A Closer Look At The Thunder's Summer League Roster
There’s no shortage of talent on the roster that will represent the Thunder at next week’s AirTran Airways Pro Summer League.
It also goes without saying that every player who will wear a Thunder jersey next week - from last year’s No. 3 pick in James Harden to the handful of Tulsa 66ers players - is willing to jump at any opportunity to become a better player.
Coming off a season in which he earned All-Rookie First Team honors, Harden is following in the steps of point guard Russell Westbrook, who played in the Orlando Pro Summer League after a successful rookie campaign.
Just as noteworthy is the fact that Harden is one of three players - Serge Ibaka and Eric Maynor are the others - who were in the Thunder’s regular rotation last year that will suit up in Orlando.
Byron Mullens has been working out ever since the season ended, Robert Vaden has practically lived at the practice facility ever since he returned from Italy and D.J. White and Kyle Weaver, both entering their third season, are looking to take advantage of any chance to impress the coaching staff.
Two of the Thunder’s second-round draft picks from a week ago, Latavious Williams and Ryan Reid, will get their first taste of the NBA. Williams, having spent last year with the Tulsa 66ers, already knows the playbook and terminology; the same goes for non-roster invitee Marcus Lewis, who also played for the 66ers last season.
A further look at the roster:
G Cliff Hammonds - The former Clemson guard spent the last season in Greece, where he averaged 12.9 points, shot 50.9% from the field and 42.2% from behind the arc to go with 3.7 assists and 1.5 steals in 26 games.
G James Harden - The lefty guard led all Thunder reserves in scoring at 9.9 points a game en route to All-Rookie First Team honors.
F Serge Ibaka - Led the Thunder in blocks as a rookie with 1.33 per game. A 2008 first-round pick, he also averaged 6.3 points and 5.4 rebounds off the bench.
C Marcus Lewis - An Oral Roberts product, Lewis made the 66ers roster during an open tryout. He averaged 4.0 points and 3.3 rebounds in 42 games with Tulsa.
G Eric Maynor - Acquired in late December from the Utah Jazz, the point guard led all rookies in assist-to-turnover ratio at 3.13.
C Byron Mullens - Acquired from the Dallas Mavericks in a draft day trade a year ago, the Ohio State product split time with the Thunder and Tulsa 66ers. He averaged 15 points and 7.5 rebounds in 27 regular season games with the 66ers.
F Ryan Reid - Acquired from the Indiana Pacers in a draft day trade last week, Reid was widely regarded as one of the best low-post defenders in the ACC.
G Mustafa Shakur - The point guard spent time with the 66ers and Thunder last season, earning a D-League All-Star selection and All-NBA Development League Second Team honors.
G Kyle Weaver - Entering his third season, Weaver split time between the 66ers and Thunder last season after an early-season shoulder injury. He brings versatility to the roster with his ability to play both guard positions.
F D.J. White - Entering his third season with the Thunder, White also split time between the 66ers and Thunder after a midseason thumb injury.
F Latavious Williams - Acquired from Miami in a draft day trade last week, Williams was a reliable rebounder (7.7 per game) and thrived in the open court last season with the 66ers.
G Robert Vaden - Acquired from the Thunder in a draft day trade in 2009, Vaden played in Italy last season, averaging 16.9 points and 40% shooting from three-point range.
Contact Chris Silva
It also goes without saying that every player who will wear a Thunder jersey next week - from last year’s No. 3 pick in James Harden to the handful of Tulsa 66ers players - is willing to jump at any opportunity to become a better player.
Coming off a season in which he earned All-Rookie First Team honors, Harden is following in the steps of point guard Russell Westbrook, who played in the Orlando Pro Summer League after a successful rookie campaign.
Just as noteworthy is the fact that Harden is one of three players - Serge Ibaka and Eric Maynor are the others - who were in the Thunder’s regular rotation last year that will suit up in Orlando.
Byron Mullens has been working out ever since the season ended, Robert Vaden has practically lived at the practice facility ever since he returned from Italy and D.J. White and Kyle Weaver, both entering their third season, are looking to take advantage of any chance to impress the coaching staff.
Two of the Thunder’s second-round draft picks from a week ago, Latavious Williams and Ryan Reid, will get their first taste of the NBA. Williams, having spent last year with the Tulsa 66ers, already knows the playbook and terminology; the same goes for non-roster invitee Marcus Lewis, who also played for the 66ers last season.
A further look at the roster:
G Cliff Hammonds - The former Clemson guard spent the last season in Greece, where he averaged 12.9 points, shot 50.9% from the field and 42.2% from behind the arc to go with 3.7 assists and 1.5 steals in 26 games.
G James Harden - The lefty guard led all Thunder reserves in scoring at 9.9 points a game en route to All-Rookie First Team honors.
F Serge Ibaka - Led the Thunder in blocks as a rookie with 1.33 per game. A 2008 first-round pick, he also averaged 6.3 points and 5.4 rebounds off the bench.
C Marcus Lewis - An Oral Roberts product, Lewis made the 66ers roster during an open tryout. He averaged 4.0 points and 3.3 rebounds in 42 games with Tulsa.
G Eric Maynor - Acquired in late December from the Utah Jazz, the point guard led all rookies in assist-to-turnover ratio at 3.13.
C Byron Mullens - Acquired from the Dallas Mavericks in a draft day trade a year ago, the Ohio State product split time with the Thunder and Tulsa 66ers. He averaged 15 points and 7.5 rebounds in 27 regular season games with the 66ers.
F Ryan Reid - Acquired from the Indiana Pacers in a draft day trade last week, Reid was widely regarded as one of the best low-post defenders in the ACC.
G Mustafa Shakur - The point guard spent time with the 66ers and Thunder last season, earning a D-League All-Star selection and All-NBA Development League Second Team honors.
G Kyle Weaver - Entering his third season, Weaver split time between the 66ers and Thunder last season after an early-season shoulder injury. He brings versatility to the roster with his ability to play both guard positions.
F D.J. White - Entering his third season with the Thunder, White also split time between the 66ers and Thunder after a midseason thumb injury.
F Latavious Williams - Acquired from Miami in a draft day trade last week, Williams was a reliable rebounder (7.7 per game) and thrived in the open court last season with the 66ers.
G Robert Vaden - Acquired from the Thunder in a draft day trade in 2009, Vaden played in Italy last season, averaging 16.9 points and 40% shooting from three-point range.
Contact Chris Silva
