Last week, beloved OKC Thunder big Mike Muscala announced his retirement from professional basketball, as Joel Lorenzi of The Oklahoman broke the news that the 32-year-old "intends to attend graduate school to pursue a master’s degree in sports management, with intentions to venture into basketball coaching and/or administration."
Though not exactly a star player or a vital on-court difference-maker, particularly during the latter part of his 10-year career, the seasoned pro established himself as a fan favorite among the Loud City faithful throughout his 184 total games played and two separate stints suiting up for the organization.
Free agent targets Thunder could sign to fill Mike Muscala-type role
From his steady veteran presence within the locker room to his well-documented emotional connection to the franchise, Muscala is a player who, while he may not have seen extensive time on the hardwood in 2023-24, played a significant role in the club's successes last season due to his stable nature and impassioned personality.
Now, as we approach the upcoming campaign, the Thunder find themselves void of such a player who can provide these kinds of intangibles that are highly valuable for a title-hungry squad such as themselves.
Lucky for OKC, however, there are a few individuals residing on the free agency market who could potentially contribute these kinds of attributes -- albeit, admittedly, not to the same degree -- previously supplied by Muscala.
Robert Covington
Though he may not be the same brand of player that Muscala was, Robert Covington is an individual who has endeared himself to virtually every one of the five franchises he's suited up for and it's safe to assume that his hustle, bustle, and high-energy style of play would be greeted with open arms if brought to Oklahoma City this summer.
RoCo-ast-to-coast pic.twitter.com/ZTzkQdEA92
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) October 11, 2023
On top of his well-documented leadership skills, the 32-year-old is someone who prioritizes defense and getting involved in the nitty-gritty aspects of the game in the name of winning.
With his 6-foot-9 frame, Covington is a player who can guard multiple positions and, this past season while playing for the 76ers, Philadelphia saw 4.2 fewer points allowed per 100 possessions with him on the floor.
Add this to the fact that he connected on 35.4 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc last season, sports a career 36.2 percent clip from distance, and has ample playoff experience attached to his resume and there's a strong case to be made that this Thunder team that severely lacks in both size and physical toughness should strongly consider pursuing a guy like Covington who plays bigger than his size when on the floor.