The NBA season is right around the corner and the OKC Thunder are putting the finishing touches on their 2021-22 NBA roster. Today, Sam Prest did more roster shuffling adding Paul Watson Jr. to a two-way contract while releasing Josh Hall.
Sources: OKC Thunder release Josh Hall, making room for Paul Watson Jr. on a two-way pact
It was a pretty calm day on the NBA front as the NFL kicked off their season with the first full Sunday of football. Which is when we should’ve expected Presti to strike.
The Oklahoma City Thunder general manager decided to shake up his team as we are a few weeks out from the start of training camp.
Kelsea O’Brien, of BasketballNews.com, reported that the Thunder have signed Paul Watson Jr. to a two-way contract that perked the ears of Oklahoma City fans who have been keeping track of the roster rotation throughout this offseason. The team inked their 55th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, Aaron Wiggins to a two-way slot while also adding Josh Hall to the same deal. So what gives?
After O’Brien’s report, sources informed me that Josh Hall was the player on the chopping block. After spending last year on a two-way pact that featured injury setbacks and a pandemic season, Hall’s tenure in Bricktown is over, for now.
Sources: The Thunder have released Josh Hall, which opened up for this move reported by @kelsea_lately https://t.co/VAsFqoVxEW
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) September 12, 2021
The Oklahoma City Thunder hope to bring Josh Hall back on an exhibition 10 deal, allowing him to participate in training camp and the preseason before being stashed away with the team’s G-League affiliate the OKC Blue.
However, that is no sure-fire plan. The 20-year-old super athlete is already receiving interest from NBA squads before the move is officially announced from what I have been told.
This move comes as a surprise after the organization extend the two-way qualifying offer to Hall and allowed the North Carolina native to sign it only to go in a different direction weeks later.
The team adds Paul Watson who spent last year with the Toronto Raptors, his second season in the association. Watson is 26 years old forward that saw solid production a season ago for the Raptors.
In 27 games, he logged two starts for Nick Nurse’s squad, averaging four points, with nearly two rebounds and an assist per game.
The Fresno State product showed flashes with Toronto, and between him and Aaron Wiggins, I would be shocked if the OKC Thunder do not keep their streak of converting two-way deals intact.
Josh Hall will earn another shot to prove he is an NBA player this season, no matter the name on his jersey, and he has the tools to be a quality addition to a varsity roster.