The OKC Thunder are off to a 6-14 record, losing six straight contests, with a 2-8 record in this last ten matchups. The Thunder started as a surprise, as they have in recent years, but now are tied for the second-worst team in the Western Conference, and only two games up on the last place Rockets with a game against Houston coming on Wednesday night. The Thunder are 0-2 this season against the space ships and need to wash the taste out of their month from Monday’s dreadful loss (or win, depending on how you view this season).
Throughout the early portion of the schedule, OKC Thunder fans have been left asking the question: What is going on with Gabriel Deck? The Thunder inked Deck to a pact at the end of last season. After a long quarantine period, the 26-year-old only saw ten games worth of NBA action during the 2020-21 NBA Season.
Gabriel Deck went on to play in the Olympics this summer, matching up with the best of the best, like Luka Doncic, and his NBA future was in question even back then. Going as far as having fake reports of him signing back in the Euro-Leauge before Deck eventually remained stateside with the OKC Thunder.
OKC Thunder send Gabriel Deck down to the OKC Blue
Through the first 20 games of the season, Deck has only played in five games, averaging four minutes per game, and totaling 23 minutes played for the season.
Gabriel Deck’s 2021-22 salary is non-guaranteed as is his 2022-23 pact, and the OKC Thunder have a club option on Deck’s 2023-24 number. It is easy for Sam Presti and the organization to wiggle out of his deal should they so choose. With Deck being 26 years old, and Mark Daigneault admitting he does not fit the team’s style of play, it seems like a matter of if and not when.
You have to imagine, the team is looking to throw Deck into a trade as salary filler, and for the betterment of Deck’s career. The 26-year-old forward from Argentina is a really good basketball player at every level. The EuroLeague’s, the FIBA stage, and in the small NBA minutes he has seen. Deck has the tools to play in this league, he just has to find the team that wants his throwback post presence.
For now, the Oklahoma City Thunder have sent Gabriel Deck to their NBA G-League affiliate the OKC Blue. However, this stint will not last long. Mark Daigneault explained this decision was to get Deck in a most intensive practice today, after his streak of DNPs. Deck will be recalled tomorrow for the Wednesday tilt against the Houston Rockets but it is unclear if he will crack the rotation.