The Oklahoma City Thunder have suffered some unfortunate injuries to begin the season, and it has already put them in a difficult position. This season was supposed to be their revenge tour after losing to the San Antonio Spurs in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals just a few months ago.
With all of the injuries, it was becoming increasingly evident that they were going to sign someone from the market. On Friday, it was reported that OKC was planning on signing Ochai Agbaji.
“The Oklahoma City Thunder plan to sign Ochai Agbaji, league sources told hoopshype. Agbaji has averaged 7.2 points in four NBA seasons with the Utah Jazz, Toronto Raptors, and Brooklyn Nets. Agbaji was most recently with the New York Knicks in training camp," HoopsHype's Michael Scott wrote.
Friday night, the injury news got even worse. Chet Holmgren was ruled out for at least the next two months.
“The injury issues for the Oklahoma City Thunder, somehow, have gotten worse. The team announced Friday, Oct. 30 that All-Star center Chet Holmgren will miss at least two months with a small patellar tendon tear in his right knee. The Thunder said Holmgren underwent a “biological treatment” to repair the issue and said he was expected to make a full recovery and would miss 8-to-10 weeks,” USA Today’s Lorenzo Reyes wrote.
On Saturday, it was reported that the Thunder would no longer be signing Agbaji and would instead be looking for a center.
“The Oklahoma City Thunder are no longer signing Ochai Agbaji, as ESPN first reported. OKC will now assess the team’s open roster spot after losing Chet Holmgren for 8-10 weeks with a small patellar tendon tear in his knee,” Scotto posted.
This is a tough break for Agbaji, to say the least, but it is a decision OKC had to make with the team thin at the center position. The former first-round pick will now look for his next destination after an injury took away his opportunity.
This likely isn’t the end for Agbaji, but it could be even longer before he gets another chance. The Thunder are now searching the market for a reliable big man who can make a difference over the next two months, possibly longer.
