I’ll start off by saying I’m a huge fan of what Tre Mann brings to the table as a basketball player. From a pure, entertainment perspective, he’s a joy to watch: Mann is a very creative (& athletic) lead guard who uses his handle and scoring abilities to do damage.
On top of all that, he’s constantly improving as both a playmaker & decision-maker: two things that make him a true contributor in the league. So far this summer, Mann’s gone over 20 points in all 3 appearances for the OKC Thunder - he’s gotten the job done in the lane, from outside and is weaving through, around, and over defenders with ease.
The question remains, though: what does his immediate future in OKC look like? It was clear after his rookie season (avg. 10.4 ppg) that he’s talented and deserves a chance to contribute. Last year, however, his minutes (and production) dipped as Coach Mark Daigneault shuffled the deck and prioritized other players in the rotation. And with the recent (backcourt) additions of veterans Patty Mills & Victor Oladipo, international star Vasilije Micić & 1st-rounder Cason Wallace, Mann could be the odd man out, once again, come fall.
That said, he’s continuing to put in the work and round out his game as a shot-creator. The entire league is now on notice: if minutes are hard to come by in 2024, expect a few teams to come knocking down OKC’s door for an opportunity to add him to the mix.
But for now, let’s enjoy his special scoring performances & dynamic play while minutes remain abundant.