Oklahoma City Thunder: 5 goals for Patrick Patterson in 2017-18

3. Contribute to the Thunder’s defense

Patrick Patterson is a stretch-4, that is true, but he will have to be a part of the Thunder’s defensive effort too. Patterson has the ability to defend the pick-and-roll and that will be a valuable asset. Raptors head coach Dwane Casey noted how valuable Patterson was for them when he was with the team last year.

According to The Star‘s Doug Smith, Casey said, “His intensity, his work ethic, how hard he plays…he’s one of our best pick and roll defenders because he uses his quickness and then he can go down and stretch the floor out.”

At Patterson’s size and height (6’9″, 230 pounds) he is deceptively quick and can get to the spots to stop the pick-and-roll. Patterson will help the team on both sides of the floor while coming off the bench. You can’t put a price on your power forward being able to defend and going to the other side of the court and shooting threes while making close to 40 percent of them.

The first unit will be balanced with Paul George, Andre Roberson and Steven Adams all being able to play defense, but there will be a need for the second unit to have the same intensity on that end when they come in. The Thunder will need Patterson to be able to contribute on defense when he comes off the bench.