OKC Thunder 2016-17 NBA Training Camp Roster Rankings
The Oklahoma City Thunder are entering a new, scary era, one without the certainty of title contention. Even though the roster isn't entirely bereft of talent, Kevin Durant and Serge Ibaka are gone—and so are the (realistic) championship aspirations.
Oklahoma City will instead go through a competitive rebuilding stage, and there are few players better to build around than Russell Westbrook. Even though making the playoffs could prove to be a tough challenge, the Thunder will still have the best star on the court most nights.
The Thunder's core is young and intriguing, and Durant's departure brings a fresh wave of questions: Can Steven Adams develop into an All-Star center? Will Westbrook's presence allow Victor Oladipo to reach his ceiling? Just how good can rookie Domantas Sabonis be? How does the offense survive when Westbrook's on the bench?
Head coach Billy Donovan has plenty of experimenting to do. Figuring out a rotation that already has some glaring weaknesses on the wing won't be easy, and the Thunder still have to settle who will make the cut on this new-look roster.
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20. Alex Caruso (PG/SG)
Alex Caruso went undrafted despite finishing his collegiate career at Texas A&M as the school's leader in assists and steals. The 6'6" guard is a smart and lengthy defender, but he needs to add to his 181 pounds to survive the physicality of the NBA.
19. Chris Wright (PF)
Chris Wright has been out of the NBA since the 2013-14 season, which he ended by averaging 6.0 points and 2.5 rebounds in eight games for the Milwaukee Bucks. He could be a serviceable combo forward with his solid 6'8" and 225-pound frame, but he'll face tough competition in training camp.
18. Kaleb Tarczewski (C)
Kaleb Tarczewski was named to the Pac-12 All-Defensive Team following his senior season, and he's a strong, bulky defender down low with his 245 pounds. However, the 7-footer went undrafted last summer, and it's unlikely he'll make the roster due to the Thunder's depth up front.
17. Semaj Christon (PG)
Semaj Christon's chances of making the roster were initially slim to none, but he has a legitimate shot to secure a slot as the third-string point guard following Cameron Payne's injury. It would likely be a temporary gig for the 6'3", 190-pound playmaker, but it's more than he could have hoped for. Christon averaged 18.6 points and 5.7 assists with Oklahoma City Blue during the 2014-15 NBA D-League campaign.
16. Mitch McGary (PF)
Mitch McGary could be a serviceable rotation big, but he'll likely have to prove that elsewhere following training camp. A second drug suspension means he'll be out for the first 15 games of the season, and the Thunder are reportedly looking into trade options, according to The Vertical's Adrian Wojnarowski. He is listed at 255 pounds, but he has appeared heavier than that entering preseason.
15. Josh Huestis (SF)
Josh Huestis spent most of last year in the D-League, appearing in just five NBA games. With Durant gone and the Thunder short on the wing, he should have a unique opportunity to carve out some playing time. At 6'7" and 230 pounds, he has the potential to play three positions, especially if he develops a consistent three-point shot.
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14. Nick Collison (PF)
Nick Collison's minutes declined to 11.8 per game last year, and that number could drop to single digits during this campaign, barring a major injury bug. He is a respected locker room presence after spending all of his 12 seasons with the franchise, but the Thunder should prioritize developing their younger bigs.
13. Alex Abrines (SG)
Alex Abrines was selected 32nd overall by the Thunder in 2013, so his rookie status doesn't say much. He has spent the last four seasons with FC Barcelona as a major contributor, and he should transition to the NBA just fine.
Abrines connected on 41.7 percent of his three-point shots in Euroleague last year, and that's where he'll contribute the most. Donovan will have to experiment with lineups, and Abrines could play a crucial role in spacing the floor amid mediocre shooters. He has a typical lanky European frame at 6'6" and 190 pounds, and he could struggle to guard physical 2-guards.
12. Ronnie Price (PG)
Ronnie Price has been inefficient for most of his career, but he shot over 30 percent (34.7) from three-point range for the first time since 2009-10 last year. The 6'2" point guard is a serviceable veteran who can play defense, and the Thunder will keep their fingers crossed that last year's shooting resurgence wasn't a fluke.
With Payne sidelined for the early part of the season, Price should see plenty of playing time.
11. Kyle Singler (SF)
There were few positive takeaways from Kyle Singler's 2015-16 campaign—he shot 38.9 percent from the field and just 30.9 percent on his long-range attempts. Those are horrendous figures for a forward, much less one whose calling card was supposed to be shooting.
Thankfully for Singler, he barely faces any competition at his position, so he should see a decent amount of playing time by default. His career average of 37.0 percent from deep is acceptable, and he'll have to inch closer to that figure to provide value.
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10. Anthony Morrow (SG)
Anthony Morrow's three-point shooting percentage dropped to 38.7 percent last year (42.5 career average), and along with it came limited playing time (13.6 minutes per game). He brings value in the spacing department, but it remains to be seen if he can regain his touch.
9. Domantas Sabonis (PF)
Sabonis came to the Thunder via the Ibaka trade package, and he might prove to be the best piece of the deal. He has a versatile skill set to build upon, and he should be able to crack the rotation, even amid a logjam. The 6'11", 240-pound forward inherited a great feel for the game from his legendary father, Arvydas, and he has some nifty post moves, an improving shooting stroke and fast feet.
8. Joffrey Lauvergne (C)
Joffrey Lauvergne adds even more depth to a crowded Oklahoma City frontcourt, a situation he is familiar with from his time with the Denver Nuggets. He's a nice piece and will bring more size and physicality close to the basket when Adams is resting.
Lauvergne will likely hover around 15 minutes per night, but he'll be an excellent insurance policy. The French big man has a soft touch, and if he can continue extending his range to the three-point line, he could be a tremendous contributor.
7. Cameron Payne (PG)
Payne opted to forego surgery on his fractured foot, and he could be out for up to eight weeks, according to ESPN.com's Royce Young. Once he returns, he'll be a crucial part of the team.
Payne should be the backup point guard on this roster, but the Thunder could field intriguing lineups with three guards. It would take pressure off Westbrook and allow the superstar to cause chaos on cuts, which is a rare sight but a scary proposition.
6. Andre Roberson (SG/SF)
Andre Roberson has been the Thunder's starting shooting guard for two straight seasons. With the addition of Oladipo and departure of Durant, he will most likely slide down to the starting small forward spot.
His three-point shooting remains unreliable (31.1 percent last year), but the Thunder don't have any better options. Roberson is a smart cutter and a pesky defender, and he should form a formidable perimeter defense with Oladipo and Westbrook.
5. Ersan Ilyasova (PF)
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Ersan Ilyasova started 52 games with the Detroit Pistons last season before being traded and coming off the bench for the Orlando Magic. It's likely he'll return to a starter's role with Oklahoma City, although his minutes could be up and down.
Ilyasova is a prototypical stretch 4 with a career average of 37.0 percent from deep. If OKC opts to start the non-shooting Roberson at small forward, inserting a sharpshooting big up front will be necessary to survive the cramped spacing.
Ilyasova isn't the defensive stopper Ibaka was, but he is a smart player, positions himself well and draws a lot of charges. His lateral movement leaves a lot to be desired, and he can be especially exposed against quick, perimeter-oriented forwards.
Most importantly, Ilyasova isn't as defensively disastrous as Enes Kanter, which should earn him a starting nod over his fellow Turkish big man. Sabonis and Collison also figure to earn some playing time, but Ilyasova should still be good for around 20 minutes per night.
4. Enes Kanter (PF/C)
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Kanter is the Thunder's most polarizing player. His incredible ability to fill up the stat sheet is almost unparalleled, but the defensive struggle remains his biggest flaw.
He isn't particularly athletic, he has slow feet and he lacks the smarts of a capable defender. The Thunder surrendered a whopping 6.1 fewer points per 100 possessions with Kanter on the bench last year, according to NBA.com.
That being said, Kanter is an incredible offensive talent. He always seems to find ways to score. Kanter utilizes his strength and soft touch expertly, which makes him borderline unstoppable in the low post. While his positioning on the defensive end is lackluster, he boxes out well and sniffs out plenty of offensive rebounds. He averaged 21.7 points and 13.9 rebounds per 36 minutes last season, according to Basketball-Reference.com.
It's interesting to ponder how much damage the 6'11" big man could do with increased playing time.
Kanter will be asked to do even more offensively this year. His defensive limitations might ensure he'll keep coming off the bench, although having strong individual defenders around him could leave that up for discussion.
3. Victor Oladipo (SG)
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The shooting guard position has been Oklahoma City's weakness for several years now, and the franchise opted to address it drastically this summer. The Thunder traded Ibaka, acquiring capable starter Victor Oladipo and two complementary additions in Ilyasova and Sabonis.
The move didn't help keep Durant, but it's still an intriguing change. Oladipo is a two-way threat, something the Thunder desperately needed, and at 24, he could still make progress.
Oladipo averaged 16.0 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists last season while connecting on 34.8 percent of his long-range attempts. Oklahoma City is getting a player who still might not have reached his ceiling and has some valuable experience already. The Magic experimented with Oladipo at both guard positions, which only adds to his versatility.
Oladipo should have more room to operate within a backcourt that has a speed demon like Westbrook, as opposed to a non-shooting, less explosive point guard like Orlando's Elfrid Payton. That said, Oladipo must take another stride for the Thunder to even sniff the playoffs.
He has shown a lot of promise on the defensive end, especially interrupting passing lanes, and he has the physical tools to be one of the best perimeter defenders in the league.
Consistency is crucial to achieve such status.
2. Steven Adams (C)
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In a lot of ways, Adams is the perfect teammate—a hard-working, low-maintenance big on the court and a laid-back, quirky presence in the locker room.
It's easy to forget that he is only 23 and headed into his fourth NBA season, especially when watching Adams' media day press conference. All the things others worry about—roster turnover, individual numbers, increased responsibilities—seem irrelevant to the starting center, who appears unfazed by the circus that transpired during the offseason.
He's just here to work.
Adams was a rock in the playoffs last season, averaging 10.1 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. His pick-and-roll play has improved, especially when setting screens. With fewer threats on the court and more attention on Westbrook, Adams might be asked to make more plays with the ball, and it's a skill he should be able to develop.
Adams was modest about it on media day, but he is an exceptional defensive anchor. Fans should still remember his incredible, game-winning defensive play in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals against the San Antonio Spurs.
That particular sequence illustrated Adams' versatile defensive skill set—discipline in high-pressure situations, positioning, quick thinking and fast feet. Following his offensive development will be intriguing, but his overall presence is sufficient to rank him as the second-most important player.
1. Russell Westbrook (PG)
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Westbrook could easily have thrown in the towel and demanded a trade when Durant decided to skip town. Instead, he signed a three-year, $85 million extension, granting the Thunder more time to build a roster around him.
While Durant's departure is a huge short-term blow, there should be no shortage of exciting plays at Chesapeake Energy Arena, thanks to Westbrook. He remains an incandescent competitor who will light up the city with incredible individual feats and performances.
If Westbrook can avoid injury, he could have a historic season. He put up 23.5 points, 10.4 rebounds and 7.8 assists last year despite sharing the offensive load with Durant and Ibaka.
Westbrook is no stranger to a heavier work load, either, according to Brad Leibfried of NumberFire: "The 2014-15 Thunder team is a great litmus test for how great Westbrook can be, as Durant was limited to just 27 games that year due to injury. In that season, Westbrook had the second-highest usage rate of [all time] at 38.3 while [posting] 28.1 points, 8.6 assists, and 7.3 rebounds per game."
Without a clear secondary offensive threat on the team, it's safe to say Westbrook will come close to cracking the record for usage rate this year. Considering his numbers during 2014-15, he may become the first player to average a triple-double since Oscar Robertson in 1961-62. This team doesn't have enough fire power to make noise in the playoffs, so there won't be any shame in chasing stats on a nightly basis.
Westbrook is one of the best players in the world, and the stage is his.
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