Summer League is a prime opportunity for young players to break out — or growing players to get back on track. Oklahoma City has a handful of both.
Chet Holmgren and Cason Wallace have provided a glimpse into the future, each showcasing promise and skill on the court. Holmgren suited up in all but one Salt Lake City session game, and recently dropped 16 points and 10 rebounds in his first Vegas competition. Wallace has only played in one game after the trade was recently finalized, but led the team in scoring with 20 points and drilled six 3-pointers. Both players are proving why the Thunder valued them so high.
Tre Mann is the perfect example of a growing player looking to get back on track. After showing promise his rookie season, Mann suffered from the notorious sophomore slump. He still has loads of potential, though, and it’s been on display all summer. Mann notched three straight 20-point games in Salt Lake City, with a marquee performance totaling 28 points on 10-of-14 shooting against the Grizzlies. He’s done nothing but help his chances to lock in a spot on Oklahoma City’s roster — and maybe even a spot in the rotation.
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl was in the same spot as Mann entering the Summer League period after struggling to find his footing last season. JRE’s unfortunate foot injury caused him to miss significant time, and when he came back, he never really looked comfortable. The third-year forward averaged 6.8 points and 4.2 rebounds on 44.4% shooting in just 43 games played.
Oklahoma City clearly likes his lineup versatility and the type of player he is, but missing out on Summer League action is just another unfortunate bump in the road. His right ankle sprain has kept him out of every game in both Salt Lake City and Vegas, making it difficult for him to show his improvement and impact on the team.
In addition to JRE’s injury, the Thunder completed a trade bringing in Usman Garuba to the mix — another young forward with high hopes on draft night. It’s unknown if Garuba will be in Oklahoma City for the long haul, but if he is, there aren’t many more roster spots to go around.
Oklahoma City opted to pick up Robinson-Earl's contract instead of an early cut like Lindy Waters. The Thunder seem to like his fit on the roster, but he will have to make a strong impression the rest of the summer and throughout training camp. Without Summer League action, it's the only chance he'll have to showcase his off-season improvement.
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