Thunder Ink Trio to Training Camp Deals

The Oklahoma City Thunder continue to fill out their training camp roster.

Mar 28, 2024; Los Angeles, CA, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Cormac Ryan (3) reacts in the first half against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the semifinals of the West Regional of the 2024 NCAA Tournament at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images / Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

The Oklahoma City Thunder are primed to be contenders as the 2024-25 season is just around the corner. First up on their journey is training camp, which gets underway on Tuesday in Oklahoma City. 

While the Thunder roster is set - even possessing a vacant spot with just 17 players inked to standard or two-way pacts - they still need camp bodies, as every team does. 

That’s where exhibition ten contracts come in, giving the players the right to report to camp for practice and/or preseason games which can help teams handle the workload of their regulars. 

Oklahoma City has signed a slew of training camp deals most recently a batch of three Malevy Leons, Alex Reese and  Cormac Ryan. The bookends were with the Thunder at NBA Summer League while Reese played with the G League United squad in their overseas sessions. 

While none from this trio project to make the Thunder roster, these are still notable signings. On top of the previously mentioned camp benefits, Oklahoma City had the inside track to bring all three players to their G League affiliate - the reigning champion Blue - after a summer of roster turnover. 

Per the team, Leons appeared in 35 games (all starts) with the Bradley Braves in the 2023-24 collegiate season and averaged 13.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.46 blocks, 1.54 steals and 1.3 assists while shooting 49% from the floor.

Reese saw time in 43 games with the Rip City Remix of the NBA G League last season and averaged 11.5 points and 4.6 rebounds in 17.3 minutes per game.

Ryan spent the 2023-24 season with the North Carolina Tarheels and in 36 games (34 starts), averaged 11.5 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists.

This group projects to be with the team Tuesday as camp opens but could be waived any time as a mechanism to secure their G League rights. 

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