This past summer, the OKC Thunder committed to north of $800 million in their big three of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren.
During Sunday's preseason opener, none of these studs were active.
While the shelving of their high-priced cornerstones may have been a bit upsetting for some fans, as they haven't seen this trio log in-game action since late June, a positive takeaway from the exhibition against Charlotte was that coach Mark Daigneault focused on showcasing some of the club's lower-cost, lesser buzzed-about talents.
In fact, the absence of Shai, J-Dub, and Chet specifically gave Aaron Wiggins the chance to serve as the de facto number one option within the team's scheme, a role he would not only make the most of but also further establish himself as the league's biggest bargain player in the process.