The Thunder have made a pair of roster cuts, announcing in a press release that they’ve waived forwards T.J. Leaf and Admiral Schofield.
Leaf and Schofield were acquired by Oklahoma City in offseason trades. The Thunder took on Schofield’s contract as part of a deal that saw them move up from No. 53 to No. 37 in this year’s draft to select Vit Krejci. The club received Leaf and a future second-round pick in a deal for Jalen Lecque, who is on a cheaper contract.
The fact that neither Leaf nor Schofield made the Thunder’s regular season roster suggests those two trades were motivated by the opportunities to land Krejci and a future second-rounder.
Leaf, the 18th overall pick in the 2017 draft, failed to carve out a role as a regular, reliable rotation player during three seasons in Indiana. The former UCLA standout averaged just 3.0 PPG and 2.5 RPG in 28 games (7.9 MPG) for the Pacers in 2019/20.
Schofield, meanwhile, spent his rookie season in 2019/20 with the Wizards after being drafted 42nd overall a year ago. He played limited minutes in D.C., averaging 3.0 PPG and 1.4 RPG in 33 games (11.2 MPG).
Both Leaf and Schofield will become unrestricted free agents, assuming they clear waivers. They’ll also be paid their 2020/21 salaries, since they were fully guaranteed. Leaf will earn $4.33MM, while Schofield makes $1.52MM. Schofield will also receive a partial guarantee of $300K on next season’s salary.
As for the Thunder, they now have 15 players on fully guaranteed contracts and Frank Jackson on a partially guaranteed contract. They’ll have to make at least one more cut before the regular season roster deadline on Monday.
Leaf can thank Lonzo for all the millions he made cause without him he’s not picked nearly as high
Facts
Leaf should get signed the second he clears waivers.
Pacers fan here – Leaf had a bunch of unexplained DNP prior to Covid. That OKC didn’t save a penny but still cut him makes sense. You have to earn it in practice, or the games, and neither happened….
Any chance either gets claimed on waivers? Admiral is pretty cheap…but not sure the league level of interest
Does anyone really want a player who was released by the Thunder?
houston(‘s trolling would make more sense if there were regular OKC posters on this site to troll.
Leaf obviously isn’t going to b able to play a role. A rebuilding Thunder team and a 22-23 year old former first round pick. And they cut him? Yah he’s done. Who else has minutes to go around for that guy of the Thunder don’t? As for Schofield… He will probably get picked up and spend the year as the 15th man somewhere that’s a contender with the hopes that he can learn/turn into a Crowder type player. He’s got the physical tools but not the refined game to go with it yet.
TJ Leaf’s salary is an unusual amount for a team to eat. I get him confused in my mind with Milwaukee’s DJ Wilson, who he does Not resemble, so that will be my eval of Leaf.
A medium-big issue two drafts ago was which Tennennesee player was the best prospect. Ainge apparently got it right with Grant Williams.