OKC Thunder: Deonte Burton season and contract grades

Contract grade

Burton was signed to a minimum deal at the start of the 2018-19  season. While his first year was not too good, the Thunder guaranteed his $1.4 million second year prior to the 2019-20 season. His third year is a $1.6 million team option which has yet to be exercised.

More from Thunderous Intentions

• Stealing one player from every Southwest Division team for the OKC Thunder
• Should the OKC Thunder chase after a disgruntled hometown hero?
• 3 OKC Thunder players who can step up in Aleksej Pokusevski’s absence
• Aleksej Pokusevski sidelined approximately 6 weeks with ankle injury
• Damian Lillard does not fit with the OKC Thunder

As his second season was so poor, with little to no growth, it is very hard to see that the franchise will exercise the option. This was a really good move by Sam Presti as he signed Burton s a 25-year old rookie.

It does not matter if the Thunder go through a rebuild or not next year, with the contract setup Presti can simply let Burton walk. Given that he was at the center of the locker room altercation, he will not be considered good for the chemistry of the team.

Contract grade – B

Season grade

The goal of every second-year player is to show growth from one season to the next. Burton actually regressed and should have been left in the G-League when Luguentz Dort showed us how good a player he is.

He lost any shooting touch and had only a few good moments throughout the year. Even before the COVID-19 hiatus, Burton’s season was a write-off.

Season grade – E