Even earlier than coaching camp started, the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder had been deprived by the shortage of personnel. Kenrich Williams had knee surgical procedure final week. That can maintain him out at the least till preseason. After that, he will probably be re-evaluated.
It is one other robust stretch for the 29-year-old, who has struggled to remain wholesome. He is performed greater than 60 video games in simply two of his six seasons. He missed the beginning of final season with again spasms. That is his second knee surgical procedure. He had knee surgical procedure at TCU.
Williams is more likely to miss the beginning of the season. By the point he’s evaluated, there will probably be lower than every week till the Thunder’s season opener on Oct. 24 in opposition to the Denver Nuggets. It is not in OKC’s DNA to hurry injured gamers again, so it will seemingly gradual Williams’ return.
That is very true in his case. He will not be recalled on an emergency foundation. The Thunder are one of many deepest groups within the league and may deal with an harm to a bench participant. He averaged a career-low 14.9 minutes final season, so his significance has diminished as new waves of expertise have arrived on the roster.
With Williams out, that leaves about 10 minutes of enjoying time. Listed here are three Thunder gamers who may gain advantage from his absence to start out the 2024-25 season:
Dillon Jones
Coming into the season, not a lot is predicted from OKC’s rookie class. Nikola Matter will miss the season as he recovers from a torn ACL and Ajay Mitchell is proscribed in appearances as a consequence of his two-way contract. Dillon Jones is the most certainly participant to see enjoying time this season. If/when accidents come up, Jones will probably be one of many first gamers who could possibly be an choice.
That would occur within the first recreation with out Williams. However he should first impress in coaching camp and the preseason. His exterior shot should be dependable. Most of his photographs will probably be three-pointers. He can deal with the ball a bit of, however he will not be requested to do this with the Thunder.
If Jones has a powerful begin to the season, he might power the Thunder to maintain him within the rotation till he calms down. That might be a drastic change from what most individuals anticipated for the 22-year-old in his rookie marketing campaign.
Ousmane Dieng
The subsequent month will seemingly be an important interval of Ousmane Dieng’s profession. His first two years had been spent within the shadows. He did not even log a thousand profession minutes. The 21-year-old as an alternative performed for the OKC Blues within the G League. It was a profitable run. He led the Blues to a G League title final season and was named Finals MVP.
The subsequent step will probably be to show his price on the NBA stage. The issue is, he’ll have to alter roles. With the Blues, Dieng is primarily a ball-handler. He is lucky to seek out his rhythm. That paid off throughout his stints final yr. With the Thunder, he will not get the identical variety of touches. As a substitute, he’ll should benefit from his uncommon alternatives to play deep.
Dieng was buried on the depth chart at the beginning of the season. He in all probability would not have gotten an opportunity to play sooner if it weren’t for one thing sudden. That got here to fruition with Williams’ harm. This could possibly be a golden alternative to catapult Dieng up the depth chart.
Jaylin Williams
Jaylin Williams is one other sufferer of the workforce’s depth. He went from a playoff starter in his rookie season to a backup in his sophomore season and can seemingly be a backup in his junior season. The addition of Isaiah Hartenstein eliminates most of Williams’ minutes as a backup heart. That can power the 22-year-old to log most of his minutes at PF, which is extra his pure place anyway.
Williams’ harm has freed up some minutes as a backup energy ahead. Williams might simply soak up them. He is proven he generally is a succesful backup. His exterior shot is a luxurious. His potential to attract offense additionally helps OKC win the turnover battle.
Williams might be the most secure alternative to exchange him. He is confirmed and doubtless would have gotten enjoying time anyway. However now he might play greater than 10 minutes as an alternative.
This text was initially revealed on OKC Thunder Wire: 3 OKC Thunder Gamers Who Might Profit From Kenrich Williams’ Absence
