OKC Thunder Add College Champion to Two-Way Pact
The Oklahoma City Thunder pulled off a 3-for-1 trade, shipping off Vasilije Micic, Tre Mann, and Davis Bertans to Charlotte for Gordon Hayward. After acquiring the veteran forward, the Thunder were left with two open roster spots.
One of those standard contract slots were filled by converting Lindy Waters III to a standard NBA deal for the second straight season.
With their second open roster spot, the Thunder elected to use the buyout market, grabbing veteran big man Bismack Biyombo to a rest-of-season contract. While Biyombo will serve as change-of-pace big, the Thunder were left with an open two-way contract.
Oklahoma City did not let that spot stay open for long. As a team that values the NBA G League, Oklahoma City is getting the most out of the 18 roster spots available.
The Thunder have called up OKC Blue guard Adam Flagler to a two-way pact, making him eligible to play in games with the OKC Thunder for the remainder of the season. However, no player on a two-way contract is eligible to play in the postseason.
Flagler has played in 13 games for the Blue this season, averaging 12.4 points, 3.1 assists, 3.4 rebounds, and a stock per game while shooting 44.5 percent from the floor, 40.5 percent from beyond the arc, and 90 percent at the charity stripe.
The Baylor product won an NCAA Championship with the University of Baylor, marking the second straight season the Thunder have grabbed a player from that Bear National Title team on a two-way agreement for the home stretch of the season.
Flagler can pitch in with ball-handling duties, creating for himself as a scorer while living up to his end of the bargain defensively. He uses his leverage, body positioning, and technique well to contest shots, with the foot speed to keep up with shifty guards.
Flagler is currently with the OKC Blue on a West Coast road trip, so it seems likely the earliest he will join the varsity squad would be on Tuesday in Orlando. However, a logical jumping-off point would also be post-All-Star Break.
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