Category: OKC Thunder Blog

OKC Thunder blog – Oklahoma City Thunder basketball blog

With 2nd pick in 2022 NBA draft, Thunder selected Chet Holmgren

The Oklahoma City Thunder selected forward Chet Holmgren (second overall), guard Jalen Williams (12th overall) and forward Jaylin Williams (34th overall) in the 2022 NBA draft yesterday.

The Thunder also acquired the rights to forward Ousmane Dieng, the 11th overall pick, from the New York Knicks in exchange for three protected 2023 first-round draft picks.

Holmgren (7-0, 195) played one season with the Gonzaga Bulldogs, appearing in 32 games (31 starts), averaging 14.1 points, 9.9 rebounds and 3.66 blocks in 26.8 minutes per game. He was awarded the 2021-22 WCC Defensive Player of the Year, WCC Newcomer of the Year and was named to the 2021-22 All-America Second Team by AP and Sporting News.

Dieng (6-10, 216) [oose-mon jeng] spent the 2021-22 season with the New Zealand Breakers of the NBL, seeing action in 23 games (11 starts), averaging 8.9 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 20.8 minutes per game.

Jalen Williams (6-6, 195) spent three seasons at Santa Clara University, appearing in 33 games (all starts), averaging 18.0 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 34.8 minutes per game. He ranked second in the WCC in scoring and sixth in assists en route to being named to the All-WCC First Team.

Jaylin Williams (6-10, 240) played two seasons at the University of Arkansas, appearing in 37 games (35 starts), averaging 10.9 points, 9.8 rebounds and 1.29 steals in 31.6 minutes per game in his sophomore season. He was named to the 2021-22 SEC All-Defensive Team and the All-SEC First Team by coaches.

Thunder sign Melvin Frazier Jr. to two-way contract, and waive Olivier Sarr

The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed guard Melvin Frazier Jr. to a two-way contract.

And in a related move, Oklahoma City has waived forward Olivier Sarr.

Frazier (6-6, 210) split the 2021-22 season between the G League Iowa Wolves and Oklahoma City Blue, appearing in 50 games (36 starts) and averaging 13.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.46 steals in 30.2 minutes per game. He has appeared in 29 career NBA games with the Orlando Magic, where he averaged 1.9 points in 5.9 minutes per game.

Thunder sign Georgios Kalaitzakis and Zavier Simpson to 10-day contracts

The Oklahoma City Thunder has signed forward Georgios Kalaitzakis and guard Zavier Simpson to 10-day contracts, via the NBA’s Hardship Allowance, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.

Kalaitzakis (6-7, 192) made 31 appearances (two starts) with the Oklahoma City Blue this season and averaged 10.1 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 19.6 minutes per game.

Simpson (6-0, 190) played in 47 games (32 starts) in his second season with the Blue this year and averaged 12.7 points, 4.6 rebounds and 6.2 assists in 30.3 minutes per game.

Thunder sign forward Jaylen Hoard to 10-day contract

The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed forward Jaylen Hoard to a 10-day contract, via the NBA’s Hardship Allowance.

Hoard (6-8, 215) has played in 20 games with the Thunder over the 2020-22 seasons and averaged 5.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 16.1 minutes per game. He previously spent the 2019-20 season with the Portland Trail Blazers where he averaged 2.9 points and 2.5 rebounds in 13 appearances.

A native of France, Hoard played in 39 games (25 starts) with the Oklahoma City Blue this year, averaging 10.1 points on 52.9 percent shooting from the field, 6.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 23.9 minutes per game.

Thunder and Mavericks will play Oct. 5, 2022 preseason game in Tulsa

The Oklahoma City Thunder are set to return to Tulsa, Oklahoma during the 2022 NBA preseason, the team announced today. The Thunder will host the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday, October 5, 2022 at 7 p.m. inside the BOK Center.

The matchup will be the Thunder’s 13th preseason game in Tulsa and the third time Oklahoma City and Dallas will face off there.

Thunder announce season-ending surgeries for Lu Dort, Mike Muscala and Ty Jerome

The Oklahoma City Thunder announced the following injury updates today:

Lu Dort underwent a successful procedure today to address a labrum tear in his left shoulder. The procedure was performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache at the Kerlan Jobe Institute in Los Angeles, with Thunder medical personnel present. Dort is expected to return to full basketball activities prior to the start of the 2022-23 season.

Mike Muscala underwent a successful arthroscopic procedure and additional lateral ligament repair on his right ankle today. The procedure was performed by Dr. Robert Anderson at the Bellin Health Titletown Sports Medicine and Orthopedics in Green Bay, Wis., with Thunder medical personnel present. Muscala is expected to return to full basketball activities prior to the start of the 2022-23 season.

Ty Jerome underwent a successful procedure today to address a sports hernia. The procedure was performed by Dr. William Meyers at the Vincera Institute in Philadelphia, with Thunder medical personnel present. Jerome is expected to return to full basketball activities in approximately eight weeks.

Thunder sign Olivier Sarr to two-way contract

The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed forward Olivier Sarr to a two-way contract, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.

Sarr (6-11, 238) has appeared in 23 games (two starts) for the Thunder’s G League affiliate, the Oklahoma City Blue, this season and averaged 7.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 15.7 minutes per game. He signed two 10-day contracts with the Thunder per the NBA’s COVID-Related Hardship Allowance and played in two games where he averaged 2.0 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in 7.0 minutes per game.

Per the Oklahoman, “Sarr will fill the two-way slot previously occupied by rookie wing Aaron Wiggins, who recently signed a standard contract with the Thunder.”

The Niort, France native played three seasons at Wake Forest before transferring to Kentucky and collected Third Team All-ACC honors and was named a runner-up for ACC Most Improved Player. He appeared in 110 career games and averaged 8.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks in 22.0 minutes per game.

OKC Thunder sign guard Aaron Wiggins to multi-year contract

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

Wiggins was signed to a Two-Way Contract in August and has appeared in 31 games (18 starts) for the Thunder this season while averaging 7.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 21.9 minutes per game. His 31 games played are tied for most among all rookie two-way players this year, while his points per game rank third among those players.

In six games (three starts) with the Oklahoma City Blue, he averaged 12.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.33 steals in 26.3 minutes per game.

The North Carolina native played three seasons at the University of Maryland, where he was a 2021 All-Big Ten Honorable Mention selection and named the 2019-20 Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year.

Thunder sign Lindy Waters III to two-way contract, and waive Paul Watson Jr.

The Oklahoma City Thunder has signed guard Lindy Waters III to a Two-Way Contract, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.

In a separate transaction, the Thunder has waived forward Paul Watson Jr.

Waters III (6-6, 215) has appeared in 28 games (14 starts) for the Thunder’s G League affiliate, the Oklahoma City Blue, this season and averaged 8.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.11 steals in 19.9 minutes per game. He is shooting 48.8 percent from beyond the arc during the regular season, which ranks fourth in the G League.

The Norman, Okla. native played four seasons at Oklahoma State University where he appeared in 121 games (104 starts) and averaged 9.5 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 27.9 minutes per game. He earned second team Academic All-Big 12 honors in 2020 and ended his career as just the 11th OSU player to record at least 1,000 points, 250 assists and 100 steals.