Man, what a start to the NBA season, as the hits keep coming for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Losing major pieces only five games in, for long periods, if not the entirety, of the season.
Following devastating and season-altering injuries to two perennial figures in All-NBA wing Jalen Williams and All-Defensive guard Cason Wallace. Chet Holmgren is now expected to miss at least eight to ten weeks. Shams Charania speculated that Alex Caruso could also miss an extended period.
In the wake of being decimated by injuries, Oklahoma City made a move, signing free agent wing Ochai Agbaji to fill in their 15th and final roster spot.
Agbaji is a former 2022 lottery pick, which makes this a low-risk, high-reward move in terms of wing depth, a clear area of need for Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma City plays in one of the toughest divisions in the league, so they need any help that they can get. Here are three ways Agbaji helps the Thunder.
How Agbaji Helps the OKC Thunder
1. Perimeter Defense
The losses of Williams and Wallace immediately dealt a crushing blow to what was once an historical point-of-attack defense for the Thunder. At 6-foot-5 with nearly a 7-foot wingspan, Agbaji adds size and length at the wing, making his physical tools the right fit for Oklahoma City’s defensive personnel. During his tenure with the Utah Jazz, Toronto Raptors, and Brooklyn Nets, he showed flashes as a strong perimeter defender in isolation and at the rim — both on-ball and on the weak side — proving he has the physical tools and the ability to handle numerous defensive assignments.
2. Perimeter Shooting
Agbaji has upside as a floor-spacer, particularly in the catch-and-shoot. Yes, his numbers from deep have fluctuated through his first four seasons (career averages of 7.2 points per game on 33.9% from deep), where he showcased that upside during the 2024-25 season with the Raptors, averaging 10.4 points, while knocking down an efficient 39.9% from deep on four attempts per game. Playing with Oklahoma City, he will likely benefit from having the cleanest looks of his career, playing off the gravity of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
3. Roster Flexibility
Likely on a minimum deal, the Thunder stay below the second apron, which doesn’t rule out more moves. Before this deal, Oklahoma City had 14 players on standard contracts, capping their flexibility. Having 15 players on standard contracts helps two-way players a lot.
With Agbaji signing and filling up the roster capacity, this enables Oklahoma City to play all three of their two-way players — Brooks Barnhizer, Josh Dix, and Micah Peavy for the maximum allowed 50 NBA games. This gives Mark Daigneault much-needed flexibility in managing his depleted rotation amid this injury crisis.
Despite the current situation. This could be a move many view and say, “How did everyone let the Thunder get this player for free?”
Main Image: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
