John Lucas waived
The Thunder has waived John Lucas III, the team announced today. Lucas, the former Oklahoma State guard, averaged 5.0 points and 2.7 assists in three preseason games but was inactive in all three regular season games.
I don’t fully know yet why this move was done today but I’m continuing to check on it. But remember these comments from coach P.J. Carlesimo back in October…
“It’s not going to be a spot that we put a guy on (the) team and he’ll be our 15th man for the whole year. It’s a guy who might be there for two months. It’s a guy who might be there for two days.”
P.J. said then that the final roster spot would fluctuate based on need. Two things: 1) The Thunder was outrebounded 43-35 against Milwuakee and 49-39 at Houston. 2) P.J. already doesn’t have enough minutes to go around on the perimeter with Earl Watson, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant, Jeff Green, Desmond Mason and Damien Wilkins. Kyle Weaver, although he doesn’t figure to play much early, is also healthy and available. That means Lucas wasn’t likely to play and wasn’t needed as much as he was during an injury-ravaged preseason.
The Thunder could be ready to acquire a free agent big man, be clearing a roster spot for an upcoming trade or neither. Perhaps the organization just didn’t want to continue paying someone who wasn’t going to play.
Stay tuned.
-DM-
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If nobody claims him in 48 hours, they’ll still have to pay him whatever portion of his contract is guaranteed, even if he finds a roster spot with another team.
As to what Presti’s up to, it’s always hard to tell.