Mark D. Smith-US PRESSWIRE

The Oklahoma City Thunder waived guard Walker Russell today cutting their roster down to 18 players now.

Russell hardly appeared in any of the Thunder preseason games so far and it is no surprise at all that he ended up being cut. Russell would have had to make an amazing impression to be considered for the final roster.

The Thunder are more than deep at the point guard position of course with Russell Westbrook starting and then his backups Eric Maynor and Reggie Jackson.

Russell played 28 games last season for the Detroit Pistons. He averaged 3.0 points per game in 12.8 minutes per game and shot 34.7 percent from the field.

With 18 men left, the Thunder will have to cut three more. The players who could end up being cut are DeAndre Liggins, Hasheem Thabeet, Daniel Orton, Andy Rautins, Hollis Thompson and Lazar Hayward.

Liggins has looked by far the best of any of those players so far in the preseason. But the Thunder may want more depth up font though and choose Thabeet or Orton instead. Rautins and Thompson remain the least likely to make the final 15.

The Thunder have until next Monday to make the final roster cuts down to a 15-man roster.

Jim O’Connor-US PRESSWIRE

The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed point guard Walker Russell to their training camp roster.

Russell, 29, played last season 28 games for the Detroit Pistons and averaged 3.0 points per game and 12.8 minutes per game. He shot .347 percent from the field and .308 percent from three and averaged 5.8 assists per 36 minutes.

Russell’s time spent with the Pistons last year was the only season that he played in the NBA. In 132 career games in the D-League, Russell averaged 15.1 points and 8.3 assists per game.

Russell is a very long shot to make the final roster as the Thunder are pretty deep at the point guard position with Russell Westbrook, Eric Maynor and Reggie Jackson. You would think the Thunder would instead bulk up the end of their roster at the wing and big man position instead of point.

The Thunder have also signed Daniel Orton, Andy Rautins and DeAndre Liggins to their training camp roster. Hasheem Thabeet and Hollis Thompson are also newcomers that will be seen in camp in the next few days.

It will be hard for any of these guys to crack the rotation which is just about entirely returning from last season.