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03/28/2024 11:24:59 am

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NBA Rumors 2015: Is Jeremy Lamb on his way out of OKC?

Jeremy Lamb on his way out of OKC?

(Photo : Getty Images) After three years of not fulfilling his potential, Jeremy Lamb could be traded for a bench piece in OKC this off season.

Jeremy Lamb may be ready to move on and seek his own NBA success elsewhere. And after three long seasons of waiting for him to reach his potential, it seems the OKC Thunder feels the same way.

Regrded as one of the stronger teams from the West to challenge for the title, OKC finished the regular season at 9th place and missed the playoffs for the first time since the 2010. According to The Oklahoman, Lamb was asked during his exit interview if he would welcome a change in scenery.

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"I just want an opportunity," he said.

Lamb was a promising lottery pick in 2012 out of UConn. Drafted by the Houston Rockets 12th overall, he was shipped to OKC as part of the package for James Harden. He was projected to be a significant contributor and immediate impact player off the bench for the Thunder.

Fast forward three years after, and the 6' 5" athletic guard continues to battle through offensive inconsistency, questionable shot selection, and spotty decision-making. Even with significant playing time available due to injuries to franchise players Kevin Durant and Russel Westbrook, Lamb could not seem to find his way to the regular rotation. By the second half of the season, he=e has regressed to being a permanent bench fixture.

The Oklahoman further said that he has shown flashes of scoring versatility and offensive brilliance at times. However, playing for defensive-minded coaches such as Scott Brooks and Billy Donovan has kept Lamb's minutes low due to his defensive inconsistencies.

Still, Oklahoma basketball pundits, like beat writer Darnell Mayberry, think the development of Lamb was simply a case of being "sent to the wrong place, at the wrong time." Since 2012, he has battled for minutes with the likes of defensive specialist Thabo Sefolosha, prolific scorer Kevin Martin, and battle-tested veterans Derek Fisher and Caron Butler. This is the reason why observers think OKC General Manager Sam Presti is still reluctant to deal Lamb only because they have not fully seen what he can do.

Presti may very well make the decision as early as the 2015 NBA Draft, if Lamb could indeed be better in OKC, or somewhere else.

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