DeAndre Liggins is know for his work ethic and his defensive prowess by Kentucky fans and it sounds like Oklahoma City is learning the about the same attributes.
In this Thunder Rumblings article, Liggins could possibly be a starter or be cut by the Oklahoma City Thunder, and the player he is in a battle with for the final spot is with Daniel Orton.
Thunder beat writer Darnell Mayberry featured free agent guard DeAndre Liggins in Thursday’s paper, a story you can read here. Liggins is one of five players battling for the final roster spot, the others being center Daniel Orton, forward Hollis Thompson, guard Andy Rautins and guard Walker Russell.
The leader appears to be Orton, primarily because he is 6-foot-10, weighs 255 pounds and the Thunder is in dire need of depth at center. If Orton is the 15th player on the roster, the Thunder could allocate Liggins, Thompson and Rautins to the Tulsa 66ers, the Thunder’s D-League affiliate (Fort Wayne owns the D-League rights to Russell).
Crazy as it sounds, even though Liggins could end up in Tulsa, he’s still good enough to start for the Thunder.
Liggins is a victim of numbers. OKC is drowning in shooting guards with starter Thabo Sefolosha, James Harden and Daequan Cook, plus there will be several occasions when Russell Westbrook will be taken off the point and put on the wing. The Thunder has several combinations of the old-fashioned, two-guard attack with two ball-handlers.While Liggins unfortunately is on the chopping block, he’s also worthy of starting for the Thunder. Should Sefolosha, heaven forbid, go down with an injury, Liggins would be the perfect candidate to replace him in the starting lineup. Liggins is a mirror image of Sefolosha — unselfish, focused, determined, tough, relentless.
I hope DeAndre makes the roster, but if everything doesn’t work out, I am sure he will get a chance sometime during the season.
I know for a fact wherever he plays, DLeague or in the NBA, there is no one that will work harder than DeAndre Liggins.
