Terrance Ferguson’s year overseas should have him well prepared to fit in with Thunder

Fans of the Thunder can get really excited about Terrance Ferguson. In a league where three-point shooting and players with low usage are necessary, the No. 21 pick in the 2017 NBA Draft will find a way to shine.

Ferguson turned down a chance to play at Arizona to compete professionally in Australia. He didn’t put up gaudy numbers last season with the Adelaide 36ers in the National Basketball League, only scoring 4.4 points per game last season with the 36ers in 15.1 minutes of play. But he was a young player on a professional team, so it was difficult for him to find minutes.

With the Thunder, he won’t need to touch the ball. He’ll find a way to produce, whether it’s just spotting up on the floor and knocking down threes, playing tough defense, or slashing to the basket. Ferguson can be a solid prospect moving forward.

Shooting is at a premium in today’s NBA, and Ferguson has the goods. He only shot 31 percent from deep last year, but that was in limited minutes with limited attempts. He has good form and gets the ball off quickly. (Video via William Crouch)

And he’s 6’7 with a 6’9 wingspan, so he’s able to get his jump shot off over the lengthiest defenders.

Ferguson isn’t going to be a star on the next level, but this certainly is a special skill most teams would love to have. Oklahoma City will work with him to continue to develop.

Ferguson is rail thin and lanky at just 184 pounds, so he isn’t going to run through anyone. But he certainly will be able to jump over some of them. His explosion mixed with his length and wingspan make him a dangerous athlete when he gets a straight line to the rim.

Teams already have to worry about Ferguson stretching out to the wing and springing three-pointers on them, but his athleticism and ability to finish above the rim make him even more of a threat in transition. If teams don’t keep track of him in the open floor it’s an easy bucket for Ferguson.

He can’t really create shots for himself or others. As a wing player, it really isn’t a requirement to be able to create your own offense, but it is a huge plus.

In Ferguson’s case, he may be so bad at it that it becomes an overwhelming negative. Ferguson averaged one turnover per game in Australia, but couldn’t register a full assist. He turned the ball over more than he created for others, and that’s not a good thing for a wing player even if creation isn’t a requirement.

When Ferguson attacks a hard closeout, the defense will know exactly what he’s going to do. If he tries to pass the ball, it’ll probably result in a turnover.

Like Brandon Jennings, Ferguson opted to play basketball professionally overseas for a year rather than going to the NCAA. He had a verbal commitment to the University of Arizona, but thought better of it.

Here’s more on that:

Ferguson believes other players should follow his path.

“Most one-and-done players only spend a few months in college. You have to do schoolwork and all this other stuff. You go overseas, you spend the same amount of months, but you’re focusing straight on basketball. I feel like more players should do it,” he said after a workout with the Charlotte Hornets.

“At college, the only people making money off you are the coaches. You’re not making anything off your jersey sales, ticket sales. Not anything. So go overseas, the way I did, and get your money’s worth. Get paid for what you’re doing.”