It’s official— rookie forward Aleksej Pokusevski, second-year guard Ty Jerome, and two-way players Moses Brown and Josh have been assigned to the Thunder’s G-League affiliate, the Oklahoma City Blue, per. Wednesday’s media presser.
Reports of the news first circulated on Monday, when Joe Mussatto of The Oklahoman caught wind and tweeted of the news, per. Mark Daigneault. The assignments were made official Wednesday morning.
In Wednesday’s statement made by the team, the organization said:
The Oklahoma City Thunder has assigned Ty Jerome, Aleksej Pokuševski and two-way players Moses Brown and Josh Hall to the Oklahoma City Blue of the NBA G League, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.
-Oklahoma City Thunder/NBA.com
For two-way players Josh Hall and Moses Brown, this move comes to little surprise. Although this years two-way contract allows for signees to play with the main roster for 50 games, it was to be expected both men would play in the Blue’s regular season.
Moses Brown and Josh Hall have both had limited runs playing for the Thunder, playing seven games a piece for the squad.
Moses Brown has averaged 3.0 points and 2.1 rebounds in his minimal minutes with the team. Brown’s 7-foot-2 frame has been used to his advantage as the overwhelming majority of his points have come right around the basket.
Josh Hall has averaged 1.7 points and 1.3 rebounds while playing on the main roster. Hall’s production may not look all that eye-popping, especially when you take into account his 12.5% shooting from downtown, but he has had his moments. The former five-star prospect has had a collection of highlight finesse finishes in a little span, so you may want to keep him on your radar come the G-League’s start.
There was a flurry of astonishment garnered from the assignments of Pokusevski and Jerome, but this decision was premeditated. The statements of Oklahoma City looking to assign some of their 15-man roster was backed by Mark Daigneualt in talks with the media.
For Aleksej Pokusevski, this move to the bubble should allow him to expand upon his game. The first-round pick has had his moments with the team posting 3.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, and leading the team with 1.1 blocks in 17.4 minutes a contest. Pokusevski has struggled getting his shot rolling, shooting 18% through 17 games, while also being a tad discombobulated when distributing the basketball averaging more turnovers (1.3) than assists (1.2), but it is expected that the 19-year-old will be a centerpiece in Orlando. His passing game was the most highly touted asset coming into the 2020 Draft, so expect see a lot more possession with the ball in his hands.
Ty Jerome has been a bit of an enigma this season, not playing a single possession for the Thunder since being acquired from Phoenix over the offseason. The 23-year-old has been sidelined with a left ankle sprain since the preseason, and the plan is for him to make his season-debut with the Blue.
The 6-foot-5 sophomore had a tough going with the Suns last season, but his college stats hint at his potential role as a playmaking-sharpshooter. Jerome was a marksman in college, posting a 40% three-point percentage in his Junior year, while being a reliable passer with 5.4 assists.
All four assignees will be headed to Orlando for the G-League bubble in Orlando, which will kick off February 11.