The Oklahoma City Thunder are eyeing candidates for their final two-way contract, allowing players to split time between the NBA and G League. With roster continuity following their championship run, the Thunder have a unique opportunity to integrate talent from recent Summer League performances. Chris Youngblood, Malevy Leons, Viktor Lakhin, and Payton Sandfort are the leading candidates, each bringing distinct skills and potential.

Youngblood, a sharpshooter who impressed in the Summer League, averaged 12.4 points while shooting 52% from three-point range. Leons, who has previous experience with the Thunder, showcased defensive capabilities but is still developing his offensive game. Lakhin and Sandfort are intriguing due to injuries that affected their draft stock, but both possess the shooting pedigree that the Thunder may value as they solidify their roster.

Malevy Leons is making a strong case for the final two-way spot on the Oklahoma City Thunder roster. After a slow start in the Summer League, where he struggled to make his presence felt, Leons turned things around dramatically in the latter part of his third game against the Utah Jazz. He registered 17 points, including a remarkable 13 in a crucial fourth quarter, demonstrating his ability to come through when needed most.

His performance included five steals and efficient shooting from the field, showcasing not just his scoring ability but also his defensive prowess. With the recent departure of Alex Ducas, Leons has opened up a pathway to potentially secure a contract. Given his previous experience with the Thunder’s G League affiliate, the OKC Blue, and his current momentum, he seems poised to capitalize on this opportunity.

The Oklahoma City Thunder narrowly lost to the Utah Jazz 86-82 in the Summer League, failing to overcome an 18-point deficit. Despite starting strong with a 25-22 lead after the first quarter, the Thunder's offense faltered in the second, allowing the Jazz to take a 39-36 lead at halftime. A critical moment occurred in the third quarter when Utah erupted for 20 consecutive points, stretching their lead to 73-57. However, the Thunder fought back, led by Malevy Leons, who scored 13 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter, helping OKC take an 80-79 lead with under three minutes left. Unfortunately, the Jazz closed out the game on a strong note, sealing the win.

The NBA rookie class has shown varying levels of promise after one month of play, with teams hoping their young talents can translate potential into performance. The report card evaluates each team's rookies, focusing on those who have made significant contributions or are expected to do so.

Some standouts include Zaccharie Risacher of the Atlanta Hawks, who leads all rookies in minutes, and Dalton Knecht of the Los Angeles Lakers, who has emerged as a key player. Meanwhile, others like Ron Holland of the Detroit Pistons and AJ Johnson of the Milwaukee Bucks have struggled to make an impact.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are preparing for their upcoming roster decisions as they approach the deadline for finalizing their opening night lineup. Currently, they have an open standard roster spot while all two-way slots are filled.

Recent signings include Alex Reece, Chase Jeter, Buddy Boeheim, and others, but the team has already waived Reece and Jeter as part of their strategy to secure G League rights. The Thunder aim to finalize their roster with 14 standard contracts and three two-way contracts by the deadline.