Category: OKC Thunder Blog

OKC Thunder blog – Oklahoma City Thunder basketball blog

Thunder sign Branden Carlson to Two-Way Contract

The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed center Branden Carlson to a Two-Way Contract, it was announced yesterday by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.

Carlson (7-0, 220) has appeared in 15 games for the Thunder this season after originally being signed on November 16, 2024. The Utah native scored a career-high 11 points and grabbed four rebounds in a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 16 and he is averaging 3.1 points and 1.7 rebounds in 6.3 minutes per game this season with the Thunder.

In five games (all starts) for the Oklahoma City Blue of the NBA’s G League this season, Carlson is averaging 15.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.20 blocks in 25.6 minutes per contest.

Thunder sign Ajay Mitchell to multi-year contract

The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed guard Ajay Mitchell to a multi-year contract, it was announced yesterday by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.

In 34 games (one start) this season, Mitchell is averaging 6.4 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 16.5 minutes. He is one of two rookies this season shooting at least 50% from the field and 40% from 3-point range.

Oklahoma City originally acquired the 2024 draft rights to guard Ajay Mitchell (selected 38th overall) on draft night from the New York Knicks.

Pelicans trade Daniel Theis to Thunder

The Oklahoma City Thunder has acquired center Daniel Theis and a 2031 second-round draft pick in a trade with the New Orleans Pelicans for cash considerations, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.

Theis [tice] (6-8, 254) has appeared in 411 career games (160 starts) and averaged 7.1 points on 53.7% shooting, 4.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 18.8 minutes per game over the course of eight NBA seasons as a member of the Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers and New Orleans Pelicans.

The 2031 second-round draft pick acquired by the Thunder is the least favorable of New Orleans and Orlando.

Thunder sign Branden Carlson to second 10-day contract

The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed center Branden Carlson to a second 10-day contract, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.

Carlson (7-0, 220) has appeared in 13 games for the Thunder this season after originally being signed on November 16. The Utah native scored a career-high 11 points and grabbed four rebounds in a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 16 and has totaled 37 points and 23 rebounds in 81 minutes of action this season.

In five games (all starts) for the Oklahoma City Blue of the NBA’s G League, Carlson has averaged 15.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.20 blocks in 25.6 minutes per contest.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander named West Player of Month for October and November 2024

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been named Western Conference Player of the Month for games played in October/November.

This marks the second Player of the Month honor for Gilgeous-Alexander. He appeared in 19 games (all starts) and averaged 29.8 points on 50.3 percent shooting from the field to go along with 6.6 assists, 5.3 rebounds, 1.68 steals and 1.11 blocks in 34.5 minutes per game, as Oklahoma City went 15-4 during that stretch.

Gilgeous-Alexander became the first player in NBA history to register 45+ points, 9+ assists, 5+ steals and 2+ blocks in a single game in a 134-128 win over the Clippers on 11/11.

He recently joined Giannis Antetokounmpo, Michael Jordan and Larry Bird as the only players to ever average at least 29.0 points on 50% shooting, 5.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.50 steals and 1.00 block through the first 20 games of a season.

Thunder sign Malevy Leons, waive Alex Reese

The Oklahoma City Thunder has signed forward/center Malevy Leons, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.

And in a related move, the Thunder has waived forward/center Alex Reese. He was signed on Oct. 19 and appeared in one game.

Leons (6-9, 205) appeared in four games (one start) for Oklahoma City in the preseason and averaged 5.0 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.50 steals in 13.5 minutes per game. He appeared in 35 games (all starts) with the Bradley Braves in the 2023-24 collegiate season and averaged 13.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.46 blocks, 1.54 steals and 1.3 assists while shooting 49% from the floor.

Thunder sign Alex Reese

The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed forward/center Alex Reese, it was announced yesterday by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.

Reese (6-9, 230) appeared in three preseason games with the Thunder and averaged 2.3 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.0 assist in 8.7 minutes of action per contest. The Pelham, Alabama native appeared in 43 games for the NBA G League’s Rip City Remix last season and averaged 11.5 points and 4.6 rebounds while connecting on 40.5 percent from three-point range in 17.3 minutes per game.

Thunder eliminated by Mavericks in second round of playoffs

Per the Oklahoman:

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander buried his face in his jersey. Chet Holmgren clasped his hands on his head. Jalen Williams, after his desperation heave drifted wayward, bent over, hands on knees.

The game was epic, making the Thunder’s 117-116 defeat in Game 6 all the more agonizing.

Dallas advanced to the Western Conference Finals. Oklahoma City is headed home.

An electric fourth-quarter filled with spectacular shotmaking and would-be game-defining plays was decided by a whistle. A correct whistle, but a whistle nonetheless.

Gilgeous-Alexander, tremendous all night, fouled his old college buddy, P.J. Washington, on a 3-pointer with three seconds left.

Mayhem preceded the call.

FULL ARTICLE

Mavericks take 3-2 series lead on Thunder

Per the Dallas Morning News:

Sprained right knee. Sore left ankle and Achilles. Stiff back.

The accumulation of injuries clearly has taken a toll on Luka Doncic during this second-round series, but Wednesday night he conquered the pain, and Oklahoma City, by summoning Luka Magic in the Mavericks’ 104-92 Game 5 victory in Paycom Center.

“The old Luka, with a smile on my face,” as Doncic put it.

Was it vintage Playoff Luka? No, but he was plenty overpowering, with 31 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds as Dallas took a 3-2 series lead over the No. 1 seed Thunder and moved within one victory of its second Western Conference finals berth in three seasons.

Not coincidentally, care to guess when and where and in what situation Doncic’s other dominant performance was since these injuries mounted? It was Game 5 of the first round, when he had 35 points and 10 assists in Los Angeles in a 30-point Dallas victory that broke a 2-2 series tie.

FULL ARTICLE