The Oklahoma City Thunder have traded Mike Muscala to the Boston Celtics for Justin Jackson and two second-round picks, per The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
This is a little bit surprising as Muscala has matured into being one of the veteran leaders of the youngest team in the league. If anybody on the Thunder was going to be traded, many assumed it’d be Darius Bazley.
Muscala has spent the last four seasons with the Thunder, averaging seven points and three rebounds, From outside Muscala averaged 3.8 attempts on 39.2% three-point shooting.
In his career, the 31-year-old is averaging 6.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 37.9% three-point shooting.
Muscala is on a $3.5 million salary this season with a team option on $3.5 million for next season. Considering how well he’s played this season, there’s a chance the Celtics could pick it up depending on how the rest of his season plays out.
The Thunder will likely waive or keep Justin Jackson on their roster for the remainder of the season, as he is just owed $2.1 million this season and is a free agent this summer.
This deal is likely to acquire the two second-round draft picks as the Thunder continue to stock up on draft capital.
UPDATE:
The Thunder now own $17.9 million in trade exceptions, per HoopsHype cap guru Yossi Gozlan.
The Oklahoma City Thunder generate a $3.5M trade exception and are now $9.5M below the tax.
In addition to that exception, they have two others worth $10.2M and $4.2M that they could use to take on extra salary today. https://t.co/7w7T1Ut8WA
— Yossi Gozlan (@YossiGozlan) February 9, 2023
The details of the two second-round picks were also revealed. The Thunder will acquire the worse of the two Celtics 2023 second-round pick and the Celtics 2029 second-round pick, per The Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach.
According to a league source, the Celtics are sending the Thunder their 2029 second-round pick and the worse of their two second-round picks this year in the Muscala deal.
— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) February 9, 2023
It looks like the Thunder also plan on waiving Jackson, per Ian Begley. This will create an open roster spot if it happens.
Justin Jackson is expected to be waived by OKC in the Mike Muscala deal, per sources.
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) February 9, 2023
