How Maxwell Lewis Fits with the OKC Thunder

Next up in the Thunder Fits series, which will detail each draft prospects potential fit with the Thunder, is Pepperdine forward Maxwell Lewis.

With the Oklahoma City Thunder entering the offseason, it’s officially time to time to switch gears to prospect evaluation mode.

And this year’s impending draft has plenty of players that can help bolster the OKC core.

No matter how unlikely it is Oklahoma City lands certain prospects, the Thunder Fit series will take a look at how they would fit with the current team’s configuration. And with a war chest of assets, you never know how far the front office could move up to acquire a player.

The next prospect up in the series is Pepperdine forward Maxwell Lewis, who made a name for himself with strong play in his sophomore season.

Here’s how Lewis could fit alongside the rest of the Thunder core:

Offense

At 6-foot-6 with a 7-foot wingspan, Lewis bears a striking on-court resemblance to recent Thunder draftee Jalen Williams, and his smooth offensive game certainly doesn’t dissuade that.

He scored 17.1 points per game for the Waves, tacking on 5.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game in true do-it-all fashion. He can hit 3-pointers — 35 percent on 4.3 attempts per game — and in the least projects to be a solid off-ball threat due to cutting and shooting.

Similarly to Williams, Lewis could offer on-ball scoring down the line. And fits just fine into the lineup as a passer/playmaker next to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey and more.

There were some efficiency concerns throughout conference play. But for all intents and purposes, Lewis very much fits the Thunder mold.

Defense

Defense isn’t going to be Lewis’ bread and butter, but with his swiftness and length, he projects to at least be a new positive on that end if he can find the right motor.

Williams was able to essentially slot in at the four last season due to his wingspan, and while Lewis won’t offer completely similar versatility, having another to guard twos and threes would do wonders for the Thunder.

---

Want to join the discussion? Like Inside the Thunder on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest Thunder news. You can also meet the team behind the coverage.