Oklahoma City’s trip to Atlanta could turn into a real audition night for its two-way players.
When the Thunder meet the Hawks on Monday to open the front end of another preseason back-to-back, most or all of the returning rotation group is expected to stay back in Oklahoma City. Mark Daigneault made that clear at practice on Saturday, and it opens the door for a stripped-down roster to carry the load.
That kind of setup matters for Brooks Barnhizer, Otega Oweh and Josh Dix. With the Thunder still holding an open spot on the standard 15-man roster, a preseason game like this gives those players a chance to separate themselves when the usual names are not on the floor.
Oweh and Dix are both rookies, so they’ll be worth tracking all season, but Monday offers something more immediate: a chance to flash enough to get noticed. Neither has made a major imprint in preseason so far, which only makes this opportunity more valuable. One strong showing could help answer what each one can bring at the NBA level.
Barnhizer is the most interesting name in the group. He is back on a two-way contract for his second NBA season, and he already drew attention last preseason. This time, he has the edge that comes with a year in the system.
He may also be the leading candidate for that last standard roster spot. Through two preseason games, Barnhizer has put together a solid start, and a big performance in Atlanta would only strengthen his case. If the Hawks decide to lean into their regular rotation, that would make the spotlight even brighter.
None of this changes the bigger preseason picture all that much. The game itself may not carry much weight in the larger camp picture. But for one of the Thunder’s two-way players, it could still become a meaningful step in the race to fill that final roster spot.
In Other News...
Aday Mara Might Unlock A New Side Of Shais Game
Aday Mara has looked like the kind of rookie who can change the shape of a possession before the Thunder even get into their half-court offense. His preseason work has given Oklahoma City another vertical target, and in a system that already rewards spacing and quick decisions, that sort of presence can matter. For a team built around Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's ability to bend defenses, a lob threat like Mara opens up a different layer of pressure on the rim.
The bigger ripple could be in how Gilgeous-Alexander is able to create for others this season. If Mara continues to give the Thunder a reliable finishing option around the basket, it could help push SGA into more playmaking chances and raise his assist output. And he is not the only rookie benefiting from the way Gilgeous-Alexander draws attention, with Bennett Stirtz also finding room to adapt in preseason while working more off the ball. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Young Guards Already Facing Pressure After Dort Trade
The Thunder moved on from Luguentz Dort and turned the spotlight onto two young guards who now have to absorb a lot of what he brought to the rotation. Cason Wallace and Ajay Mitchell, both on rookie contracts, are being asked to help fill the perimeter defense and two-way steadiness Dort provided, and Oklahoma City is banking on their upside to make the transition work.
The early returns, though, came with some bumps in the preseason opener, where both guards had trouble finding a rhythm offensively and Oklahoma City had another familiar Dort trait to account for on the glass. The organization still believes in their long-term fit, but there is no hiding the immediate pressure: the Thunder need those minutes to look more stable sooner rather than later. [Read more 🡒]
Kevin Durant Had An Emotional Reaction To Russell Westbrooks Exit
Russell Westbrooks announcement that he was retiring from the NBA prompted a wave of reaction across the league, including from one of the most familiar voices in his career arc: Kevin Durant. Westbrook shared a reflective message as he closed the book on his playing days, and the response from former teammates and longtime peers showed just how much respect remains for the former MVP after a career that helped define an era in Oklahoma City and beyond.
Durant said he was sad to see Westbrook step away and praised what he accomplished over the years, while Zach Randolph offered the idea that Westbrook could still have more basketball ahead of him. For Thunder fans, it is another reminder of how tightly Westbrooks legacy remains tied to Oklahoma City, even as the conversation now shifts to what comes next and whether retirement is truly the final chapter. [Read more 🡒]