Oklahoma City Thunder Sign Veteran Shooter to Bolster Roster Ahead of Playoffs
When the Oklahoma City Thunder cut ties with Aleksej Pokusevski last week, there was a sense that another move could be coming. This transaction opened a roster spot for the Thunder, which could be used to sign another key piece on the buyout market.
That's exactly what happened on Friday, as Oklahoma City reportedly is signing Mike Muscala after he clears waivers following a buyout with the Detroit Pistons.
After being traded to the Boston Celtics from the Thunder to make a championship push last season, Mike Muscala spent the 2023-24 campaign with the Washington Wizards followed by the Pistons. Now, he's set to come back to Oklahoma City to make a championship push with his former team.
In 168 games with the Thunder, Muscala posted averages of seven points and three rebounds per contest while shooting 39.2% from beyond the arc. Once again, he will provide shooting and size at 6-foot-10, which is exactly the type of player OKC needs. He will join Jaylin Williams and Bismack Biyombo as backup center options behind Chet Holmgren, giving coach Mark Daigneault several tools to leverage in the postseason depending on the matchup.
It's unclear exactly when Muscala will officially make his debut with the Thunder this season, but this is certainly a signing that was made with longer-term ambitions as the playoffs inch closer.
He likely won't play a prominent role, but there's a very good chance he makes the difference in at least one postseason game. He's known for getting hot in a hurry from beyond the arc, which should prove valuable.
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