Thunder acquire rights to Balsa Koprivica from Jazz

The Thunder and Jazz completed a small, paperwork-style trade Tuesday.

Oklahoma City acquired the NBA draft rights to Serbian center Balsa Koprivica in exchange for cash considerations. Both teams announced the deal via press release.

Koprivica, 25, is currently playing for Bahcesehir Koleji in Turkey’s top league. He spent two seasons at Florida State before declaring for the 2021 NBA Draft.

He was originally selected with the 57th overall pick by the Hornets and moved to the Pistons on draft night. Detroit later sent his rights to the Clippers in a cash deal in 2023.

Those rights landed in Utah last summer as part of the trade involving Russell Westbrook and Kris Dunn.

There has been no indication Koprivica plans to come to the NBA anytime soon. Still, his rights give Oklahoma City another low-cost asset to stash, particularly useful in future seasons when second-apron rules could limit the team’s ability to move cash in trades.

Small move now. Possible flexibility later.