Fernando Medina/NBAE/Getty Images
The Thunder are on the Summer League board! Oklahoma City whipped the Pistons 83-62 to improve to 1-2 in Orlando. The big news is that Perry Jones III didn’t play as he’s out for the remainder of the week because of an ankle sprain. Disappointing, because Jones was certainly one of the more intriguing and interesting players to watch on the roster.
Grades for the three roster guys that played and a few leftover thoughts:
Reggie Jackson: A-
Quietly, Jackson appears to really be finding his rhythm. He’s finding the pace he plays best at, the style he’s effective with and his best spots and pockets to score. He played his most complete game yet of the summer finishing with 15 points, seven rebounds and five assists in 25 minutes.
It really looked like Jackson was comfortable. He was confident with the ball in his hands and decisive. He used the pull-up game a bit more, which was nice to see. He ramped up his defensive intensity a bit and finished with seven fouls, but overall, Jackson put in his best game yet of the summer and definitely should encourage Thunder fans about their third string point guard.
Perry Jones: N/A
Again, Jones sat out today’s game because of an ankle sprain and won’t play in OKC’s remaining two games.
Cole Aldrich: B
Finally, Aldrich showed a little something. He was active, played hard, showed some touch on the offensive end in the paint and used his length defensively. It wasn’t anything incredible, but it was a solid 28 minutes for Aldrich. He finished with 10 points, seven rebounds and two blocks, but played a really nice second half challenging shots, finishing in the paint and defending the pick-and-roll.
Aldrich is never going to be someone that blows you away with a big 18-12 kind of stat line, but he can be a solid big man to do his job, defend the paint and score when he has chances. Which is what he did. It’s at least a little something to feel better about after two largely lackluster efforts from Aldrich.
Lazar Hayward: B-
Hayward is really shooting the ball pretty terribly in Summer League, but it feels like he’s making a lot of good plays, scoring points and stacking the box score. Another 15 points (on 4-13 shooting) and four rebounds. Dennis Scott called him a “hard hat small forward” which really fits. He doesn’t do much of anything flashy, but has been consistently solid.
A few other notes:
- Hasheem Thabeet has officially signed with the Thunder so there’s a chance he might play Thursday.
- Latavious Williams didn’t have the same kind of impact today, but I just like the way he looks and plays. He has the look of an NBA player. Maybe not a starter or even rotation player, but he’s got NBA talent.
- Kyle Singler’s hair. Whoa.
- Garrett Temple put in a nice game scoring 15 points on 5-9 shooting.
Good to see a Hoya player on the team!
I'm really sad that we can no longer make cheese jokes around here.
Alright, I'm a Georgetown alum and massive Hoya fan, so let me give you all my scouting report on Hollis Thompson, as someone who's seen every game of his college career.
If you leave Hollis open, he will absolutely make you pay with his jump shot. That's the most important thing about his game, the kid is an absolutely dead eye shooter and he's made that three for buzzer beater wins. He has an issue with passivity on the court, but that won't be a problem given the role he's been asked to handle. Oddly, he's not a good FT shooter, Hoya fans were never sure why that was. I assume its mechanical and will be corrected by the coaching staff. His handle is very suspect for the next level; this is something he'll need to work on. He has the length and athleticism to be a good defender, but was never tasked with shutting down an opponent's best option as a Hoya (that was always senior guard Jason Clark). He is a solid rebounder for his position, moreso on the defensive end than the offensive one. He's a strong passer, as is everyone who comes out of JT3's princeton-style system. (JT3, the coach of Georgetown, used to coach Princeton and Pete Carrill, the inventor of the passing-centric princeton offense is one of his biggest mentors.)
Hollis Thompson is a very smart kid, he was rumored to have the highest grades and SATs of a Georgetown scholarship player since Princeton Transfer Jon Wallace. He should be able to pick up our basic offensive sets and defensive rotations quickly. If he is able to improve his handle, he has a chance to give us basically what Daquan Cook does with the upside potential of less streakiness.
@koolcrud Im a Hoya alum as well, and was trying to write a summary for everyone as well, but Im glad I saw yours, way better than what I was trying to put together.
Anyway, Im happy about this too.
@koolcrud Yeah, thanks for the info.
@koolcrud Thanks man!
@dancassidy35/FreeFestusFromGSW! You're all welcome! I'm happy to answer any questions about his game anyone might have. As you might imagine, I'm extremely excited about this development! Us Hoya fans thought he was gonna lose his shot at the NBA because of this sports hernia.
Since we don't have anything to talk about in here:
http://www.dailythunder.com/2012/07/report-thunder-sign-undrafted-rookie-hollis-thompson/
via Darnell
The Thunder and UFA Nazr Mohamed have reached an agreement on a two year deal for the vet minimum.
@Jax Raging Bile Duct if I hadn't seen the Thompson signing already, I would be a very sad man. Replace it with Fish, and I would have just assumed you were lying.
@Jax Raging Bile Duct troll
@KDRUCKERPARK66 trololo.youtube :(
Thunder sign Hollis Thompson to a 3 year deal which means Fisher isn't coming back
@tydude tell me more
@diddoff http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXlnMveRt-Y
@tydude Do you have any news about Sullinger possibly dropping into the 20s?
@Jooseppi @tydude You know, I heard something about that, but I was intrigued by Darnell stating Grant Hill won't sign in OKC, did you hear about that?
@diddoff @Jooseppi @tydude That's the lat one I promise.
@MisterJohnsonOKC @Jooseppi @tydude Oh no, not again please
Nets-Magic talks officially off...
@Bryson hennigan may have to sell dwight to a contender at the deadline for virtually nothing. dwight will probably play sick (after he legitimately recovers) and never put on the magic uniform unless the docs call him on it and they suspend him.
The biggest takeaway I have from this news is that the gym Hollis Thompson worked out in has a John Wall draft workout Fathead underneath one of the baskets.
@Jooseppi I like the French Bistro look myself. I'd be into taking a few shots, running a couple of suicides, then strolling over for a nice espresso.
Hollis Thompson is clearly the starting move to replace KD.
@MisterJohnsonOKC Hollis Thompson won't replace KD as a Starter he will likely to be back up to him
@MisterJohnsonOKC Yep. All signs point to that,
Did anyone see the Nets offered Brook Lopez a max contract?
@justin_mia *refuses to go look at any news outlet* you're kidding right? Is today April 1st?
@justin_mia I did last night and thought I was hallucinating.
So does this pretty much guarantee no Royal for next season? :(
i guess this means ivey is gone....
Hey guys I just watched a youtube clip of Hollis and I'm willing to bet all of my livefyre points that he's the next Ray Allen that's how good he is and he'll back up KD and compete with PJ3 for playing time
How much can he bench press?
@Barry Amenema Gum routine joke
@Jax Raging Bile Duct They said the points would mean something some day, it would be awesome if we could gamble them
@f5alcon spurstalk has found ways to gamble with points
@f5alcon I can't imagine what they could possibly mean that would be of any real value outside of an Internet message board.
@Jax Raging Bile Duct Maybe like one of those sales prize catalogs where we get stuff
@Jax Raging Bile Duct Just for the sake of not being an idiot this time haha, I watched a handful of Georgetown this past year, was impressed with his play. Not sure if it'll translate but all the same, I like this move. Tall and lanky three point shooters never hurt a team
@dancassidy35/FreeFestusFromGSW! Just crossing my fingers that he isn't a perennial Summer League roster filler like Robert Vaden.
@Jax Raging Bile Duct I think his height will give him an advantage
@Jax Raging Bile Duct DEAL!
So Thabo is signed for 3.9 Mill for 2013-2014 if Hollis works out we can trade Thabo and save a couple Mill right?
@Labeasy Thabo is on a good deal for his performance. No reason to trade him. Not to mention Hollis doesn't have defense as one of his strengths.
@Jooseppi @Labeasy bazinga~ mr impeccable nailed it
@Labeasy why would we though, thabos defense is worth keeping. perhaps hes a replacement for cook?
@Legendary_Dork But we need every Million to resign Harden and Ibaka so we have to make cuts somewhere
@Labeasy i said if i had to. not that its going to happen
@Legendary_Dork Cooks not signed thorugh 2013-2014
@Labeasy if i have to cut anyone im cutting cook, or yes LAZAR!!!!!!!!!
@Labeasy We have a good deal with Thabo.