The Oklahoma City Thunder traded for Isaiah Roby of the Dallas Mavericks, which feels like a decade ago, just because of the way the world has turned since the pandemic. It was an economic decision on the part of the Mavericks, it was cheaper to cut Justin Patton at the time than Roby to clear the way for Willie Cauley-Stein. However, the Mavericks a few months prior liked the Nebraska product so much that they made him the highest-paid second-round pick in NBA history at the time.

That contract reached its fork on Wednesday when the Oklahoma City Thunder had to decide whether to accept or decline their $1.9 million team option. The Thunder have decided to take Roby’s $1.9 million team option, which will become fully guaranteed if he is on the roster after July 3.

The Oklahoma City Thunder selected the team option for Isaiah Roby allowing him to play under contract on an expiring $1.9 million deal for the 2022-23 season

Isaiah Roby still doesn’t believe he’s reached his full potential, and the Nebraska product will have another training camp to prove it. With many fans cycling Sunday as a day to watch for Isaiah Roby, it just wouldn’t make sense for the OKC Thunder to cut it and not secure Roby’s $1.9 million. .

The Thunder could have just declined their team option and not paying him a penny of the 1.9 million rather than paying part of that deal, and by paying part of that deal the team is not actually giving back great service to Roby. If they waived Roby on Sunday, they would tie up the young striker for the first three days of free agency as money flies and roster spots disappear.

Isaiah Roby will have the opportunity to prove himself once again in October during the team’s training camp. While I wouldn’t lock Roby into the roster just yet, I would also throw in a scenario that he would be waived on Sunday.

Going forward, Roby will play this season on an expiring $1.9 million contract, having averaged ten points, four rebounds and one assist per game with 51% shooting on the ground and 44% shooting on the ground. distance.

The 24-year-old improved his finishing percentage from the rim by seven percentage points (68% while shooting the rim), shot 50% from the corner on three-point range and overall went from 31% trey ball hitting distance at a 46% clip.

While Isaiah Roby has improved on the defensive end, especially in the passing lanes, his 6’8 230-pound frame doesn’t allow him to play that center point effectively, while also not being twitchy and fast enough. to defend on the perimeter.

While Isaiah Roby has a high drive, a lot of effort and is basically in the right place most of the time flawlessly at a high clip, his body makes him an interpolator at the defensive end of the floor.

Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti and head coach Mark Daigneault have been preaching about training camp competitiveness since the end of the season. The team is comfortable bringing 20 guys to camp and watching them compete, taking the top 17 players (including two two-way slots), even if it means eating guaranteed cash .

Isaiah Roby needs to come to training camp ready to prove himself again and judging by what we know about the Nebraska swing man, I have no doubt he will.