On Tuesday, the OKC Thunder decided to waive rookie big man Branden Carlson in a move that had many wondering what the club's next steps might be in filling out the subsequently created roster spot.
Would they finally convert Ajay Mitchell's two-way contract into a standard, multi-year deal? Perhaps they'd look to add an extra piece in a potential in-season trade?
As of Friday, it appears the front office has come to a decision on how to go about utilizing the roster opening, and it is by... signing Branden Carlson?
Per a team release, the Thunder have agreed to bring the pivot back to the Sooner State via a 10-day contract.
OKC Thunder bring back Branden Carlson on a 10-day contract
Carlson opened up the 2024-25 campaign as a member of the Raptors 905 down in the G League before signing a one-year, non-guaranteed contract with the Thunder back on November 16 amid their severe frontcourt injury woes (at the time, they were without Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein, and Jaylin Williams).
OKC's decision to waive the Utah product was largely due to the fact that his deal would have been locked in against the salary cap for the remainder of the season had he remained in tow beyond January 7, the deadline at which non-guaranteed contracts would become guaranteed.
Now he finds himself heading back to Loud City for a second go-around.
During his first stint with the organization, Carlson appeared in seven total games where he posted rather forgettable averages of .6 points and 1.3 rebounds in a lowly 3.6 minutes of action.
Of course, most of his playing time while under contract was down in the development league with their affiliate club, the OKC Blue. There, he went on to light up the stat sheet by dropping 16.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks on 46.4 percent shooting in 28.0 minutes a night.
Carlson's return comes directly after the Thunder's win streak-snapping loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night where one of the biggest reasons for their demise proved to be their lack of big man options down at the five spot.
Measuring in at 7 feet, 220 pounds, the 25-year-old's reintroduction to the depth chart certainly helps strengthen their assortment of vertical threats. Though no one should fully expect coach Mark Daigneault to roll out Branden Carlson in any substantial manner, at least over the next 10 days, he'll once again find himself serving as a "break glass in case of emergency" type of bench filler.