The Oklahoma City Thunder have made several roster adjustments as they finalize preparations for the upcoming regular season. Notably, guard Chris Youngblood has successfully transitioned his Exhibit 10 deal into a two-way contract with the team. In contrast, forwards Zack Austin, Malevy Leons, and Dariq Whitehead have been waived.
Youngblood, who went undrafted after his stint at Alabama, previously played at Kennesaw State and South Florida. During his final year, he made a significant impact as a super-senior, averaging 10.3 points and 2.3 rebounds over 28 games, and showcasing impressive shooting statistics of .447 from the field, .388 from three-point range, and .804 from the free-throw line.
His performance during the Thunder’s preseason games earned him a spot on the roster, where he averaged 11.0 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.3 steals in just under 20 minutes per game, including a strong three-point shooting percentage of 44.4%.
Meanwhile, Austin, Leons, and Whitehead, who also held Exhibit 10 contracts, are expected to continue their basketball careers with the Oklahoma City Blue, the Thunder’s G League affiliate. If they remain with the Blue for at least 60 days, they stand to receive bonuses of $85,300 each.
With these moves, the Thunder have secured a total of 15 players on guaranteed contracts alongside three on two-way deals, indicating that the roster is nearly finalized ahead of the season opener. This strategic team-building approach highlights the Thunder’s commitment to developing talent and creating a competitive lineup.