The OKC Thunder still has a pair of players in the NBA COVID-19 Health and Safety Protocols. (Kenrich Williams and Isaiah Roby), though the Oklahoma City Thunder have also released Gabriel Deck opening up a roster spot on their NBA squad. That roster flexibility in the form of having two players out, and an open roster spot have allowed them to sign an additional ten-day deal.
The organization has already inked Olivier Sarr to a second ten-day contract, and it is important to note that unlike in past seasons, NBA teams can ink players to multiple ten-day deals without a limit. Typically, after the second ten-day deal with the same organization that team would either need to offer the player a standard NBA deal or let him become a free agent again. Now, you see players like Marquese Chriss on his third ten-day deal with the Dallas Mavericks. Also note, ten days, not ten games, even non-game days count against this pact.
The Oklahoma City Thunder brought in Mamadi Diakite this offseason after the Bucks placed the second-year big man on waivers. Diakite has played fourteen NBA games, averaging three points and two rebounds per game. The Virginia product was a standout in training camp, including having an excellent preseason for the OKC Thunder.
OKC Thunder sign Mamadi Diakite to a ten-day deal after a fantastic training camp stint
Diakite was in Washington on Tuesday and is with the team tonight in Brooklyn, it is unclear what the rotation will look like for Mark Daigneault as they attempt to work in the 24-year-old. After a impressive preseason stint with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Mamadi Diakite suffered a hip fracture which made him an easy waive to get the OKC Thunder roster down.
The organization remained impressive with him, and it makes for an interesting question would Diakite be on a full-time deal with Oklahoma City had he not suffered an injury? Would Sam Presti have waived Deck earlier to keep a healthy Diakite? We will never know the true answer, but it is fun to debate.
The OKC Thunder now have yet another interesting young player, and will likely use this ten-day deal to shuffle Mamadi Diakite down to the OKC Blue and see how Grant Gibbs’ staff can develop him.