With all the excitement of the Summer League over the past month, it’s easy to forget which young teams still have legitimate stats on the roster.
For example after watching Josh Giddey and Chet Holmgren In the past few weeks, it seems like everyone almost forgot that Oklahoma City also has Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on the list. And that’s a good thing for the Thunder.
There are only a handful of these “experienced” Thunder players who didn’t pass in Las Vegas. Along with Gilgeous-Alexander, both Lu there and Darius Bazley were previous summer league standouts with too much NBA experience to retire. While SGA and Dort are both on long-term suspensions, Bazley’s future is a little more uncertain.
The stretch forward had its ups and downs in Oklahoma City, but his main issue was consistency on the ground. At times it can seem like Bazley really figured it out. He showed true promise as a pick and roll post and play finisher. He was a solid compliment of praise for Giddey and became Oklahoma City’s best form of rim protection for most of the 2022 season.
He has potential as a sure-ball striker who can work his way to the edge with ease. He’s shown lightning at 3-point shooting, but again his consistency behind the line has been frustrating. The most worrying part for Thunder fans is the lack of improvement over the past few seasons. Bazley looked a lot like the player he was during his rookie season: turnover-prone, inconsistent and with a lot of potential.
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His ability to protect 1 through 5 with extreme versatility on the ground is enough for Oklahoma City to hold onto hope. Pairing an athletic, strong forward like Bazley with a generational talent at Holmgren might also mask some of his flaws. With another creator and 3-point shooter on the floor, Bazley could really refine his role.
With less self-creation and step-back threes, he could be the efficient jack-of-all-trades he was drafted to be – just in a smaller role. OKC would have four solid offensive options in SGA, Giddey, Dort and Holmgren, allowing Bazley to star in his role as rim protector and playmaker.
If he doesn’t fit the Thunder’s vision for the starting lineup this season, his value off the bench could be crucial. Oklahoma City’s list is finally filling up, but the depth is still a work in progress. Either way, Bazley still has a chance to weigh in on future plans.
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