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The Oklahoma City Thunder brought back a familiar face on the first day of free agency via a trade.
The Thunder agreed to send a $9.5 million trade exception to the Miami Heat in exchange for Victor Oladipo and draft picks, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Oladipo is an expiring salary and is owed $9.5 million in the 2023-24 season. The 31-year-old suffered a torn patellar tendon on his left knee on April 23. The injury will likely cost him most — if not all — of next season.
It’s unknown if the Thunder will keep Oladipo on their roster as he will likely never suit up for them. If he stays, it will mark his second stint at OKC. Oladipo spent one season with the Thunder (2016-17) before he was traded to the Indiana Pacers for Paul George.
In 42 games last season, Oladipo averaged 10.7 points on 39.7% shooting, 3.5 assists and three rebounds. He also shot 33% from 3 on five attempts.
The Thunder entered the offseason with more than $30 million to spend in cap space and have essentially used that to buy more draft capital with this trade and the Cason Wallace draft night trade that attached Davis Bertans’ contract.
UPDATE: The Thunder reportedly acquired the Heat’s 2029 and 2030 second-round picks while sending a second-round pick back to the Heat.
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