OKC Thunder gain roster leverage as Micic extends contract with Anadolu Efes

Part of the dilemma OKC Thunder VP of basketball operations, Sam Presti will face over the next seven seasons is constructing each season’s roster. With so many draft picks in hand it’ll necessitate Presti figuring out where to put all the players added each season.

There are a number of ways he can address the situation. That could mean packaging picks to trade up for a prospect that the franchise deems worth taking a risk on. Presti will have the two-way contracts and could assign some of the rookies to play on the OKC Blue although they’ll still be part of the 15 man varsity roster.

Another option would be to send players overseas to either a European club or league such as how they handled Devon Hall who developed with Australia’s Cairns Taipans NBL club.

In this coming 2021 draft, the OKC Thunder will make six selections, three in each round unless Presti packages them to move up or makes a trade utilizing some of the picks to sweeten the pot.

OKC Thunder guard elects to stay in Turkey

One roster spot was opened this week however as Vasilije Micic elected to sign a 3-year extension with his club Anadolu Efes in the Turkish League. There is flexibility to bring him over sooner, however, as each of the second and third seasons Micic has an opt-out clause.

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At 27 Micic doesn’t necessarily fit the Thunder timeline but he brings a level of talent that could be used to sweeten some trades. Last season with Anadolu Efes he averaged 16.7 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 4.9 assists shooting 38.9 percent from the perimeter in 40 games playing 29.5 minutes.

He was part of Team Serbia that played in the Olympic Qualifying Tournaments. Like teammate Luguentz Dort his squad was ousted ending Serbia’s dreams of going to Tokyo. Micic was a key reason his squad played in the finals match versus Italy as he registered 23 points and eight dimes in the win over Puerto Rico.

This type of excellence isn’t an outlier for Micic who was the EuroLeague MVP and Final Four MVP. That type of production will either make him a valuable trade chip or offer another quality vet to add to the OKC Thunder in future seasons.

Yet, by virtue of extending his contract with his Turkish squad, it will provide Presti with a bit of wiggle room when he constructs the 2021-22 roster.

OKC Thunder gain roster leverage as Micic extends contract with Anadolu Efes