SALT LAKE CITY, UT – JULY 9: Ajay Mitchell #25 of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives past … [+]
The Oklahoma City Thunder have a solid roster for the 2024-25 season as the franchise looks to contend for its first-ever championship in OKC. Not only do the Thunder have several top-tier players who are ready to lead the way today, but there are also several young players who are still developing.
Since the introduction of the two-way contract in the NBA, Oklahoma City has been one of the teams that has been most successful in capitalizing on the opportunity. The Thunder have a history of signing high-impact two-way players, several of whom have ultimately converted to full-time contracts and become key rotational pieces at the NBA level – Lu Dort and Aaron Wiggins being the most prominent examples.
While originally only a pair of players could be signed to these contracts at any given time within a team, franchises are now allowed to sign three players to these two-way contracts.
Last season, the Thunder had Olivier Sarr, Keyontae Johnson and Adam Flagler on two-way contracts. Next season, that trio will be very different, as Flagler will return on a two-way contract alongside rookies Ajay Mitchell and Alex Ducas.
While two-way players typically don’t have a significant impact at the NBA level, let’s take a look at what each of Oklahoma City’s three players on this contract could bring during the 2024-25 season.
Ajay Mitchell
The Thunder’s star player is Ajay Mitchell, selected early in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft with the 38th overall pick. At 6’4″, the former Santa Barbara standout has the ability to play either guard position and has the upside to be a valuable role player at the NBA level.
Mitchell can make an impact in small ways as a rookie thanks to his ability to adapt his role to the team’s needs at any given moment. He’s a dynamic scorer who can generate points at all levels. He’s proven effective as an off-ball threat, but he’s also dished out over four assists per game in his three collegiate seasons, proving his skills as a primary point guard. Whether it’s scoring or facilitating play as a backup in limited action for the Thunder, Mitchell has what it takes to contribute as a freshman if given the opportunity.
Adam Flagler
The most experienced player on both sides in terms of professional minutes is Adam Flagler, who was a key part of the OKC Blue’s run to the G League Finals and won a championship last season. Before that, he was an undrafted guard at Baylor, where he also won a championship in college.
Flagler brings stability as a playmaker off the bench, being smart with the ball and generally making few mistakes. Last season in the G League, he had over 3.5 times as many assists on turnovers as a high-usage player. He can also score quickly and converted over 40 percent of his three-pointers with the Blue.
Alex Ducas
At this point, Ducas is the most interesting of OKC’s three two-way contract players, given that he has yet to play a single minute in a Thunder jersey. An undrafted rookie out of Saint Mary’s, the 23-year-old Australian forward has five seasons of collegiate experience under his belt but missed the entire NBA Summer League due to injury.
Ducas has a perimeter shot and size. At 6’0” and shooting 42.5 percent from three-point range on nearly six attempts over his final two college seasons, it’s an obvious baseline skill that could prove valuable in certain situations throughout the upcoming campaign. He won’t be a part of the nightly rotation, but if injuries strike or the Thunder need space on the court, Ducas could be an intriguing option.
With the Thunder still having an open spot on their 15-man roster, it wouldn’t be out of the question for one of those players to be converted to a full-time contract next season. Especially during training camp and the first half of the NBA season before the G League begins, it will be important for Mitchell, Flagler and Ducas to prove they bring something that could be valuable to the Thunder.
