The OKC Thunder have kicked their offseason off with a bang. First, the team trades for Kemba Walker in the midst of the NBA postseason, now, we have their decision regarding backup big man Tony Bradley.
OKC Thunder decline to offer Tony Bradley a qualifying offer, making him an unrestricted free agent
The NBA Draft has yet to start and the OKC Thunder have already made some significant roster moves. The latest comes with the report that Oklahoma City has no intentions of extending Tony Bradley his 5.2-million dollar qualifying offer.
This move makes the 23-year-old an unrestricted free agent. A move that allows Bradley to sign with any NBA organization without the OKC Thunder being able to match the pact and retain Bradley. Sure, the Thunder could still re-sign Bradley, but that seems highly unlikely after not extending the QO.
Entering his fifth year in the league, Bradley would be a perfect fit on a contender as an end of the bench body. His soft hands, quality positioning, and comfortability in the post allow him to lift a bench unit offensively. With another quick turnaround to this NBA season, simply being able to contribute solid minutes should be enough to land him another NBA deal.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are not expected to extend a qualifying offer to center Tony Bradley, League Sources tell The Athletic, making him an unrestricted free agent. Bradley, a former Jazz, is expected to have multiple teams interested in him on the open market
— Tony Jones (@Tjonesonthenba) July 27, 2021
Bradley averaged eight points per game, nearly an assist per tilt, and six boards a contest with the OKC Thunder a year ago. He meshed well following the George Hill trade, but Sam Presti did not take Joel Embiid’s advice.
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This move should not change Oklahoma City’s draft strategy. Sure, the team is left without a center on the roster for now, but that was expected.
While the Thunder are enamored with Evan Mobley, the difference in gunning for a trade-up with Cleveland did not and will not hinge on a Tony Bradley qualifying offer. Stay the course.
Svi Mykhailiuk is the other player the Thunder have to decide if they would like to offer a qualifying deal to. Mykhailiuk’s number is just two million, compared to Bradley’s five.
While an interesting decision to pounder, it would be surprising to see Sam Presti not extend the Kansas product at least a qualifying offer.