 26.3 percent from deep, per NBA.com.  

However, Waiters is a ball-dominant guard with a career 32.6 percent mark from downtown. He's at his best as a slasher who attacks the rim, which creates redundancy in the offense when paired with Westbrook. He also commands a lot of shots, averaging 13.1 field-goal attempts per game during his first three years in the league. 

With a starting rotation that already includes Durant, Westbrook and Ibaka, there's not much need for a guard who needs the ball in his hands to be effective. As a sixth man, Waiters could lead the offensive charge and provide a spark off the bench.

It may not be the ideal way to build his value going into restricted free agency next summer, but it's the role he's best suited to play in OKC. 

Third String: Andre Roberson

Roberson made 65 starts last season as he fit Scott Brooks' preference for a defensive-minded shooting guard in the starting rotation. He held opponents to just 39.8 percent shooting from the field, and Oklahoma City posted a defensive rating of 100.1 with him on the floor, as opposed to 104.7 when he was off of it. 

However, Brooks is gone, and Roberson's underwhelming offensive numbers (3.4 points per game, 24.7 percent from three) make it tough to justify playing time in Donovan's system. There will be times when Roberson's perimeter defense will be needed, but unless he improves considerably at the other end, it's hard to fathom him coming close to the 19.2 minutes he logged per game last season. 

Fourth String: Josh Huestis

The good news for Huestis, the NBA's first domestic draft-and-stash opening-round selection, is OKC is saving its final roster spot for him after trading away Jeremy Lamb and Perry Jones, per ESPN.com's Marc Stein. The bad news is, in a crowded backcourt, playing time will be hard to find. 

Much like Roberson, Huestis is a 6'7" swingman with a knack for putting the clamps on opposing scorers, but he hasn't shown much in the scoring department. In 44 D-League games last season, he contributed 10.6 points and shot just 31.6 percent from behind the arc.

Huestis will get a chance to show what he can do in the pros, but with so many options ahead of him, his opportunities will be limited this season. 

Small Forward

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Starter: Kevin Durant

After missing 55 games and undergoing three foot surgeries last season, Durant is nearing his return to the court. He made an appearance at Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman's charity softball game and went through increased workouts at the UCLA campus with Westbrook, per Anthony Slater of the Oklahoman.  

He's also been spending time getting to know Donovan, both during the summer league and while rehabbing at the INTEGRIS Thunder Development Center, per Nick Gallo of NBA.com:

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I’ve been in OKC, and actually coach (Donovan) has been working me out this past week. So it’s pretty cool to see your head coach on the floor with you and putting in work with you. So it’s like he’s been on this journey with me since he got in and that’s making us closer.

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However, while the 26-year-old is hoping to be back on the court in August, there is no official timetable for his return.

Durant's health and chemistry with Donovan are the two biggest X-factors going into the upcoming season. If he can return to the KD of old, he's the star who pushes the Thunder into title contention. 

However, if the 2014 MVP's health struggles aren't fully behind him, it will cast a dark cloud over what could be his final season in Oklahoma City as he gears up for free agency next summer.

Backup: Kyle Singler

The Thunder gave Singler a five-year, $25 million deal to sit behind Durant, but Tramel believes the Duke forward will face an uphill battle for court time:

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Singler is Durant’s backup, but in truth, Morrow, Waiters and Augustin figure to get more playing time. Unless Donovan banishes Andre Roberson, there’s no reason to think Singler will rise above 11th in Thunder minutes played.

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If Durant is healthy, it seems reasonable that the second-best basketball player in the world will receive a lion's share of the minutes. After all, KD has averaged less than 38 ticks per game just twice during his eight-year career: his rookie season and last year. Even in those two campaigns, he logged 34.6 and 33.8 minutes, respectively. 

Singler was underwhelming after coming over from the Detroit Pistons in a three-team trade at the February deadline. He contributed just 3.7 points and shot a mere 33.3 percent from the field in 26 contests. He did convert 37 percent from deep, but that came on a career-low 2.1 three-point attempts per game. 

In his exit interview, Singler talked about his expectations after being sent to Oklahoma City and the downside of his brief stint with the club:

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I had to go through a lot of things, but the most important thing is I wanted to come in and help the team as much as possible. That helped with the transition. But looking back on it, I felt like I played in two different seasons. In a way, it was a weird ending to the year, because I didn't feel like I had enough time with this team. 

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The Thunder wasted little time getting Singler under contract, which suggests the club has confidence in his future. If he can space the floor and give KD a chance to rest, he will be a better reserve option than what the team has had for most of Durant's career. 

Power Forward

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Starter: Serge Ibaka

Ibaka took the next step in his offensive progression last season, a welcome development for the Thunder as the team needs a legitimate third scoring threat. He shot 37.6 percent from downtown and knocked down 77 three-pointers in 64 games, which is more converted treys than in his prior five seasons combined (45). 

The Serge Protector still found time to polish his reputation as one of the game's best shot-blockers, rejecting 155 shots before going down with a knee injury in March. The arthroscopic procedure was only supposed to keep the 25-year-old sidelined for four to six weeks. 

However, after initially being selected to participate in an exhibition game pitting Team Africa against Team World on Aug. 1, Ibaka hasn't been cleared to play, per Yahoo Sports' Marc J. Spears. 

While missing out on the exhibition gives Ibaka more time to heal before training camp in the fall, it's still a bit concerning that his knee isn't ready to go nearly five months removed from surgery. Ibaka's health is crucial to the Thunder's season, as he's the team's best rim protector and overall defender. 

When Ibaka was off the court last season, the Thunder allowed 105.3 points per 100 possessions, compared to 101.2 when he was on the floor. If Ibaka's knee isn't right going into the season or if he's forced to miss time during the season, the Thunder don't have anyone else on the roster who could fill that defensive void.  

Backup: Mitch McGary

Nick Collison has been a franchise staple for 11 years and is the longest-tenured player on the roster, but the time has come for McGary to shine. The Michigan man averaged 6.3 points and 5.2 boards in 15.1 minutes per game as a rookie despite injuries affecting his conditioning and restricting to him to just 32 contests.

During the offseason, the self-proclaimed "Snake God" dropped nearly 30 pounds and looked like a new man at the summer league. He averaged 12.5 points and seven boards in four games while also impressing coaches with his improved mid-range jumper. 

Given the opportunity, McGary could break out as the team's burst of energy off the bench. After allowing opponents to shoot 63.6 percent from within six feet, the key for Mitchy Hustle will be developing on defense, as a frontcourt pairing of McGary and Enes Kanter could potentially be disastrous on that end. 

Third String: Nick Collison

Collison has never been known for putting up gaudy numbers. His true value comes in the things that can't be found on a stat sheet, such as setting great picks and taking charges. As he gets set to turn 35 years old in October, the seasoned veteran's biggest contribution should be as a mentor to McGary and Steven Adams. 

Fourth String: Steve Novak

Novak was on the trading block for most of the summer as the team looked to trim payroll, per Chris Mannix of SI.com. With Ibaka already filling the need for a sweet-shooting big man, the 32-year-old will likely rack up a ton of DNPs in his first full season with the Thunder.

Center

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Starter: Steven Adams

Enes Kanter's breakout second-half performance with the Thunder makes it easy to forget how well Steven Adams played before breaking his hand and losing his job to Kanter in February. The 22-year-old Kiwi contributed 7.7 points, 7.5 boards and 1.2 blocks during only his second season in the pros.

While Adams isn't the post-up threat that Kanter is, he's adequate enough on the offensive end to warrant a nod in the starting rotation. After all, with Durant, Westbrook and Ibaka already on the floor, Oklahoma City isn't going to have trouble putting the ball in the basket.

Adams is the kind of tough, rugged interior defender who can take pressure off of Ibaka. The key will be Adams staying out of foul trouble. His 222 hacks were tied for 14th-most in the NBA, and he was whistled 4.5 times per 36 minutes. 

Adams made significant strides at both ends of the court. With more time to develop, he could materialize into a solid two-way center. 

Backup/Sixth Man: Enes Kanter

The Thunder opted to match the Portland Trail Blazers' four-year, $70 million offer sheet to Kanter, but Darnell Mayberry of the Oklahoman says that doesn't make the Turkish Tower a lock for the starting rotation. 

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It’s possible, perhaps even probable, that the Thunder just awarded a maximum allowable contract to a player who will come off the bench. It would make Kanter the most grossly overpaid Thunder player since, well, Kendrick Perkins last season. But with Steven Adams in the mix there is no guarantee that Kanter will be a starter. There also is no guarantee Kanter will be closing lineups given the team’s depth and versatility and Kanter’s deficiencies.

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The deficiencies Mayberry is referring to come on the defensive end, where the Thunder allowed 110.4 points per 100 possessions with Kanter on the court. Even with OKC posting an offensive rating of 109.6 thanks to the big man's presence, the club still wound up with a net rating of minus-0.7. In other words, Kanter gave back every basket he put up.

While it's unorthodox for a well-paid center to assume a sixth-man role, it would be in the best interest of the Thunder to move Kanter to the bench. By leading the reserves, he wouldn't have to fight for touches with OKC's Big Three, and his defensive issues will be less costly going up against opposing teams' second units. 

It's a compromise that should ultimately appeal to all sides, but may take some selling to get Kanter on board after signing a max deal. The Thunder still get to utilize its best interior scorer and get more bang for its buck, while Kanter gets to be a featured weapon on a potential championship contender.