Darius Bazley, previously the Thunder’s longest-tenured participant, is headed to the Suns, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported Thursday, an hour earlier than the NBA commerce deadline.
In trade, the Thunder will obtain 28-year-old ahead Dario Saric and a second-round decide. It’s unclear if Saric, making $9.2 million on an expiring contract, will stay on OKC’s roster.
The Thunder drafted Bazley with the twenty third decide within the 2019 draft. He was on the roster a few month earlier than Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Lu Dort, now the one two gamers remaining from the Thunder’s 2019-20 playoff staff.
Bazley was a full-time starter for elements of two seasons (2020-22), making 118 begins in 221 video games over the course of his 4 seasons with the Thunder, however he fell out of the rotation this season because the Thunder’s roster turned deeper, and because the staff’s offensive fashion drifted farther from Bazley’s consolation zone.
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Oklahoma City Thunder ahead Darius Bazley (55) guards San Antonio Spurs ahead Zach Collins (23) within the first quarter throughout an NBA basketball sport between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, on Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022.
The Thunder traded Bazley moderately than letting him attain restricted free company this summer season. OKC was unlikely to re-sign Bazley, so moderately than letting him stroll for nothing, the Thunder netted a second-round decide.
While Bazley has been an inefficient offensive participant, his protection has at instances been elite.
At 6-foot-8 and 208 kilos, Bazley was the Thunder’s most versatile defender, actually guarding each place from level guard to heart.
In Phoenix, Bazley will reunite with former Thunder teammate Chris Paul, who mentored Bazley for a yr in Oklahoma City.
Bazley, in 36 video games, is averaging 5.4 factors and three.4 rebounds in 15.4 minutes.
Saric, a seven-year professional from Croatia, was the twelfth decide within the 2014 NBA Draft.
Saric missed your complete 2021-22 season with a torn ACL. He returned this season, averaging 5.8 factors and three.8 rebounds in 37 video games for the Suns.
Saric began his profession in Philadelphia and he additionally performed for Minnesota.
Earlier Thursday, the Thunder reportedly dealt heart Mike Muscala to the Boston Celtics for Justin Jackson and two second-round draft picks.
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This article initially appeared on Oklahoman: Thunder buying and selling Darius Bazley to Suns for Dario Saric and draft decide
