The Thunder could trade the draft rights of European shooting guard Vasilije Micic, the Euroleague Final Four MVP who is reportedly leaning toward joining the NBA, per Donatas Urbonas of BasketNews.
“Oklahoma City acquired the rights to Micic in the same December 2020 deal in which it landed Al Horford from Philadelphia,” wrote Marc Stein of The Stein Line. “The Thunder indeed also acquired a future first-round pick (2025) in the same trade. I’m told there is already NBA interest in Vasilije Micic, 28, for next season.”
Micic is 6-foot-5 and has been playing for Turkish club Adadolu Efes, the back-to-back Euroleague champions. Multiple reports have suggested he will head to the NBA next season.
“Oklahoma City will continue to hold Micic’s rights for as long they tender him the minimum required contract,” RealGm wrote. “That tender only needs to be a one-year, fully non-guaranteed deal.”
Per Urbonas, the Thunder already have multiple guards on the depth chart, and Micic may prefer to go someplace where he’ll get an immediate opportunity.
Either way, by all accounts, he is ready to see how his game fits in the NBA, and the NBA is ready to find out as well. As Eurohoops’ Stefan Djordjevicwrote, Efes is already looking for replacements.
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