Now That Tre Mann's Spot is Safe, He Must Make the Most of His Opportunity
From the outside looking it, it seemed like Oklahoma City's last roster spot was between Jack White and Tre Mann. Before Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and Victor Oladipo got traded, a case could be made for both the former Thunder players to stick around, too. After Mann's option was picked up, though, it might not have ever been a question. He was always going to make the opening night roster.
After White was waived on Sunday, now it's set in stone.
After struggling to find his role a season ago, Mann lit it up during summer league. In four Summer League games, he averaged 20.5 points per game and shot 53.8% overall, including 46.4% from behind the 3-point line. He finished through contact, played with consistency, and showed off the potential great scoring and shot creation that he could provide for Oklahoma City.
Mann's preseason performances weren't eye-popping, but the dedication he showed to improvement this summer was enough to bet on. General manager Sam Presti said Mann was in the gym every single time he strolled through. It's clear that he understood just how big this summer was for his future.
His role got a bit cloudy last year when he was asked to be a point guard on the second unit and take care of the ball. While Mann can do that, it's not his best attribute by any means. He's a microwave scorer with an unlimited bag, not a pass-first point guard. With Vasijile Micic on the roster and shooting to space the floor around him, Mann could find his role on the Thunder easier this season. For starters, he mentioned dedication to catch-and-shoot improvement this offseason.
He might not be slotted in the rotation to start the season, bit somewhere down the line he'll get a chance. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will almost certainly miss a handful of games, and the Thunder will need guard scoring off the bench. Mann's isolation work will come in handy if he's playing with consistency and confidence.
When Mann's number is called, it's up to him to make the most of his opportunity now. The first part is finished, he secured a spot on the opening night roster. Now it's up to him to run with it.
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