APRIL 12: The Thunder’s deal with Deck was officially completed on Saturday, per NBA.com’s transactions log.
According to Schlecht (Twitter link), Deck’s new contract is actually a four-year deal worth a total of $14.5MM. However, the second and third years are non-guaranteed, and the fourth year is a team option. Only this year’s $3.87MM salary is guaranteed.
In addition to being a nice payday for Deck (he now has the third-highest ’20/21 salary among current Thunder players), that $3.87MM rest-of-season commitment helps the Thunder reach the salary floor.
As John Hollinger of The Athletic explains, it remains to be seen whether Deck will actually show enough to be a keeper beyond this season for the Thunder. But even if Oklahoma City decides to move on at season’s end, his 2021/22 salary could be partially or fully guaranteed to help accommodate a trade.
APRIL 8: Argentinian forward Gabriel Deck is expected to join the Thunder on a three-year contract, a source tells Emiliano Carchia of Sportando. Chema de Lucas first reported (via Twitter) that Deck was finalizing an agreement with Oklahoma City.
Deck, who went undrafted in 2017, would be departing top EuroLeague squad Real Madrid two weeks before the EuroLeague’s playoffs are scheduled to kick off. Oklahoma City would be his first NBA club.
Deck played for a string of Argentinian clubs before suiting up for Real Madrid in 2018. He was voted the Argentine League MVP and was named a two-time Argentine League Finals MVP.
He averaged 8.5 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 1.0 APG and 0.7 SPG in 30 games for Real Madrid this season, with a shooting line of .481/.412/.846.
Deck could help shore up an injury-ravaged Oklahoma City club. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Hall, Luguentz Dort, Darius Miller, Isaiah Roby, Darius Bazley, and Mike Muscala have all been listed as absent ahead of the team’s latest contest against the Hornets.
The Thunder don’t currently have an opening on their roster, but 15th man Justin Robinson is on a 10-day deal, and it’s possible one or two other players on the roster may be expendable.
And there’s still some people that don’t think we’re tanking on purpose…..
It must infuriate RealMadrid fans that a top player decides to take a flier on the NBA just before the playoffs start. I hope it’s like a 10-day thing
Posted too early. Looking at tweets I do not see anger, but I did see an encouraging highlight video and a “Merecidísimo”: deserved. But no “We’re not a minor league team here”.
It says a three-year contract but nothing about guarantees.
A deft passer and a two-hand dunker through contact, not tall.
Probably fiery and fun to watch.