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Entering the regular season's final week, the only loose thread left for the Oklahoma City Thunder was Ajay Mitchell's return. Beating his self-imposed deadline by a couple of games, the 22-year-old returned from a three-month absence from toe surgery.
Mitchell sustained a toe sprain that required surgery in early January. It knocked him out for most of the regular season after he was a pleasant surprise as a backup guard. He helped lead the bench lineups and was quickly on his way to his eventual standard NBA deal after being on a two-way slot.
As the Thunder await their Round 1 opponent, Mitchell has been spotted at the practice facility continuing to work. His first two games back helped knock off some rust, but it's clear he's still a little away from being a top contributor. Understandable too, being out three months is the equivalent of an offseason.
Still, Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault said Mitchell could contribute to their hopeful deep playoff run. If OKC goes deep, expect three months of grueling basketball where most of the roster will get a chance to shine and steal a game in a series.
“We need him to be ready like everybody else. He has a role. He’s got utility. There’s things he can bring to our team that are unique," Daigneault said. "He’s been hurt, but this is the time of the year where everybody has to bring their strengths to the table."
For Mitchell, that could come in surviving Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's off-court minutes. He did that early in the season as a facilitator who could drive to the basket. Maybe he can do the same if the Thunder need to break out a curveball to win a playoff game.
This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Mark Daigneault says Ajay Mitchell will need to be ready for playoffs
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