3 immediate benefits of Thunder signing veteran big Mike Muscala
By Mark Nilon
![Oklahoma City Thunder v Charlotte Hornets Oklahoma City Thunder v Charlotte Hornets](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_7028,h_3953,x_0,y_57/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/GettyImages/mmsport/157/01hqxqa3ah379bkj29vv.jpg)
2. Adds much-needed size
Though the Thunder wound up striking on an impressive low-risk, high-reward deal at the February 8 trade cutoff that landed Gordon Hayward for a few role players and two future second-round picks, many fans came away from the deadline a bit underwhelmed by the fact that the front office didn't add any size to their rotation.
Aside from 7-foot-1 rookie phenom Chet Holmgren, OKC has a rather small regular rotation, with just two players total measuring in at 6-foot-10 or taller.
With this, many were hoping to see Sam Presti and company strike a trade for a size upgrade to add to their frontcourt arsenal though, as we all know, this wound up not being in their plans.
Fast forward about a month later, however, and we see that they've finally addressed this need without parting ways with anything in the process with this signing of Muscala.
You're gonna need a bigger boat 🦈#MikeMuscala | @joshgiddey pic.twitter.com/Jqmte2GXEn
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) October 31, 2021
Not only will his 6-foot-10 height and 7-foot wingspan provide the Thunder with much-needed vertical length, but his weight of 240 pounds also provides size on a horizontal level as well which, considering their primary "big" is Holmgren (195 pounds soaking wet), this could come to be a major plus when it comes to the increase in physical demand that the postseason often requires.