Thunder Summer League: Las Vegas Preview

July is a significant month around the NBA, as teams get their first look at their new rookies during summer league. Even outside of incoming rookies, this is also a chance for other young players around the league to showcase their improvement ahead of the upcoming season.

The Oklahoma City Thunder entered the month with at least eight games on the slate, three of which occurred earlier this week. Over the course of four days, the Thunder just played three games in Salt Lake City, finishing with a record of 2-1. Now, Oklahoma City will head to Las Vegas for an even larger event, with at least five more games on the horizon.

Whether it’s evaluating rookies, determining who is worthy for a two-way spot or making other roster decisions, this truly is a pivotal time for OKC and the players on its roster.

Who will be taking the floor for the Thunder in Las Vegas, and what should we be watching for?

Schedule

Each team competing in Las Vegas will play in at least five games. Once every team has played its initially scheduled four contests, the top four teams will go into a playoff bracket with an opportunity to play a sixth and final game in the championship. Every other team that doesn’t make the playoffs will have a fifth exhibition match scheduled on the July 15 or 16.

As the games go on, expect the Thunder rotations to change quite a bit, especially in the last few games that may feature players not already signed to a full-time NBA deal.

July 8: Dallas Mavericks | 2:30 PM on ESPN 2

In what will be a fitting first game in Las Vegas, Cason Wallace and Dereck Lively II will make their respective debuts after being traded for one another on draft night. This will also be a great test for Chet Holmgren, who will be going up against a really good center prospect.

July 11: Houston Rockets | 5:30 PM on NBA TV

The Rockets’ summer league squad is athletic and fast. This could be a high scoring game, especially if guys like Amen Thompson, Cam Whitmore and Jabari Smith Jr. get going. In a game like this, Wallace’s defense could prove key against a talented Houston guard rotation.

July 12: Indiana Pacers | 6:30 PM on NBA TV

Indiana is projected to take a big step forward next season in the Eastern Conference, but a key piece of that improvement will hinge on the play of rookie forward Jarace Walker. A highly skilled, strong big like him could be a tough to slow down for Oklahoma City.

July 14: Washington Wizards | 4:00 PM on ESPN U

A prospect many believe was coveted by the Thunder, Bilal Coulibaly ended up in Washington as the No. 8 overall pick. If he’s still playing at this stage of NBA Summer League, both him and Johnny Davis will could be one of the better backcourt duos in Las Vegas.

Roster

The Thunder’s summer league roster includes 18 players. Cason Wallace was officially signed by the team following his draft night trade becoming official on Thursday. He will now be able to make his debut on Saturday against the Mavs.

Similar to in Salt Lake City, the team will be coached by David Akinyooye, along with his assisting staff of Grant Gibbs, Eric Maynor and Kameron Woods.

Key Players

Jalen Williams

Whether or not Williams plays in Las Vegas is yet to be seen, after dominating his lone game in Salt Lake City.

Chet Holmgren

Following a promising two-game stint earlier this week, Holmgren will likely be playing against elevated competition in the frontcourt in this circuit.

Cason Wallace

It’s Wallace’s debut on Saturday against Dallas, as he looks to establish himself as a day-one rotation player as a rookie this season.

Tre Mann

With a pivotal third season approaching, Mann had a better showing in Salt Lake City than anyone could have hoped for.

Ousmane Dieng

It was a rough start to the summer for Dieng, but the upside that landed him in the lottery shined bright on Thursday against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Keyontae Johnson

The second rookie that’s expected to make his debut soon, Johnson will look to overcome a minor injury and return to the lineup at some point in Las Vegas.

Jared Butler

Fighting for another two-way spot in OKC after earning one last season, Butler truly has something on the line over the next week and a half.

Caleb McConnell

A well-rounded prospect known for his defense, McConnell was able to fill up the stat sheet when he got minutes earlier this week.

Zhaire Smith

A former first-round pick, Smith is looking to use summer league with the Thunder to make his way back into the NBA.

Additional Notes

• Both of the Thunder’s recent draft picks missed the entirety of Salt Lake City for different reasons. However, there’s a chance both make their debut on Saturday night. This will be the first opportunity for fans to see Wallace and Johnson in action while wearing a Thunder uniform.
• It will be interesting to see how many games in which we see Oklahoma City’s top prospects play. Especially since the team is coming off of three games in four days, the Thunder only has two games in the first five days of the Las Vegas circuit. Usually by the halfway point, most teams have started to remove top players from the rotation. As such, we could only see two games of the Thunder’s most exciting talents.
• If Salt Lake City was any indication of the talent on this Thunder summer league roster, the competition for a two-way spot is going to be extremely high. While Johnson currently holds one spot, there’s still a pair of two-way contract slots open in OKC.