AjayMitchell

Preseason question: Is Mitchell the best bench scorer in the NBA? As the proverbial sixth man on an über-deep contender, Mitchell is just a smidge overqualified for the nightly tasks that Oklahoma City asks of him. On just about any other team, he would be starting on a $100 million–plus contract. On the Thunder, he’s the lowest-paid player on the roster, more or less asked to get shots up off the bench. For now, it’s a mutually beneficial relationship. With Lu Dort, Aaron Wiggins, and Isaiah Joe gone and Cason Wallace presumably elevated to OKC’s starting lineup, Mitchell should enjoy even more on-ball responsibility in lineups that don’t have Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or Jalen Williams. If he’s a little more efficient and the Thunder lean a little more toward his three-level shotmaking, Sixth Man of the Year may be his to lose.