How Brice Sensabaugh Fits with the OKC Thunder

With the Oklahoma City Thunder entering the offseason, it’s officially time to time to switch gears to prospect evaluation mode.

And this year’s impending draft has plenty of players that can help bolster the OKC core.

No matter how unlikely it is Oklahoma City lands certain prospects, the Thunder Fit series will take a look at how they would fit with the current team’s configuration. And with a war chest of assets, you never know how far the front office could move up to acquire a player.

The next prospect up in the series is Ohio State forward Brice Sensabaugh, who surprised as an offensive aficionado for the Buckeyes.

Here’s how Sensabaugh could fit alongside the rest of the Thunder core:

Offense

Sensabaugh burst onto the season as a surprise one-and-done in his collegiate season due to his potent offense. He averaged 16.3 points on 48 percent shooting overall, 40 percent from three and 83 percent from the line.

He was an elite catch-and-shooting player, knocking down shots from all over the court, contested or not. But was potentially at his best as a mid-range scorer, hitting tough buckets with savviness often. At 6-foot-6 with a good frame, he has great strength and the ability to find his spots with ease.

In the Thunder offense, Sensabaugh would have optimal space as a catch-and-shoot threat and the workability to get to the mid-range.

His passing, playmaking and processing are likely a little behind where OKC would like to see it, but, down the line, he would certainly be a strong infusion of offense.

Defense

Defensively, Sensabaugh is a massive work in progress and the primary reason he’s been scooted out of the lottery by some.

He’s not entirely swift as a lateral mover, meaning his on and even off-ball defense at times can be severely lacking.

There’s always a chance Sensabaugh would come into his own defensively, and be covered well by the likes of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luguentz Dort and Chet Holmgren. But with the way the Thunder have valued versatility of late, he might not be the most seamless of fits.

Want to join the discussion? Like SI Thunder on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest Thunder news. You can also meet the team behind the coverage.