Tag: Tre Mann

Four Gators on NBA rosters entering 2024-25 season

The 2024-25 NBA season is set to begin and a handful of former Gators are on NBA rosters to start the year. Several more have G-League hopes.

As October winds to a close, another NBA season begins, and four former Florida Gators are set to play in the 2024-25 campaign.

The most tenured Gator in the Association is Boston Celtics forward [autotag]Al Horford[/autotag], who is entering his 18th season (seventh with Boston). Horford was a key figure in the Celtics’ lineup en route to an NBA Finals appearance and world championship

He moved from a reserve role to the starting lineup last season when Kristaps Porzingis went down and has played in the starting five during the preseason. Horford is in the second year of a two-year deal with Boston, which could mean this is his swan song. Of course, there’s always a chance that he re-signs or joins another contender as a veteran leader.

Three-time all-star [autotag]Bradley Beal[/autotag] is the next name on the list. He’s entering his second season with the Phoenix Suns alongside fellow Big 3 members Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. Beal is the third option and averaged 18.2 points and 5 assists per game last season, despite missing nearly 30 games due to injuries.

Beal would be the first to go if Phoenix decides to break up the trio that leads its high-powered offense, but that would come after a few months, perhaps closer to the deadline.

Point guard [autotag]Tre Mann[/autotag] was traded from Oklahoma City to Charlotte last season and put up career-high numbers in points (11.9 per game) and assists (5.2). Several NBA experts see this as a potential explosion year for Mann as he enters a contract year.

Power forward [autotag]Dorian Finney-Smith[/autotag] rounds out the list, entering his ninth overall season in the NBA and third with the Brooklyn Nets. Now over 30, DFS is a veteran leader on the Nets who is still solid at playing on both ends. He could also end up moving at the trade deadline given his versatility at the forward position

Gators who transferred before going to NBA

Andrew Nembhard is the only former Gator in the NBA who transferred before going pro. Nembhard finished his college career with Gonzaga and has spent the last two seasons with the Indiana Pacers, starting 110 of 143 games played.

Nembhard played in the Paris Olympics with Team Canada and signed a three-year extension with Indiana over the summer. His future is bright and Florida gets some credit for developing him at the start of his college career.

Former Gators looking to make rosters

A handful of former Gators should wind up in the G-League this year, including recently waived names such as Colin Castleton, Alex Fudge, Keyontae Johnson, Zyon Pullin and Tyrese Samuel.

G-League rosters are still being figured out. Check back with Gators Wire for more updates if and when those players are signed.

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Former Gator Tre Mann traded at NBA deadline

After three years in Oklahoma City, former Gators guard Tre Mann is headed to Charlotte in a trade deadline deal.

Former Florida guard [autotag]Tre Mann[/autotag] was traded from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday, Feb. 8, just ahead of the 3 p.m. trade deadline.

Oklahoma City is acquiring All-Star forward Gordon Hayward in exchange for Mann, guard Vasilije Micic, forward Davis Bertans and two second-round picks. Mann has the highest upside of the group, but he’ll still have to prove himself to break into the rotation.

The former five-star recruit played two seasons with the Gators from 2019-2021. As a sophomore, he led the team averaging 16.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. The Thunder took him with the 18th overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft, and he broke out as a rookie.

Mann started 26 games in 2021-22 and shot 36.0% from three-point range as he averaged 10.4 points a night. That efficiency waned in the 2022-23 season, though. His minutes from 22.8 a night to 17.7, and he finished the season shooting just 31.5% from the distance.

Meanwhile, the Thunder continued to add depth to its guard rotation, forcing Mann out. A trade was the best thing for his career at this point, as Mann was averaging 9.2 minutes per game before being traded.

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NBA Twitter reacts to Thunder trading for Gordon Hayward

NBA Twitter reacts to Thunder trading for Gordon Hayward.

The Oklahoma City Thunder improved their roster by acquiring Gordon Hayward from the Charlotte Hornets during the NBA trade deadline.

In exchange, the Thunder sent Tre Mann, Vasilije Micic, Davis Bertans and two second-round picks to the Hornets. Micic is likely the largest absence for OKC; he recently started to carve out a nice backup guard role.

In 25 games, Hayward has averaged 14.5 points on 48.6% shooting, 4.7 rebounds and 4.6 assists. He has shot 36.1% from 3 on 2.4 attempts. He is on an expiring $31.5 million salary.

Health is an issue. He hasn’t played since Dec. 26. Hayward is inching closer to a return; he was recently designated as questionable for the Hornets.

Let’s look at some of the best reactions to the trade from X, formerly known as Twitter.

Report: Thunder acquire Gordon Hayward from Hornets

Report: Thunder acquire Gordon Hayward from Hornets.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have acquired veteran forward Gordon Hayward from the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for Tre Mann, Vasilije Micic, Davis Bertans and two second-round picks, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

The two second-round picks are in 2024 via the Houston Rockets and 2025 via the Philadelphia 76ers. The Thunder also sent out cash considerations to the Hornets.

This is a nice deal for OKC. It doesn’t give up anything serious: Mann and Bertans seldom played this season. Meanwhile, Hayward has an expiring $31.5 million salary, so there’s no long-term commitment.

In 25 games, Hayward has averaged 14.5 points on 48.6% shooting, 4.7 rebounds and 4.6 assists. He’s shot 36.1% from 3 on 2.4 attempts. Nearly all of his 3-pointers resulted in assists (95.5%), so he’ll be a nice catch-and-shoot option for OKC.

Health is an issue. He hasn’t played since Dec. 26, but Hayward is inching closer to a return. He was recently began to be designated as questionable for the Hornets.

The Thunder can afford to be cautious with the 33-year-old. They’ll likely ask him to be a backup wing off the bench who can score. His immense playoff experience is a valuable commodity for the young Thunder.

Meanwhile, Mann gets a fresh start and has the next 1 1/2 seasons to earn a second NBA deal. In three seasons, he’s averaging 8.5 points on 39.7% shooting, 2.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists.

Editor’s note: This article was updated following the announcement of Micic and draft compensation to the deal. It was originally reported as just Mann and Bertans.

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Tre Mann recalled from G League’s OKC Blue

The Thunder recalled Tre Mann from the G League’s OKC Blue.

The Oklahoma City Thunder recalled third-year guard Tre Mann from the G League’s OKC Blue on Friday.

This comes after a one-game assignment for Mann. In the Blue’s win over the Mexico City Capitanes on Wednesday, he tallied 14 points on 5-of-12 shooting, 2-of-8 from 3, eight rebounds, five assists and four steals.

In his third season, Mann has been on the outside of OKC’s rotation due to its guard depth. He has appeared in 13 games and is averaging 9.2 minutes.

Despite this, Mann continues to be a supportive teammate and has enjoyed being part of the first-place Thunder by making the best of a less-than-ideal situation.

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Exclusive: Tre Mann talks role with Thunder, being a supportive teammate

Exclusive: Tre Mann talks role with Thunder, being a supportive teammate.

It hasn’t been the ideal third season for Tre Mann. The third-year guard is averaging career lows across the board as he is outside the Oklahoma City Thunder’s rotation.

The 22-year-old is a victim of OKC’s backcourt depth. Ahead of him on the depth chart are Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey, Lu Dort, Isaiah Joe, Cason Wallace and Vasilije Micic.

Through no real fault of his own, Mann has appeared in just 13 games for 9.2 minutes. Due to the lack of playing time, he’s had a few stints with the G League’s OKC Blue, with whom he usually puts up monster scoring numbers.

In his two games with the Blue, he’s averaging 20 points, eight rebounds and five assists.

In all likelihood, Mann’s time with OKC is nearing an end. He’s a popular choice for someone who could be moved either at the trade deadline or offseason. Considering he has a year left on his rookie deal, perhaps a new team can give him a chance to get the consistent playing time needed for him to earn a coveted second deal.

In the meantime, Mann continues to be a great teammate and has made the best of a less-than-ideal situation. As the Thunder fight for first place, the 22-year-old is always one of the first ones off the bench to celebrate massive moments in games.

When asked about his role this season, Mann said he will not let his lack of playing time poison his mindset, which speaks volumes of his character as both a player and individual.

“Bigger picture, just wanted to be a good teammate all the time,” Mann said on his role with the Thunder following the Blue’s win over Mexico City Capitanes. “Supporting the guys, trust in the coaching staff and what their plans are. But really just being a good person and a good teammate.”

Being assigned to the G League usually has a negative connotation involved to it, but the Thunder have done a tremendous job of removing that stigma with their players.

Instead of it being viewed as a demotion, players see it as an opportunity to get additional playing time in the same coaching schemes and court.

“(It’s) very beneficial,” Mann said on his Blue stints this season. “Like I said, OKC does a great job at keeping guys in shape, keeping guys ready. It’s just another opportunity for me to stay ready when my number is called for the Thunder. It’s always fun to play basketball.”

Blue head coach Kameron Woods has also noted Mann’s professionalism in the handful of games he’s had him this season, noting his seamless transition between teams.

“The thing that impressed me about him is he’s just always ready to play. He’s a great team player that guys really like playing with him,” Woods said. “Because of how we play and because of how he plays, you can just mirror him right into what you have. He fits right in and he plays with the group.”

Talented NBA players not working out in a specific situation regularly happens. In Mann’s case, it appears OKC’s abundance of guard talent has caused him to get the short end of the stick.

The third-year guard will likely get a chance elsewhere but until that materializes, he’ll continue to be a supportive teammate in a locker room that thrives in positivity and support.

“That’s why we’re so close on the court,” Mann said. “People say we play together. … We got other things that we do to bond — hang out, have dog dates, little stuff like that keeps us together and comfortable around each other.”

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Tre Mann assigned to G League’s OKC Blue

Tre Mann assigned to G League’s OKC Blue.

The Oklahoma City Thunder announced on Tuesday night that they had  assigned third-year guard Tre Mann to the G League’s OKC Blue.

In his third season, the 22-year-old has averaged career lows across the board. He has appeared in just 13 games this season, averaging 9.2 minutes.

Mann has received the short end of the stick with OKC’s guard depth. The Thunder are deep at the backcourt spots, which means he’s had a hard time finding consistent playing time.

With the Blue — who are set to play on Wednesday — Mann will have a chance to get some extensive in-game reps. With his time with the Thunder likely near its end, there’s a real possibility Mann is moved by the trade deadline.

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3 Thunder players who are most likely to be moved at trade deadline

3 Thunder players who are most likely to be moved at trade deadline.

The Oklahoma City Thunder will enter the Feb. 8 trade deadline as buyers for the first time in several years.

Sitting at 26-11 and tied for first place in the Western Conference standings, the Thunder have broken open a contending window led by MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams help round out one of the league’s best trios.

While a blockbuster in-season move is unlikely to happen, Thunder general manager Sam Presti has enough draft capital and young players to improve the roster on the margins.

If OKC elects to improve its depth, it’ll need to part ways with players on its roster. Let’s look at three of the most likely candidates on the Thunder who could be moved to upgrade their rotation in preparation for their first playoff run since 2020.

The Ringer suggests a trade that could help the Thunder’s rebounding woes

The Ringer suggests a trade that could help the Thunder’s rebounding woes.

A quarter into the 2023-24 regular season, the Oklahoma City Thunder have established themselves as a serious threat.

The young Thunder are 15-7 and in sole possession of second place in the Western Conference standings. OKC also passes the smell test. It’s ranked No. 3 in net rating, No. 6 in offensive rating and No. 5 in defensive rating.

If the Thunder continue to win at their current pace, they’ll make the playoffs for the first time since 2020. That means OKC could be buyers heading into the 2024 trade deadline.

The Ringer’s Michael Pena recently wrote about a hypothetical trade the Thunder could make to fortify their rebounding woes. OKC is No. 29 in the league in rebounding rate at 46.9%.

A player who could shore up those issues is veteran center Andre Drummond, who is the backup big on the Chicago Bulls. The 30-year-old is averaging 6.9 rebounds — 3.8 on defense and 3.1 on offense — in 13.2 minutes.

Pena suggests a Drummond for Tre Mann and a second-round pick swap:

“One option, for a franchise that doesn’t like spending money, is dumping Drummond’s $3.4 million contract into one of two modest trade exceptions OKC currently has. For that to happen, the Thunder would have to clear a roster spot, which complicates things.

What about a straight swap of Drummond for Tre Mann and a second-round pick? That might be too rich for Sam Presti’s blood, but he should imagine a playoff series against the Lakers, Wolves, Nuggets, or Pelicans.”

The deal isn’t too bad for the Thunder. Drummond is a short-term commitment on an expiring salary and Mann is outside of OKC’s rotation with no real chance to move up.

If the Thunder are buyers this season, this is the type of low-risk move they could realistically make to provide immediate help for an obvious weakness.

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Player grades: Thunder look lackadaisical in 110-101 loss to Rockets

Player grades for the Thunder’s 110-101 loss to the Rockets.

Hitting on a corner 3-pointer, Aaron Holiday put the final nail in the coffin for OKC’s comeback hopes, extending Houston’s lead to a game-high 17 points with a little under eight minutes left.

The Oklahoma City Thunder played catch-up for most of the night and fell to the Houston Rockets, 110-101.

“Credit them, they outplayed us on both ends of the floor,” Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault said on the loss. “I just thought we were a step slow on offense with our attacks. Had a hard time generating rhythm tonight on that end of the floor.”

The first quarter previewed the off night: The Thunder trailed the Rockets, 32-22, after 12 minutes. A late second-quarter run helped cut the deficit to five points entering halftime.

Though they entered the fourth quarter trailing by six, the Thunder’s chances of a comeback evaporated with the Rockets’ 17-6 run, fueled by five 3-pointers, to start the final frame.

The Thunder lost this game from outside. They shot an ugly 8-of-29 (27.6%) from 3. Meanwhile, the Rockets were a sizzling 15-of-33 (45.5%) from deep. Just that area of the game produced a 21-point difference.

Overall, OKC looked sluggish against one of the best defensive teams in the league. It shot 43% from the field.

“We were just a little stagnant,” Aaron Wiggins said on the offense. “Both with the ball at times and individually being in our spots. We got to be able to willing to move to create opportunities for other off-ball.”

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way for the Thunder with 33 points on 18 shots. The other four Thunder starters combined for 29 points on 10-of-38 shooting.

Meanwhile, the Rockets had a well-balanced scoring attack. Five players scored in double digits. Houston dished 28 assists on 40 buckets. Houston also dominated the boards, 53-30. Jabari Smith Jr. led the way with a career-high 18 rebounds to go along with his six points.

Alperen Sengun had 21 points, seven assists and six rebounds. Dillon Brooks scored 23 points on 9-of-17 shooting. Holiday scored a season-high 22 points and went 6-of-7 from 3 off the bench.

Though it was a nine-point loss, the Thunder never seemed in a groove against the Rockets. OKC managed to cut it to one point in the third quarter, but Houston always answered with runs to keep a healthy distance on the scoreboard.

“We had them in striking distance. It never quite felt like we had control of the game,” Daigneault said. “They were outplaying us and it felt like that … They did a good job at holding us off.”

Let’s look at Thunder player grades.