The Oklahoma City Thunder’s trade of Steven Adams includes Zylan Cheatham, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
In order for the four-way deal to work, Oklahoma City had to pick up extra salary from the New Orleans Pelicans. One such way was acquiring Cheatham, who was given a three-year contract with the first year guaranteed to allow the deal go through, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks.
Oklahoma City’s roster is well over the limit of allowable players, so Cheatham may be one of the casualties when the team has to start making cuts, but should he join the Thunder, there will be a familiar face on the team.
Cheatham spent a season at Arizona State University with now-Thunder wing Luguentz Dort.
The two started together for the Sun Devils in the 2018-19 season. Dort, a freshman, averaged a team-high 16.1 points, while Cheatham, a redshirt senior who had transferred from San Diego State, manned the post and collected a team-high 10.3 rebounds while averaging a double-double.
Cheatham made the All-Pac 12 First Team, Dort the Second Team, and both were named to the Pac-12 All-Defensive Team.
The two helped lead ASU to a record of 23-11 (12-6, 2nd in Pac-12) and reach the NCAA Tournament.
Neither were drafted in 2019. Cheatham signed with the Pelicans and spent most of the season in the G League, where he averaged 16.2 points and 11.6 rebounds.
Dort joined Oklahoma City and started the season with the Blue. It didn’t take long for him to make the jump to the Thunder and earn a role in the rotation.
Cheatham will hope he gets the opportunity to do the same as his former — and new — teammate.
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