Tag: two-way contract

Report: OKC Thunder sign Adam Flagler to two-way deal

Report: OKC Thunder signs Adam Flagler to two-way deal.

The Oklahoma City Thunder signed Adam Flagler to a two-way deal, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

The 24-year-old went undrafted in 2023 out of Baylor and has spent the season with the G League’s OKC Blue. In 14 games, he’s averaged 12.6 points on 44.5% shooting, 3.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists. He’s shot 42% from 3 on 5.8 attempts.

In four college seasons from 2018 to 2023, Flagler averaged 13.8 points on 43.7% shooting, 2.6 assists and 2.6 rebounds.

The Thunder recently had a vacant two-way spot after Lindy Waters III was signed to a standard NBA deal on Friday. Flagler joins Keyontae Johnson and Olivier Sarr as OKC’s three two-way players.

The Thunder’s 18-player roster — 15 standard and three two-way — is now full. OKC also signed Bismack Biyombo for the rest of the season.

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OKC Thunder sign Olivier Sarr to two-way deal

Olivier Sarr is back with the Thunder for a third stint.

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The Oklahoma City Thunder announced on Monday that they have signed center Olivier Sarr to a two-way deal.

This means Sarr will enter his third season with the Thunder as a two-way player. He previously signed a two-way contract with OKC in February. In nine games, he averaged four points and 3.4 rebounds.

With Sarr’s addition, all three two-way slots have been filled. The other two two-way players on the Thunder are second-round rookie Keyontae Johnson and Lindy Waters III.

Sarr went undrafted in the 2021 draft out of Kentucky. The 24-year-old has appeared in 31 games spanning over two seasons with the Thunder since then.

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OKC Thunder news: Thunder sign Olivier Sarr to two-way deal

The two two-way spots are no occupied by Olivier Sarr and Lindy Waters III.

The Oklahoma City Thunder announced on Monday that they have signed Olivier Sarr to a two-way contract. In 23 games with the G League’s Oklahoma City Blue. Sarr averaged 7.7 points and 5.8 rebounds. In two games with the Thunder, Sarr averaged two points and 2.5 rebounds.

Sarr was one of the Thunder’s hardship exception signings when the team was dealing with a health and safety protocol outbreak during late December and early January.

The Kentucky big man went undrafted in the 2021 NBA Draft. The other two-way spot on the roster is currently occupied by Lindy Waters III. The spots were previously occupied by Aaron Wiggins and Paul Watson — with the former signing a full-time NBA contract and the latter being released.

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OKC Thunder news: Thunder sign Aaron Wiggins to four-year deal

The Thunder have finally converted Aaron Wiggins to an NBA contract after playing the entire season up to this point on a two-way deal.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed Aaron Wiggins to a full-time NBA contract of four years, $6.4 million, per The Athletic’s Shams Charania. The Thunder have a team option for the fourth year. The second-round rookie was previously on a two-way deal with the Thunder.

The NBA’s two-way contract usually limits a player’s game appearances to just 50 per season, but due to alarmingly increasing health and safety protocol cases, that is not the case this season. The 55th-overall-pick has played in 31 games — 18 starts — and has averaged 7.4 points and 5.3 rebounds a game. After a five-game absence due to a right ankle sprain, Wiggins is set to make his return on Saturday night against the Chicago Bulls.

The Thunder now have an open two-way roster spot with the other one being occupied by Lindy Waters III, who took over Paul Watson’s spot.

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Lu Dort drawing comparisons to Celtics’ Marcus Smart

Dort built a successful rookie season with defense, but it’s his ability to be a ‘grind it out’ type player reminds some of Marcus Smart.

When (choosing to be optimistic here) the NBA season returns, one of the questions facing the Oklahoma City Thunder will be what to do with two-way player, Lu Dort.

Prior to the league-wide suspension, there was a lot of conversation about when the Thunder would convert Dort’s contract to a standard NBA contract, a move that, as of Feb. 23, ESPN reporter Royce Young believed would come in “the next few weeks”.

Dort’s meteoric rise from a guy splitting time between the NBA and the G League to a guy solidly entrenched in the Thunder’s starting rotation was built on his defensive tenacity. The rookie tackled some of the league’s toughest defensive assignments, especially shining in an outing against James Harden.

His offensive skills are still improving, and Elias Sbiet, Director of Recruiting at North Pole Hoops, told NBA.com that Dort reminds him of the Celtics’ Marcus Smart.

“I think one thing that he (Dort) will be able to wear his hat on is going to be the defensive prowess that he’s been showing. I don’t think that his skill set transition as well into the NBA as other guys at his size – he’s a Marcus Smart type mold. Marcus Smart has found a way in the NBA by being a grind it out type of guy – started his career by being a defensive guy as well and now he’s evolved.”

However, the Thunder’s veteran point guard, Chris Paul, has already eluded to the fact that Dort is much more than a defensive player, citing how he did the little things that went unnoticed in a win over Denver at the end of February.

Dort has also at times shown a scorer’s mentality, going for a career-high 23 points with no assists in a win over the Sacramento Kings.

Standard contract or not, Dort’s rookie season can be considered successful, and Sbiet believes that it’s a solid base upon which Dort can build a sustainable career.

“So I think if (Dort) can hold on to this role for a couple of seasons and then build on his skills set throughout the years – get a more consistent three-point shot, then he’ll have a spot in the league for a very long time.”

Hopefully, that spot continues to be with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Is Lu Dort the NBA’s ‘bravest defender’?

Carlan Gay of NBA.com called the Thunder two-way rookie “fearless” due to his willingness to tackle difficult defensive assignments.

In a season full of surprises in Oklahoma City, one of the most pleasant has been the development of two-way rookie, Lu Dort.

Dort made his name on the defensive side of the ball this year, picking up recognition for frustrating one of the league’s best shooters in James Harden to a historically bad shooting night in the Thunder’s 112-107 win over Houston on Jan. 20.

It’s been Dort’s willingness to take on some of the league’s toughest defensive assignments despite his part-time NBA status that caused Carlan Gay of NBA.com to entertain the idea that the rookie might be the league’s “bravest defender”.

However, Dort’s success comes as no surprise to Elias Sbiet, the Director of Recruiting at North Pole Hoops, who told Gay that as early as eighth or ninth grade, Dort has “been the guy on his team that’s willing to do whatever it takes”.

“That’s to win games, get scholarships, to compete at the next level…to win spots over other guys. That’s exactly what he’s doing right now in the NBA, he’s doing whatever it takes to stay on the floor, to stay on the team and pick up an NBA contract.”

It’s not just the fact that Dort tackles the challenges of guarding guys like Harden and Trae Young. He’s also stepping up and doing some of the underappreciated defensive work.

Calling him “fearless”, Gay noted that since Dort stepped into the starting rotation in January, “he’s leading the team in charges drawn, contested 3-point shots, and has recovered 75% of defensive loose balls”.

Signed to a two-way contract after going undrafted last June, Dort was well on his way to have his contract converted to a standard NBA contract before the league’s shutdown.

Discussion to covert Lu Dort’s contract likely not until end of season

Dort had 16 days of service remaining on his two-way contract coming into Tuesday. He’s averaging 6.1 points in 23 games for OKC this year.

Lu Dort has played like he deserves a standard contract.

The undrafted rookie out of Arizona State has stepped into the starting role and made it his own over the last six weeks.

He started the 15th game of his career on Tuesday night, the most for any two-way player since two-way contracts were first introduced back in 2017.

The clock is ticking on Dort’s 45 days with the Thunder, and although a standard contract does seem to be on the horizon, Royce Young of ESPN doesn’t expect a deal to come all that soon.

According to Young, Dort had 16 of his 45 days remaining coming into Tuesday night. As Dort is not practicing with the team so as not to count against his time, Oklahoma City could stretch the days he has left through March 28, which is “through the G-League season where days of service no longer count”.

It’s for that reason that Young believes the “conversations to sign Dort likely don’t pick up until after the G-League season and closer to the end of the NBA regular season”.

He does point out that for Dort to play in the postseason, his contract would have to be converted.

Dort himself doesn’t seem to be too worried about when that happens.

He told Joe Mussatto of The Oklahoman that the Thunder “know what they’re doing” and that he’s just “staying patient and playing basketball”.

Until his contract is converted, a lot of that basketball is on his own.

“I’ve got to do stuff on my own just to stay in good condition and stuff like that,” Dort said. “It’s not that tough. The fact I can watch them so I can still learn the plays and stuff like that. But the fact I don’t run, I’ve got to [do] stuff on my own.”

According to Mussatto, Dort also spends time after practice working one-on-one with Thunder coaches, time that does not count against his 45 days.

Start No. 15 a historic one for Lu Dort

Dort earned his 15th start on Tuesday night, the most starts by a two-way player since two-way contracts were introduced in 2017.

Lu Dort earned the 15th start of his young career on Tuesday night against the Bulls.

If the last five weeks have been any indication of his potential future career, there will be a lot more to come.

Initially billed as a defensive stopper when he stepped into the starting rotation in place of Terrance Ferguson, Dort has built a reputation as a scorer as well, including going a perfect 6-of-6 from the floor in Oklahoma City’s win over the Spurs on Sunday.

Regardless of the final box, Dort’s start on Tuesday was particularly special.

According to the Thunder, Dort’s 15th start marked the most by a two-way player since two-way contracts were first introduced in 2017.

Oklahoma City signed Dort to a two-way contract on June 21 after the guard went undrafted after just one season at Arizona State.

Dort’s two-way contract allows him to spend just 45 total days with the Thunder.

To help extend his time in Oklahoma City, Dort has not been practicing with the team and instead relying on film study to help him prepare for opponents.

Coming into Tuesday night against Chicago, Dort was averaging 6.4 points and 1.5 rebounds in 21 minutes per game.

However, over his last 10 games, those figures have increased to 8.2 points and 1.9 rebounds per game. During that span, he’s also shooting 47% from the field.

But Dort’s newfound success is more than just the numbers.

After Oklahoma City’s statement win over the Denver Nuggets on Feb. 21, Chris Paul said that people “don’t understand” the importance of Dort and that he “makes all the plays that nobody else would”.

Dennis Schroder has been just as complimentary, saying that Dort is “changing the game”.

Coincidentally, as Dort’s playing time and numbers increase, so does the amount of media that wants to talk to the Thunder rookie.

Lu Dort not practicing with Thunder…for a very specific reason

Dort is signed to a two-way contract this year, meaning he can only spend 45 total days with the Thunder, including games and practice.

Lu Dort isn’t practicing with the Thunder.

That might seem incredibly strange for a player that has recently made his way into the starting rotation, but it’s a necessity for Dort not to practice…for a very specific reason.

Dort is signed to a two-way contract this season, meaning that in splitting time between the Thunder’s NBA G League affiliate, the OKC Blue, and the Thunder, Dort can spend a total of 45 days with Oklahoma City. That includes games and practice.

So there’s no time to waste.

Billy Donovan told Maddie Lee of The Oklahoman that they’ve been keeping Dort up to speed through constant film sessions.

“You’ve got to watch a lot of film with him,” Donovan said. “You’ve got to catch him up. He’s got to certainly watch and spectate. All those things become important, following the rules in terms of how we can best keep him engaged to what’s going on and what we’re doing.”

Dort stepped into the starting rotation when Terrance Ferguson missed eight straight games during the month of January.

Although he did score a career-high 23 points in Oklahoma City’s win over the Sacramento Kings on Jan. 29, Donovan told Lee that Dort has also filled the much-needed role of defensive stopper.

“He’s really defended well,” Donovan said of the rookie. “I think what I look at more than anything else is the fact that every matchup that he’s going against is for the first time in his career, and he’ll learn a lot though that.”

Dort has played in 17 games so far for Oklahoma City, with nine starts. He’s averaging 7.9 points, 1.4 rebounds, and .8 steals per game.

He has started both games since Ferguson returned to practice on Feb. 3, and is likely to start on Sunday when the Thunder host the Boston Celtics.

The countdown is on for Lu Dort and his Two-Way Contract

Oklahoma City signed Dort to a Two-Way contract on July 6 after he went undrafted in the 2019 NBA Draft. Dort has started six games for OKC.

Lu Dort is the darling of Oklahoma City.

The rookie has stepped into the starting rotation in place of Terrance Ferguson after Ferguson left at the half of OKC’s loss to Miami on Jan. 17 and has yet to return.

Dort has shined as a defensive stopper, drawing some of the most difficult assignments in the league, including Houston’s James Harden and the Mavs’ Luka Doncic.

Dort has shown that he’s worth having on the court.

Now, he just needs to know whether or not the Thunder feel he’s worth a full-time contract.

Dort is one of 60 players that are currently signed to a two-way contract. And, as noted by Joe Mussatto of The Oklahoman, two-way contracts come with a catch: players signed to a two-way contract can only spend up to 45 days in the NBA.

Dort told Mussatto that he hasn’t been keeping track of the amount of time he’s spent with the Thunder this season.

“I don’t monitor it at all,” Donovan said last week. “Really it’s the front office. Obviously I’m in contact with them and they give me updates of what’s going on.”

Per Musatto, Dort is playing the most meaningful minutes of those players signed to a two-way contract, even if he isn’t playing the most minutes overall. He’s the only two-way player in the league this year that has cracked a starting rotation.

In his six starts, Oklahoma City is 5-1. And they do have a spot on their 15-man roster.

Dort is averaging 21.2 minutes per game, scoring 6.3 points per contest.

Against the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday, Dort scored a career-high 23 points, 12 of those coming in the third quarter alone.

There have been a lot of questions about what Sam Presti is going to do as the Feb. 6 trade deadline approaches. Maybe the move is just to officially move Dort to a full-time contract.