The Thunder still have one standard contract left to hand out, and with more than two months before rosters have to be finalized, plenty of names are going to get kicked around. But Oklahoma City may not need to go hunting very far. The player they already have in the building could be the cleanest answer: Otega Oweh.
Oweh doesn’t look like a throwaway roster add. Even as a mid-second-round pick, he brings the kind of defensive edge, athletic pop, and positional flexibility Oklahoma City tends to value.
His college résumé was built on being a disruptive presence on and off the ball, the sort of wing who can turn a steal into a fast break almost by himself. In transition, he posted 1.28 points-per-possession as the ball handler.
The shot still needs work. Oweh hit just 33.3 percent of his three-pointers last season at Kentucky, so he’s not walking in as a finished product.
But that’s the point here: the Thunder aren’t trying to plug a major hole in the rotation with this final spot. They’re looking for someone who can develop into a useful piece over time.
That’s where Oklahoma City’s track record matters. Sam Presti and company have repeatedly taken big swings on second-round talent, and Ajay Mitchell is the latest example of that approach paying off.
Oweh has already been mentioned by some as a possible next success story. Giving him an early start in the system could do more for his growth than extended time in the G League, where he’d be learning without the same level of day-to-day integration.
And with departures from Lu Dort, Isaiah Joe, and Aaron Wiggins thinning out the backcourt picture, there’s at least a path to real minutes. Mark Daigneault has also shown he’s willing to go deep into his bench, which means the 24-year-old could find himself in meaningful action sooner than most rookies.
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The offseason changes only sharpen the focus on what Wallace can become next. The Thunder appear intent on building with him in mind, and his defensive value already gives that plan a sturdy base. The next step is easier to see than it is to finish: if his outside shooting comes along, his rise could accelerate quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Kevin Durant Just Reopened A Thunder Wound OKC Fans Know Well
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For Thunder fans, the comparison is hard to miss because it goes straight to one of the most painful chapters in franchise history. There is also a key difference between the two moves, one that makes Durants point land differently in Oklahoma City than it might elsewhere, and it is the sort of wrinkle that keeps this debate from going away quietly. [Read more 🡒]
Jalen Williams Is Giving Thunder Fans Reason To Feel Better
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The encouraging part for Thunder fans is that the recovery and training work appears to be trending the right way. Ilics recent updates have pointed to steady progress in Williams offseason program, a welcome sign for a player whose talent has never been in doubt but whose availability has been tested. For a team with title expectations, any hint that Williams is moving closer to a cleaner, sturdier stretch is reason to pay attention. [Read more 🡒]