The Oklahoma City Thunder announced Wednesday that rookie Theo Maledon had agreed to his first NBA contract.
On Thursday, ESPN’s Bobby Marks reported the details.
Maledon, selected No. 34 in the draft, agreed to a $7.8 million deal over four seasons. He is guaranteed $2 million in the first two years, Marks said.
The Thunder acquired the draft rights to Maledon from the Philadelphia 76ers in a trade that was announced Wednesday but first reported on draft night. In the deal, Oklahoma City got Al Horford, Theo Maledon, Vasilije Micic and a 2025 first-round draft pick from the Sixers.
Philadelphia received Danny Green, Terrance Ferguson and Vincent Poirier.
Second round tracker after the Theo Maledon signing in OKC (4 years/$7.8M- $2M guaranteed in Y1 and 2)
26/30 players signed
-(10) 2 Way Contracts
– (6) 4 year contracts
– (4) 3 year contracts
– (5) 2 year contract
– (1) 1 year contract— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) December 10, 2020
Maledon will have a chance to fight for a rotation role as a backup point guard. Head coach Mark Daigneault said he sees experience and maturity that stems from the guard’s time playing professionally in France.
With ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne in France’s top league, Maledon averaged 7.3 points, 2.7 assists and 1.9 rebounds in 17.3 minutes per game, according to the Thunder. He also won the Rising Star Award in 2018-19.
There was some lottery buzz at the start of last season for Maledon, but that faded out over time. ASVEL majority owner and president Tony Parker, the former NBA star, blamed the ASVEL coach for this drop. The coach has since been fired from the team.
Because the trade was not finalized until Dec. 8, Maledon has had minimal practice with the Thunder.
The first training camp game is Saturday.
[lawrence-related id=439666,439571]