There are a lot of questions surrounding the Oklahoma City Thunder heading into the 2019-20 season.
With the start of training camp just around the corner, it’s time to take a look at the players left on the roster and the biggest question facing them this year.
In his breakdown of the Oklahoma City frontcourt, Brett Dawson of The Athletic, poses the question, will Steven Adams benefit from the acquisition of Chris Paul?
Adams is poised for a breakout season in 2019-20. After playing comfortably in the shadow of bigger stars for the last several seasons, the Thunder will look for more from the 26-year-old.
Adams’ play has steadily improved in each of the last two seasons. In 2017-18, he averaged 13.9 points and 9.0 rebounds, and in 2018-19, he increased his rebounding to 9.5 per game. A double-double seems doable this year as Adams takes on an increased role with the Thunder’s offense.
Where Dawson believes that Adams could benefit the most, however, is partnering with Paul in the pick-and-roll.
Adams — one of the league’s best screen setters and an aggressive roller to the rim — figures to benefit from Paul’s wizardry. Adams likely will find more room to dive with defenders sagging less frequently off Paul than they did off Westbrook, whose strength is getting to the paint, so much so that last season teams practically dared him to shoot mid-range jumpers
Whether or not Adams remains a member of the Thunder for the whole season is an entirely different question, however there is the potential for him to substantially benefit from Paul’s passing game for whatever time his in Oklahoma City.
