Should the OKC Thunder Buy or Sell: Hamidou Diallo
The Oklahoma City Thunder drafted a lightning bolt when they picked Hamidou Diallo in the second round of the 2018 NBA Draft.
Diallo, 21, has since made a name for himself as a high-flying, high-energy player that every team would want coming off of their bench.
In his rookie year, Diallo burst onto the scene when he won the 2019 NBA Slam Dunk Contest.
During his rookie year, he failed to become a regular part of the team’s formula for winning — something he turned around last season.
Diallo averaged 6.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, 0.8 assists and 0.8 steals in 19.5 minutes per game last season.
After Russell Westbrook’s departure, there was a gap to fill for the Thunder as far as finding a player of that level of explosiveness.
Diallo isn’t Westbrook by any means, but shifting most of his playing time last season off the ball worked wonders for finding his role in the offense, allowing him to take further advantage of his athleticism and explosiveness.
At his age and price — a club option for $1.6 million — Diallo is a steal that could find a long-term role on the team going forward with more playing time.
Should the OKC Thunder Buy or Sell: Deonte Burton
Deonte Burton found a small role with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2018.
Since then, Burton hasn’t shown much improvement on the court — and hasn’t looked to mesh with the team off the court.
In December, the Thunder suspended Burton for one game following a “locker room altercation.”
After serving a one-game suspension from the Thunder for a locker room altercation, Deonte Burton has been assigned to the G-League.
— Royce Young (@royceyoung) December 7, 2019
His punishment continued when he was assigned to the G-League shortly after.
On one of the most steady and wholesome Chris Paul-led teams there have been, Burton managed to be the only locker room disturbance to be reported.
On the court, he’s averaged 2.6 points, 1.2 rebounds and 0.4 assists in 8.4 minutes per game in two seasons with the Thunder.
Without a history of on-the-court production, Burton’s age and off-court issue don’t make him worth the investment or roster spot.