Brooks

Barnhizer

Wallace was one of multiple Thunder players who did not play in Friday’s win over the Grizzlies. His absence factored into Brooks Barnhizer playing eight minutes off the bench, while starter Aaron Wiggins logged 32. Wiggins recently replaced Wallace, who had been filling in for Isaiah Hartenstein, as the Thunder’s fifth starter.

Wednesday’s game is the second in as many nights for the Thunder, who took care of the Clippers on Tuesday. As a result, some rotation players, including Caruso, will not play. His absence may lead to legitimate rotation minutes for Brooks Barnhizer and Chris Youngblood, who are both on two-way contracts. Neither is a streaming candidate on an 11-game slate.

Saturday’s game will be Joe’s third missed game to begin the season, as he is dealing with a left knee contusion. His absence increases the value of Aaron Wiggins, who started Thursday’s win over the Pacers and tallied 23 points and nine rebounds. If Cason Wallace (knee) can play, Wiggins will likely return to the bench. Rookie Brooks Barnhizer has played rotation minutes, but Wiggins is the streamer to target in this spot.

Dort injured his ankle during Tuesday’s double-overtime win over the Rockets, but still played 45 of 58 minutes. With Alex Caruso (concussion) and Isaiah Joe (knee) out, and Cason Wallace (knee) being questionable, the Thunder could be light on wing options for Thursday’s NBA Finals rematch. Aaron Wiggins is healthy, as are Ajay Mitchell and Brooks Barnhizer. Wiggins would be the best streaming option of the three.

Barnhizer got the start on Monday and utilized high free-throw volume to finish as the Thunder’s leading scorer on the evening. The rookie forward also cleaned the glass well in his game-high 37 minutes and added another steal, bringing him to six through the first couple of preseason games. Barnhizer’s role on a stacked championship-winning team is unclear, but he’s been consistent and productive when his name has been called thus far. He’ll have a chance to log another strong preseason game against the Hornets on Thursday.

Barnhizer, whom the Thunder have signed to a two-way contract, nearly made history on Saturday. His six steals were two shy of the NBA summer league record. The second-round pick out of Northwestern also recorded a blocked shot and was highly efficient as a scorer. Given the current state of Oklahoma City’s roster, Barnhizer may not have many opportunities to contribute as a rookie. However, Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault has been willing to give guys a chance, and the franchise has long done an excellent job of developing young talent.

The 44th pick in the draft last month, Barnhizer has been really solid through three Summer League games, with Tuesday’s performance being his best. He did a little bit of everything, and he was efficient while doing it. He likely won’t crack OKC’s rotation this season, but it is still good to see him play this well in Summer League. We’ll see if he can keep it up in Las Vegas.

Barnhizer’s reputation entering the draft was that of a smart, tough player, and the 23-year-old showcased it in his first Summer League game. His dominance on the glass was encouraging to see and shows his hard-nosed playstyle that will be valuable to any team. Barnhizer is unlikely to be part of the Thunder’s rotation next season, but it is still encouraging for his long-term projection to see him play well this summer.

OKC has drafted a ton of players with upside in recent years, and now they add an older player in Barnhizer. The 6'6" wing is a smart player on both ends of the floor and is a strong playmaker. He isn’t a great shooter, which may make it difficult for him to find a place in the rotation with the defending champions. The Thunder also already have a loaded roster, and it wouldn’t be shocking if Barnhizer ends up on a two-way contract.