The OKC Thunder kicked off day one of NBA Free Agency by re-signing their key unrestricted free agent, Mike Muscala.
OKC Thunder sign eight-year veteran Mike Muscala to a two-way deal
The Oklahoma City Thunder have re-signed the Bucknell product to a two-year pact worth seven million dollars to keep the widely respected NBA veteran in Bricktown as the team continues to rebuild.
Mike Muscala let it be known every step of the way that he wanted to return to the Oklahoma City Thunder organization, even shedding tears at his exit interview when speaking to how much the OKC Thunder organization, Oklahoma City community and this fanbase means to him.
The goat is back in town. pic.twitter.com/eyVoUcII7s
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) August 2, 2021
Muscala played in 35 of the teams 72 games a year ago, averaged 18-minutes per contest. He posted nine points per tilt, collecting nearly four rebounds, and nearly an assist. The most important trait being, at 7 feet tall, Muscala stroked the three-ball at a 37-percent clip a year ago.
The 30-year-old is a career 36-percent shooter but on high volume. During his two years in Oklahoma City, he has put up four triple attempts per game and is hitting them at an above career average clip.
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While his play on the court is still productive, and he can help the newly max-contract player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander thrive, the value comes off the floor.
Forgetting about how great SGA is at driving and kicking out to shooters, and what a great option on the perimeter Muscala is, there is more value than that.
For the OKC Thunder, they need roster spots, they are in a bit of a roster crunch. However, Mike Muscala’s roster spot is deserved.
While he might not play in the second half of the season, with the current roster construction OKC can afford to “waste” a spot on a non-playing player. Even at the height of competitiveness, they kept around future Hall of Famer Nick Collison while hardly seeing game action. Even in his final ever regular-season game, it was like pulling teeth to get Billy Donovan to put Collison into the contest.
Having a player that wants to be in this community, that loves this organization, and understands the culture Sam Presti and company want to install in these young players, is incredibly valuable. If that is the difference in bringing back Charlie Brown Jr or any other end of the bench player, so be it.