What’s the Thunder’s Biggest Training Camp Question?

The Oklahoma City Thunder have to figure out what to do with their new swingman.

Dillon Jones speaks during an introductory press conference for the 2024 Thunder draft picks at Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center in Oklahoma City, Saturday, June, 29, 2024. / SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Oklahoma City Thunder are nearing a return to the hardwood with training camp just a couple of weeks away. This season will have a different level of intensity associated with it, at least on the outside, with more expectations for this Thunder roster. 

For the first time in years Oklahoma City is not only viewed as contenders but the favorites in the Western Conference with some so bullish on the Thunder that they’re picking the Bricktown ballers to hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy at the end of the 2024-25 campaign. 

With training camp set to begin soon, there are plenty of questions to be answered for Oklahoma City and opportunities to gel for a roster that has seen some turnover this summer adding in Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein who are sure to soak up heavy minutes for the Thunder in their first year in Bricktown. 

However, perhaps the most interesting player at training camp is Dillon Jones. The no. 26 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft who the Thunder not only traded four future second round picks for but has coveted for two seasons. 

That level of organizational belief has to be good news for Jones’ minute log, but this is one of the toughest rotations to crack. Even with Mark Daigneault going ten or eleven players deep on any given night, talented players are still left on the pine. 

For Jones, many have cast the first year swing man to the side, destined to spend plenty of time with the G-League affiliate during the 2024-25 campaign. 

However, a year ago at this time, many would’ve thought Cason Wallace would’ve at least played a second for the OKC Blue, but instead the Kentucky product made himself indispensable at training camp and went wire-to-wire in the Thunder’s rotation. 

With Jones unique skill set, versatility and basketball maturity it wouldn’t be stunning to see a great training camp land him among Daigneault’s darlings once the season starts. 

Even aside from him etching out a role, Jones will be the most interesting player to monitor throughout the preseason as his identity as a player is the hardest to define as a roster given the tweener nature of his game. 

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