The Nuggets chose to match the Thunder’s offer sheet to restricted free agent Spencer Jones. So what will the Thunder do now regarding their open roster spot?

The Oklahoman’s Justin Martinez speculates that they’ll either keep the spot open entering this season or promote one of their two-way players.  Second-round guard Otega Oweh could earn his way into that conversation and recently-waived guard Payton Sandfort could also be a snug fit, since the team traded away some shooting when dumping the salaries of Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins.

Here’s more on the Thunder:

• The Thunder’s rookies and second-year players didn’t receive particularly high grades from Martinez for their Summer League performances. Lottery pick Aday Mara received a B-, lacking aggression and physicality at times while averaging 9.2 points, 7 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.8 blocks in 24 minutes. Bennett Stirtz , selected with the No. 16 pick, made the best impression and earned a B+. Stirtz steadily improved while serving as the main facilitator and shot-creator, averaging 14.4 points, 3.4 assists, 1.6 rebounds, 1.0 steals and 2.6 turnovers in 27.4 minutes.
• According to The Athletic’s Fred Katz, the Thunder did not trade Luguentz Dort, Wiggins and Joe to avoid the second tax apron restrictions. Rather, in the league’s third-smallest market, owner Clay Bennett is sticking to a budget and those moves were financially driven and will weaken the current-day roster. More difficult decisions will need to be made in the future, considering how expensive it will be to keep the core group intact.
• ICYMI, Thunder assistant Chip Engelland has accepted an assistant coaching job with the Rockets. Get the details here.