MINNEAPOLIS, MN – DECEMBER 03: Jeremiah Robinson-Earl #50 of the Oklahoma City Thunder fouls Jaylen … [+] Nowell #4 of the Minnesota Timberwolves in the fourth quarter of the game at Target Center on December 3, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Thunder defeated the Timberwolves 135-128. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
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Entering training camp earlier this month, the Oklahoma City Thunder needed to reduce the size of its roster by three players. Ahead of the 2023-24 campaign, a group comprised of a maximum of 15 players on full-time contracts would need to be finalized, but 18 players met that criteria.
While the most common way to cut down a roster during camp is to waive players outright, Thunder GM Sam Presti always looks to get creative in order to maximize assets.
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On Tuesday — with less than a week to finalize the final 15-man roster — Presti did just that. Two of the players that were projected to be waived were traded away as Oklahoma City added even more draft capital.
As first reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Houston Rockets traded Minnesota Timberwolves’ 2027 second-round pick and the Milwaukee Bucks’ 2028 second-round pick to the Thunder for Victor Oladipo and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl. Oklahoma City also took on the contract of Kevin Porter Jr., who was waived immediately. The Thunder will pay the $16.9M guaranteed left on his contract, so it was essentially swapping two players that were likely going to be waived for two second-round picks.
Bigger picture, the Thunder acquired a total of four second rounders for taking on and then moving Oladipo, who was a salary dump from the Miami Heat earlier in the offseason. Overall, OKC now has 15 first-round and 22 second-round picks over the next seven years.
Sometime in the next week, one more trade or cut will need to be made. While the most likely scenario is that Jack White — who is on a lightly guaranteed deal — is waived, don’t be shocked if a player like Davis Bertans or Tre Mann is traded away to clear that final spot while the Thunder is once again compensated with future draft capital.
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Presti views everything as an asset that can be maximized. Whether it’s cap space, players, roster spots or contracts, he looks to get the most out of the value of these assets. Once again, with Tuesday’s transaction, he’s proven to be willing to get creative to make that happen.
This OKC team is really on the cusp of making noise in the Western Conference. Despite being one of the youngest teams in the league, it’s among the most talented and competitive of any. Not only could the Thunder emerge as a playoff team in the 2023-24 campaign, but it’s also set up for sustained success.
The best teams need levers to pull in order to improve and re-tool as they adapt to their competition. As time goes on, Oklahoma City has the draft capital to not only add quality talent in the draft to elongate the success, but also make big moves. Whether it’s for a star-level player or for more of a fringe piece, the draft picks are there.
Especially with the new CBA and how teams can leverage players selected in the second-round, those picks are still very valuable. Furthermore, the recent trade deadline saw several needle-moving players be dealt for packages headlined by several second-round picks. While the move OKC made on Tuesday seems small, it could really pay off longer term.
Central Arkansas Bears (3-8) at Oklahoma Sooners (11-0)
Norman, Oklahoma; Sunday, 1 p.m. EST
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BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Sooners -28.5; over/under is 145.5
BOTTOM LINE: No. 14 Oklahoma hosts Central Arkansas after Jeremiah Fears scored 30 points in Oklahoma’s 87-86 victory over the Michigan Wolverines.
The Sooners have gone 6-0 at home. Oklahoma has a 2-0 record in games decided by less than 4 points.
The Bears are 0-6 on the road. Central Arkansas ranks fourth in the ASUN with 23.8 defensive rebounds per game led by Brayden Fagbemi averaging 4.6.
Oklahoma averages 82.0 points, 5.2 more per game than the 76.8 Central Arkansas allows. Central Arkansas averages 9.0 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.5 more made shots on average than the 6.5 per game Oklahoma allows.
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TOP PERFORMERS: Fears is scoring 17.9 points per game with 3.5 rebounds and 4.6 assists for the Sooners.
Layne Taylor is scoring 17.0 points per game and averaging 4.4 rebounds for the Bears.
LAST 10 GAMES: Sooners: 10-0, averaging 80.9 points, 29.3 rebounds, 14.1 assists, 10.1 steals and 1.9 blocks per game while shooting 47.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 68.5 points per game.
Bears: 3-7, averaging 73.0 points, 34.3 rebounds, 14.3 assists, 8.8 steals and 1.8 blocks per game while shooting 38.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 75.7 points.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – The Oklahoma City Fire Department responded to a commercial fire near the area of NW 10th and N Western Avenue.
OKCFD were at the scene of a commercial fire around 7 p.m. Saturday night, when they arrived there was heavy smoke visible from multiple floors of a boarded up building.
One adult female was found in the building and taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation.
At this time no cause has been reported.
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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
NORMAN — Bowl season is a bit unconventional for Navy.
The Midshipmen annually play against Army six days after the bowl schedule is released. That was the case this year, as Navy beat the Black Knights 31-13 on Dec. 14.
Beating Army is always a highlight for the Midshipmen. But the drawback for them is that they have less time than their bowl opponent to prepare for the game.
In this case, that’s Oklahoma. The Sooners will enter the game with more than two weeks of preparation for Navy’s triple-option offense.
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“It’s just a little different,” Navy coach Brian Newberry told reporters earlier this week. “They’ve known they’re going to play us for a little time now.”
Navy Coach, Oklahoma Native Brian Newberry Grew Up On OU Football
Navy does, however, enter the Armed Forces Bowl with momentum.
The Midshipmen (9-3) eased past Army last week in Landover, MD. They outgained the Black Knights 384-179 and forced Army quarterback Bryson Daily to throw three interceptions.
Navy’s rivalry win was its third in the last four games after the Midshipmen went on a two-game skid in the middle of the season. Newberry cited his team’s physicality in recent games, particularly in the Midshipmen’s drubbing of Army.
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“I was so impressed with how our kids handled the moment,” Newberry said. “Army’s a really, really good football team. I thought we physically dominated the game in the way that we blocked, beat blocks, the way we tackled. I thought we outplayed them in all three phases, so I’m really, really proud of that.”
A stark difference between the teams is the number of players that have entered the transfer portal.
The Sooners have seen 25 players from their 2024 team enter the portal. The Midshipmen have suffered only one departure in the winter portal window with defensive back Lorenzo Vitti.
On one hand, that makes Oklahoma preparation tough for Navy.
“It’s interesting,” Newberry said. “We’re going through their two-deep and trying to figure out who’s going to play and who isn’t. It’s a little bit of a challenge in that regard. And it could certainly change with a different quarterback.”
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But largely, the Midshipmen’s lack of transfers gives Newberry confidence that his team will be bought in for one more game in 2024.
“The portal can affect us, players can jump in the portal — we’re not getting that,” Newberry said. “It’s challenging to build a culture anywhere in college football right now, one that’s built on a certain level of trust. They know each other really, really well. They’ve fought through adversity. They stay the course, they pay the price and they have an opportunity.”
Navy will also play for more than just another win; the Midshipmen are looking to make history.
Navy has reached the 10-win mark just four times in program history. The Midshipmen did so three times under former coach Ken Niumatalolo from 2009-2019.
Having a shot at history while playing Oklahoma — the state that Newberry hails from — excites the coach.
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“It’s the last time that this team gets to play together,” Newberry said. “They want to go out the right way against a storied program like Oklahoma. It’s a great reward to play in a bowl game, but it’s a game we want to win.”
The Midshipmen and Sooners will play in the Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth at 11 a.m. on Dec. 27.
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