- The OKC Thunder have signed Gabriel Deck to a four-year contract worth $14.5M on Monday.
- Deck played for Real Madrid last season, averaging 9.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game.
- He is the 8th international player on the Thunder’s current roster.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed forward Gabriel Deck to a four-year contract worth $14.5M on Monday.
It’s interesting that a team signs an international player midway through the season but the Thunder had the open roster spot after waiving veteran forward Darius Miller last week and had the money to spend as well.
Signing Deck will cost the Thunder almost nothing. OKC was $4M below the NBA’s salary floor and teams who don’t reach this floor make up for the difference via bonuses to other players. So because they had to spend it anyway, the Thunder added a prospect with little long-term risk.
According to a report from The Athletic, the last three-years of Deck’s contract isn’t guaranteed. So while the Thunder can get a good look at him for one season, they can choose not to extend him if he isn’t worth it. However, there’s a good chance that Oklahoma City is going to love him.
All Hands on Deck
All hands on Deck! ?
??’s @gabriel_deck is next on our underrated list! Who’s yours? ? pic.twitter.com/9fd34kj7XQ
— FIBA (@FIBA) March 28, 2020
The 26-year old all-around forward from Argentina has no downside. His most prominent performance came at the 2019 FIBA World Cup where he averaged 13.9 points per game for an Argentinian team which won the silver medal.
Professionally, he has spent the last three seasons playing for Real Madrid of the Liga ACB. During the 2020-21 season, he averaged 9.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game while shooting 52% from the field.
Before joining Real Madrid he played for San Lorenzo de Almagro of Liga A in Argentina, averaging 18.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game. He also played for Quimsa of Liga A from 2011 to 2016.
Welcome to OKC
Welcome to OKC, Gabriel!@gabriel_deck | #ThunderUp pic.twitter.com/vcvk6os0vG
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) April 13, 2021
Deck appeared on the Thunder’s roster during Tuesday’s game against the Utah Jazz but he wasn’t there, physically. He is expected to join the team after clearing the immigration process. Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault said that he doesn’t know when their new acquisition will arrive and start playing. However, like many, Daigneault can’t wait to have him on board.
According to the OKC head coach, the Thunder front office and scouts really like Deck’s multi-positional ability and versatility. Daigneault likes the fact that Deck has played at a very high level professionally.
He becomes the 8th international player on OKC’s roster joining Lugen Dortz (Canada) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Canada), Jaylen Hoard (France), Al Horford (Dominican Republic), Theo Maledon (France), Svi Mykhailiuk (Ukraine) and Aleksej Pokusevski (Serbia).
The Thunder are having a rebuilding season and have the third-worst record in the West and the 5th worst record in the entire league at 20-34. They are six games behind the 10th seed and a chance for a play-in tournament. The best NBA betting sites have them with the worst odds to win the West and the third-worst odds to win the NBA title.
