Preseason play has arrived for the OKC Thunder.
OKC will begin its five-game preseason slate when it faces New Orleans in Tulsa at 7 p.m. Tuesday. It then has a home game against Milwaukee (Oct. 7), a road game against Atlanta (Oct. 12), a home game against Indiana (Oct. 13) and a road game against Houston (Oct. 15).
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The Big Three of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren continue to lead the way. But players will have to embrace new roles following OKC’s decision to trade Lu Dort, Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe this offseason.
The Thunder will also look to integrate rookies Aday Mara, Bennett Stirtz, Otega Oweh and Josh Dix. And Thomas Sorber will make his debut as well after missing all of last season due to a torn ACL in his right knee.
Here are five storylines for OKC this preseason:
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Williams only played 38 total games last season while dealing with a nagging right shooting wrist injury and strains in both hamstrings. But the former All-NBA forward says he’s now “totally healthy,” and that’s great news for OKC.
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From shot creation to playmaking to rebounding to defending every position, Williams is the most versatile player on the Thunder’s roster. He can thrive in any lineup combination, and he also competes with an infectious intensity.
Williams isn’t likely to log significant minutes this preseason out of precaution. But when he does see the floor, his importance to this team should be impossible to miss.
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Dort spent seven seasons with OKC, and he started in 477 of his 486 games. That means someone will have to step up as a starter now that he has been traded away.
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Cason Wallace and Ajay Mitchell are the leading candidates. Wallace can replicate Dort’s production as an elite point-of-attack defender and a capable 3-point shooter, while Mitchell can bring something different to the table as a talented shot creator and playmaker.
Wallace would be my bet to get the starting nod on most nights because he provides the smoothest transition for a team that has to make adjustments elsewhere as well. But both players are good options, and both will surely see time with the first unit this preseason.
In an exclusive interview with The Oklahoman this offseason, Thunder executive vice president and general manager Sam Presti said OKC will need to “embrace change and not fall victim to trying to imitate ourselves or our previous play style.”
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That willingness to experiment should be on full display this preseason. It should be seen with stars such as Gilgeous-Alexander, who could play more off the ball now that OKC has plenty of other capable creators. And it should be seen with bench players such as Kenrich Williams, who’s due for a larger role as a two-way Swiss Army Knife.
Despite losing some key pieces this summer, OKC still has one of the most versatile rosters in the NBA. And it has one of the most creative decision makers in head coach Mark Daigneault.
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OKC has five rookies in the mix, including Sorber, and all of them should get some burn this preseason.
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Sorber and Mara are two centers who provide shot blocking, rebounding and passing. Stirtz and Dix are two guards who can space the floor efficiently. And Oweh is a guard who has the physical tools to be a high-level defender.
It’s typically difficult for rookies to carve out consistent roles on championship-contending teams. But OKC is looking for guys to step up after the moves it made this summer, and these preseason games present opportunities for them to make their case.
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Multiple players will also be making their case to land OKC’s 15th and final standard roster spot. That opened up when the team traded Dort to Atlanta.
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OKC’s three players on two-way contracts — Brooks Barnhizer, Oweh and Dix — are prime candidates. And if one of them gets promoted to a standard deal, a new competition for their two-way spot would then begin.
That could be claimed by someone on an Exhibit-10 contract, which is a one-year, non-guaranteed minimum salary deal that allows a player to participate in both training camp and preseason games. Christoph Tilly, Andrew Holifield, Robert McCray V and Zhaire Smith are all on Exhibit-10 contracts for OKC.
TIPOFF: 7 p.m. Tuesday at BOK Center in Tulsa (Thunder+)
Justin Martinez covers the Thunder and NBA for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Justin? He can be reached at jmartinez@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @Justintohoops. Sign up for the Thunder Sports Minute newsletter to access more NBA coverage. Support Justin’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: NBA preseason storylines for OKC Thunder start with Jalen Williams’ injury return
