Walker Russell

Thunder Waive Walker Russell

The Thunder have waived camp invitee Walker Russell Jr., according to John Rohde of the Oklahoman (via Twitter). Oklahoma City had been carrying 19 players, so the move reduces the roster to 18 players, with more cuts to come over the next week.

Russell, who signed with the Thunder three weeks ago, has played for a number of teams overseas and in the D-League since going undrafted in 2006. He finally made his NBA debut last year for the Pistons, averaging 3.0 PPG and 2.1 APG in 12.8 MPG.

As Royce Young of Daily Thunder wrote last week, Russell was an extreme long shot to make the regular-season roster, so the move doesn't come as a surprise. As our list of partially guaranteed contracts suggests, the 6'0" guard had been the only player in Thunder camp without any form of guarantee. The team will need to cut three additional players from a group that includes DeAndre Liggins, Daniel Orton, Andy Rautins, and Hollis Thompson, each of whom has at least a small guarantee on his contract.

Northwest Links: Jazz, Thunder, Harden, Karl

In a lengthy insider piece at ESPN.com, Chad Ford explains why the Jazz placed fourth in ESPN's recent Future Power Rankings, a position that surprised even team GM Dennis Lindsey"We are a long way from No. 4 right now," Lindsey said.  "I can understand on the future ratings why there's reason to be optimistic — with the cap flexibility Kevin has created and the young players that we do have — but cap room doesn't win you games.  Young players, almost by definition, don't win you games."

Regardless of whether ESPN's optimistic ranking is justified, Jazz fans certainly have reason to be excited about the future of the teamIn fact, most of the teams in the Northwest have solid young cores.  Let's take a look at some other links from the division:

  • Darnell Mayberry of the Oklahoman gives us his two cents on the Thunder's 15th roster spot, saying that DeAndre Liggins has been the surprise of training camp and has the inside track on the final job.  Marberry says Liggins' toughness has made him stand out.
  • Blazers general manager Neil Olshey says that will not make a decision on whether he will the exercise options on Luke Babbitt, Nolan Smith and Elliot Williams until much closer to the October 31 deadline, tweets Chris Haynes of CSN Northwest.
  • Scott Brooks says that whoever plays the best will secure the Thunder's 15th roster spot, writes Royce Young of DailyThunder.com.  It sounds like Brooks is comfortable enough with his top 14 to take the "best available" player that is left over.  Young handicaps the potential candidates, from most to least likely: Daniel Orton, DeAndre Liggins, Andy Rautins, Hollis Thompson and longshot Walker Russell.
  • Janni Carlson of the Oklahoman opines that while signing James Harden will certainly help the Thunder now, it may hinder the team's long-term future. If the Thunder choose to sign Harden and pay the luxury tax, Carlson says, they may get burned in the same fashion as other small markets have in Minnesota, Cleveland and Sacramento.
  • In a lengthy feature, Candace Buckner of the Columbian highlights the relationship between George Karl and Portland head coach Terry Stotts, and how that long friendship landed Coby Karl in training camp with the Blazers.

Thunder Sign Walker Russell Jr.

The Thunder have finalized their training camp roster by adding Walker Russell Jr. to the squad, the team announced today (Twitter link). The move gives Oklahoma City 19 players under contract heading into camp.

Russell, who turns 30 this weekend, went undrafted in 2006 and has bounced around since then, playing for a number of teams overseas and in the D-League. He finally made his NBA debut last year for the Pistons, signing a non-guaranteed contract with the team that eventually became guaranteed. In 28 games for Detroit, the point guard averaged 3.0 PPG and 2.1 APG in 12.8 MPG.

Terms of Russell's deal with the Thunder aren't known, but it's almost certainly a non-guaranteed summer contract.

Decisions On Non-Guaranteed Contracts

February 10th marks the day that all players on non-guaranteed contracts will have their deals guaranteed for the remainder of the season. However, if a team wants to meet that Friday deadline, it will need to make its decisions today, allowing its player(s) to pass through waivers in time.

Some non-guaranteed players, such as DeJuan Blair and Jeremy Lin, are in no danger of being waived. However, with a few dozen players on non-guaranteed deals across the league, there will be plenty of cuts before the day is out. Some of those players will sign 10-day contracts shortly after being cut, while others could join the D-League or find a place on our list of current unrestricted free agents.

We'll track all the day's decisions on non-guaranteed contracts right here, with the latest news up top:

Zach Links contributed to this post.