The last few seasons for the Oklahoma City Thunder have been all about building up the foundation of the franchise. They have done a lot of losing and could be in for some more this upcoming season as the 2023 NBA Draft has crown jewel prospects in Victor Wembanyama and Scoot Henderson.
Oklahoma City took some strides this offseason to become a more competitive team. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander seemed to be the only building block, but they committed to Lu Dort and Kenrich Williams with long-term deals this offseason.
They are hopeful that Josh Giddey continues improving and cementing himself as a long-term piece and have high hopes for Chet Holmgren, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. Unfortunately, we won’t see Holmgren on the court until the 2023-24 season at the earliest as he suffered a season-ending Lisfranc injury in the offseason.
Another player that is flying under the radar but could make some noise this season is Tre Mann. Mann was the No. 18 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft out of Florida, possessing a nice all-around game as he averaged 16 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.4 steals per game during his sophomore season with the Gators.
LATEST NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Tre Mann & Oklahoma City Thunder Updates
He struggled shooting the ball as a rookie, but the tools are there for him to become a successful player. Looking stronger and more filled out when he reported for training camp at Media Day two weeks ago, Mann looks ready to take that step in his second season in the NBA.
“That was the main focus. Getting stronger, bigger and putting more weight on,” Mann said. “The biggest thing was eating the right things and taking my protein at night.”
A breakout season certainly looks possible for Mann. There will be ample opportunities to showcase his talents as the Thunder are going to give their young guys as many minutes as possible. One NBA scout that spoke to NBA Analysis Network likes what they have seen.
“He showed plenty of flashes as a rookie being a shifty ball handler and tough shot maker. Just needs to get more consistent. As the game slows down for him and he continues to get stronger, I see a lot of potential for him. … I like what I’ve seen so far in preseason. I’d keep an eye on him.”
Mann’s flashes as a rookie were quite impressive. He had a 30-point game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in February and 20-point performances were becoming more consistent. It takes some time for rookies to find their footing, but Mann got more comfortable as the season went on.
LATEST NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Tre Mann & Oklahoma City Thunder Updates
There are some expectations for him this season, as he possesses potential as a shot-creator and scoring guard. It comes naturally to him, now it is time for those flashes that he showed to start becoming the norm whenever he steps on the court.