The Chicago Bulls announced today that the team has traded guard Thabo Sefolosha to the Oklahoma City Thunder for a 2009 first-round draft pick.
Sefolosha (6-7, 215), in his third season in the NBA, has played in 43 games (14 starts) this season, and averaged 4.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.5 apg, 17.1 mpg, .434 from the field, .300 from behind the arc and .840 from the line. Originally drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round (13th overall) of NBA Draft 2006, his draft rights were traded by Philadelphia to Chicago for the draft rights to Rodney Carney (16th overall) and cash considerations (June 28, 2006).
Sefolosha has played in 183 regular-season contests (40 starts) with Chicago, and tallied averages of 5.0 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.4 apg and 16.6 mpg. During his time in a Bulls uniform, he shot .428 from the field, .328 from behind the arc and .684 from the free-throw line. Sefolosha, 24, also appeared in nine playoff games with the Bulls, and averaged 3.3 ppg and 1.9 rpg in 11.0 mpg.
“We are excited to add Thabo to our team,“ said Oklahoma City Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti. “With this trade we add another defensive-minded perimeter player that we feel has the opportunity to grow with our organization.”
Oklahoma City owns three first round picks in the 2009 NBA draft. The Thunder holds the rights to its own pick, the Denver Nuggets pick acquired in the Johan Petro trade and the San Antonio Spurs pick received in the Kurt Thomas deal. Chicago will get the least favorable of the Denver and San Antonio picks.
To make room for Sefolosha on the 15-man roster, the Thunder waived Mouhamed Sene.
