The Thunder dealt heart Mike Muscala to the Celtics on the NBA commerce deadline Thursday, The Athletic’s Shams Charania first reported.
In return, the Thunder will obtain two second-round picks and ahead Justin Jackson, who performed 33 video games for the Thunder within the 2020-21 season. It’s doubtless the Thunder waives Jackson to open up a roster spot.
Muscala, 31, has been a veteran stabilizer throughout OKC’s rebuild. He appeared in 168 video games, making seven begins, in his 4 seasons with the Thunder.
Muscala’s finest attribute is his 3-point capturing. He’s capturing 39% from 3-point vary this season, which is consistent with his Thunder profession common.
Muscala’s capturing, and underrated protection, will add depth to Boston’s bench because the Celtics attempt to make one other NBA Finals run.
Muscala appreciated his time in Oklahoma Metropolis, however now he will get to affix a contender.
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OKC is dropping a trusted and mature locker room presence in Muscala, however Kenrich Williams fills that function to a good larger extent. Extra importantly, star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has emerged because the staff’s chief along with being its finest participant.
Muscala was one in every of 4 gamers remaining from the Thunder’s final playoff staff. Gilgeous-Alexander and Lu Dort are the one two left after the Thunder dealt Darius Bazley to Phoenix on Thursday.
Transferring on from Muscala, who has a $3.5 million staff choice for subsequent season, frees up minutes for rookie heart Jaylin Williams and sophomore Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, who’s nearing a return from an ankle harm.
Ideally, J-Will and JRE shall be depth items behind Chet Holmgren, the Thunder’s heart of the longer term.
Muscala, in his 4 seasons with the Thunder, averaged 7.0 factors and three.0 rebounds in 14.5 minutes per recreation. Muscala shot 44% from the sector, together with 39% from 3-point vary.
Jackson was a rarely-used reserve in Boston, averaging 5 minutes performed in 23 video games this season.
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Thunder tip-ins
• The Thunder-Lakers recreation, that includes LeBron James’ historic scoring feat, averaged 3 million viewers and peaked at 3.7 million viewers. It was TNT’s most-watched common season recreation (excluding opening night time) in almost 5 years, the league introduced.
• Thunder ahead Aleksej Pokusevski, who’s been out since late December with a left leg fracture, has been with the staff on its present highway journey. Pokusevski is in his seventh week of the six-to-eight-week reevaluation interval the Thunder initially gave.
• The Suns’ blockbuster acquisition of Kevin Durant definitely impacts the Thunder, which has but to play the Suns this season. OKC and Phoenix will play 4 occasions within the remaining two months of the common season. To place it one other approach, virtually 15% of the Thunder’s remaining video games are in opposition to the Suns.
This text initially appeared on Oklahoman: Thunder trade Mike Muscala to Celtics for Justin Jackson, draft picks
