Thunder general manager Sam Presti talks about Isaiah Hartenstein’s fit with OKC
Thunder general manager Sam Presti talks about Isaiah Hartenstein’s fit with OKC on July 6, 2024.
The Thunder’s summer slate begins in Salt Lake City on Monday.
Oklahoma City joins the Jazz, Grizzlies and 76ers as part of the intimate field of teams set to compete in the Salt Lake City Summer League, a three-day event that precedes the big show in Vegas. The Las Vegas Summer League, which will include all 30 teams, begins Saturday and runs through July 22.
Save for the Thunder’s lottery pick, Nikola Topic, who’s expected to be sidelined through next season with a partially torn ACL, OKC’s summer squad includes rookie draftees Dillon Jones and Ajay Mitchell. Aside from them, the roster is headlined by third-year forward Ousmane Dieng, who’s joined by a gaggle of his OKC Blue teammates from a season ago.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Thunder in Summer League:
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Thunder Summer League roster
F Buddy Boeheim: Boeheim has spent parts of the past two seasons with the Pistons as a two-way player. The sharpshooting wing is the son of legendary Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim.
F Clarence Daniels: Daniels was the America East Conference’s Player of the Year this past season, leading the league in rebounds and finishing second in points per game.
F Ousmane Dieng: Fresh off being named G League Finals MVP in the Oklahoma City Blue’s title run, the 2022 lottery pick enters a pivotal third season. He happens to be both the youngest player on this roster and the most experienced NBA player of the group.
F Alex Ducas: The Australian is one of the Thunder’s couple of players occupying a two-way contract. After starting every game of his fifth season for St. Mary’s, Ducas went undrafted.
G Adam Flagler: A member of the Blue a season ago, Flagler averaged 14.2 points and shot 39.8% from deep, eventually being converted to a two-way deal for the Thunder late in the season.
G Jack Gohlke: The Horizon League’s Sixth Man of the Year last season, Gohlke became the face of one of this past NCAA tournament’s most memorable mid-major darlings. In an upset win over Kentucky, the 24-year-old posted 32 points and made 10 3-pointers.
F Keyontae Johnson: The 50th overall pick a year ago, Johnson showed strong flashes with the Blue. He appeared in nine games for the Thunder last season.
F Dillon Jones: With Nikola Topic unavailable, Jones will be one of the Thunder’s biggest Summer League draws. Jones was a do-it-all guard at Weber State before being selected with the 26th overall pick in last month’s draft.
C Kylor Kelley: At 26 years old, Kelley is the oldest member of this roster. After going undrafted in 2020, he’s bounced around the G League, spending this past season with the Maine Celtics.
F Miller Kopp: Kopp was a member of the Blue this past season, averaging 6.3 points in 26 games.
F Malevy Leons: Leons finished this past season, his fifth, averaging 13.8 points and 7.1 rebounds for Bradley. The 6-foot-9 forward finished his college career by being named the Missouri Valley’s Defensive Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons.
G Hunter Maldonado: Maldonado averaged 10.5 points and 4.5 assists for the Blue last season, serving as a sound point guard for the eventual title squad.
G Ajay Mitchell: The Thunder’s lone second-round selection this year, Mitchell will get the chance to showcase his potential as a combo guard before spending time with the Blue as a two-way player.
C Tre Mitchell: The 6-foot-9 forward started in all but three of his appearances for Kentucky his past season. Playing through his graduate year, Mitchell played for four different college programs: UMass, Texas, West Virginia and Kentucky.
G Cormac Ryan: Altogether, Ryan spent six years in college, finishing his career as a starter for last year’s North Carolina squad.
G Jaden Shackelford: Shackelford has been a member of the past three Thunder Summer League rosters. He averaged 13.4 points for the Blue this past season.
G Jaykwon Walton: Walton spent this past season at Memphis, where he started 28 of his 32 appearances.
C KJ Williams: Another member of last year’s Blue title squad. He averaged 10.4 points and 6.6 rebounds.
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Thunder Summer League coaching staff
Assistant coach Daniel Dixon: A member of Woods’ staff this past season, Dixon will serve as head coach for the Summer League team in Las Vegas. He enters his third season with the Blue. Before then, he served as a video coordinator with the Charlotte Hornets.
Assistant coach Darnell Foreman: Also a member of Woods’ staff, Foreman enters his fourth season with the Blue and fifth with the Thunder organization.
Assistant coach Seth Jackson: Another member of Woods’ staff, Jackson enters his third season as a Blue assistant and fourth with the Thunder organization.
Assistant coach Eric Maynor: Maynor enters his sixth season with the Thunder, recently finishing his third season as an assistant under coach Mark Daigneault.
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When: July 8-10
Where: Delta Center, Salt Lake City
Thunder schedule:
- Monday: vs. Philadelphia 76ers,6 p.m. CT (ESPN, 98.1 FM)
- Tuesday: vs. Utah Jazz, 8 p.m. CT (98.1 FM)
- Wednesday: vs. Memphis Grizzlies, 6 p.m. CT (98.1 FM)
More: Isaiah Hartenstein thrilled OKC Thunder ‘not skipping steps’ on NBA championship journey
When: July 12-22
Where: Thomas & Mack Center/Cox Pavilion, Las Vegas
Thunder schedule:
- Saturday: vs Toronto Raptors, 7:30 p.m. CT, NBA TV
- July 15: vs. Miami Heat, 5 p.m. CT, ESPNU
- July 17: vs. Phoenix Suns, 7 p.m. CT, NBA TV
- July 19: vs. Golden State Warriors, 9:30 p.m. CT, NBA TV