The Oklahoma City Thunder look to be in good hands next season, if Monday’s NBA Summer League performances by Jeremy Lamb and rookie Mitch McGary are any indication. The duo combined for 44 points as OKC’s summer team knocked off their counterparts from the Brooklyn Nets, 98-84.
Lamb, a third-year pro out of Connecticut, scored 26 points on 8-21 shooting and grabbed 8 boards to lead the way for the Thunder in the Orlando session of the NBA Summer League. Lamb figures to play an expanded role for Oklahoma City next season, as starter Thabo Sefalosha signed a costless agency deal with the Atlanta Hawks last week. Lamb was able to score the basketball in a variety of ways, including dribble drives to the basket and a decent outside shooting game. He also made 8 of his 9 costless throw attempts.
The Thunder hopes Lamb can provide a potent scoring punch off the bench, especially if the OKC front office cannot come to terms with back-up, but erstwhile starter Reggie Jackson.
McGary, a rookie out of Michigan, added 18 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in the win, adding excitement to the Thunder front line. McGary, who played in only a handful of games last season for Michigan due to injury, showcased his versatility in just his second NBA summer game. The rookie, who declared for the draft early after failing a drug test while with the Wolverines, put his face-up offensive attack on display and was able to drive by defenders to get to the rim. He also dominated the boards, and at one point, led a fast break for an easy finish at the rim for a teammate.
His presence with the Thunder adds another athletic dimension to an already stacked front court, including the shot-blocking Serge Ibaka and savvy veterans Kendrick Perkins and Nick Collison. McGary figures to compete for playing time with second-year center Steven Adams, who had his coming-out party in the 2014 Playoffs.
If both Lamb and McGary are able to contribute during the upcoming season, it would allow for fewer minutes for both Kevin Durant and Serge Ibaka, both of whom wore down over the course of the playoffs due to extended minutes in the regular season. Oklahoma City wanted to add depth to its bench, and it may have found just that with the rise of Lamb and McGary.