OKC Thunder mailbag: Why Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins can fit team's longterm plans
In this edition of the Thunder mailbag, we take a look a which under-the-radar veterans could stick with OKC for the next few seasons.
More: How OKC Thunder schedule sets up for Western Conference's No. 1 seed in NBA Playoffs
@OKCobstinacy: The Thunder have 4 contributing bench guys on CRIMINALLY under-market, non-rookie deals for the next 1-2 seasons: Aaron Wiggins, Isaiah Joe, Kenrich Williams, Vasilije Micic. If you had to choose 2 to keep and 2 to trade, who would it be and why?
Sam Presti slimmed down my choices here.
But for what it’s worth, we were on the same wavelength. I didn’t anticipate that Vasilije Micic would be included in a three-player deal at the deadline, but he’d have been one of the two players I let walk here.
Look, I get it. Micic has already helped turn things up in Charlotte, dropping 18 points and nine assists in his Hornets debut — a necessary development for an unserious developmental program. The flare, the vision, the passing chops. The traditional point guard qualities that helped steer the Jalen Williams-led lineups in January.
Micic can be a solid player in this league. But perhaps none of the other three names will ever have the potential to be targeted defensively as the 6-foot-3 Serbian guard. His agility isn’t quite there. The same burst and strength he lacks as a driver resurfaces as a defender. Not only is he limited positionally, but he’s limited to certain matchups.
There’s an understandable tradeoff with Micic. Despite the comfortable, steady change of offensive pace, his deficiencies probably would’ve outweighed his redeemable traits in the postseason.
More: OKC Thunder rolls past Orlando Magic, heads into NBA All-Star break 20 games over .500
Who would I keep? At this point, probably Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe. No shade to Kenrich Williams. He’s a foundational piece, an uncle for a team of young 20-somethings, the Thunder’s muscle and likely protector of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s theoretical 60-point game ball.
It’s difficult to cut him loose here, but there’s a notable age gap between Williams and the others in question, and his mold probably isn’t as pluggable or useful as the other two with OKC’s current makeup. Kenrich Williams, the pseudo center, was a fine tweak a season ago. But it feels like his best use comes as a wing/combo-forward defender with less pressure as an inside presence.
There are few high-volume, uber-efficient shooters quite like Isaiah Joe. The halfcourt line introduces his hot zones. He hardly needs a window of breathing room before chucking. His variety of shots — off-balance, moving, off-the-dribble — rarely draw any surprise.
Joe is averaging 8.4 points, knocking down two 3-pointers a game on 4.7 attempts while shooting 42.8% from deep. His 756 minutes with Gilgeous-Alexander have made for a 12.59 net rating. He’s been SGA’s guiding light through a sea of double teams this season.
His gravity and practicality next to OKC’s franchise player alone have made him a diamond of an asset. Corralling rebounds that shouldn’t belong to him and competing defensively are throw-ins.
Wiggins has been one of the Thunder’s better role players. Gilgeous-Alexander called him a Swiss Army knife. Mark Daigneault said he's as good of a system player as the Thunder has. And after years of trying to carve a fit, the 6-5 wing is becoming a fixture in OKC’s lineup.
He’s impressed as a cutter. He’s timely, developing this intangible element of almost always being in the right place at the right time. He’s shooting a scorching 51.9% from 3, albeit on 1.9 attempts per game in his 14.3 minutes. Per Synergy, he’s averaging 1.28 points per possession on spot-ups, good enough for the 92nd percentile.
Again, he’s just another player that slots well next to Gilgeous-Alexander (and Jalen Williams), which is priority No. 1 these days. Sure, there are probably upgrades for him on the market. But I don’t know how many teams are getting this kind of value out of a bottom-10 draft pick.
More: How OKC Thunder rookie Cason Wallace was built by Hamilton Park, Texas. 'That’s who I am'
To make future editions of the mailbag, email questions to jlorenzi@oklahoman.com or message him on Twitter @jxlorenzi.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC Thunder reserves Isaiah Joe, Aaron Wiggins can fit longterm plans
