March 19, 2024

Former Ames standout McDermott traded to OKC

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Oklahoma City Thunder got some help for Russell Westbrook by acquiring forwards Taj Gibson and Doug McDermott from Chicago just before the NBA trade deadline.

The Thunder announced the deal Thursday night.

The Bulls also sent a 2018 second-round pick to the Thunder. Oklahoma City sent Cameron Payne, Joffrey Lauvergne and Anthony Morrow to Chicago.
Oklahoma City general manager Sam Presti said he likes where his team is after the moves.

“I think that we’re a better team this evening than we were this morning because I think we were able to add some things to help our teams in terms of the collective, the aggregate,” he said. “How much? I don’t know how to answer that. We have to see how we play.”

Gibson adds the athleticism and experience to the front line that the Thunder lost when they traded Serge Ibaka in last year’s draft.

He averaged 11.6 points and 7.0 rebounds this season in 55 starts for the Bulls this season.

Oklahoma City entered the All-Star break seventh in the Western Conference standings with a 32-25 record.

The Bulls, who have the league’s worst 3-point percentage and fewest 3-point attempts and makes, gave up their best 3-point shooter in McDermott, a third-year forward from Creighton.

McDermott is a career 40 percent shooter from 3-point range, and shot 37.6 percent from beyond the arc this season, mostly as a reserve.

The Thunder rank 29th out of the league’s 30 teams in 3-point percentage, so McDermott could have an immediate impact.

“McDermott has a chance to be a very nice complement to our other players,” Presti said. “We are really excited about adding him.”

Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations John Paxson called Gibson “one of the best people that we’ve ever had” and said McDermott is “another great person.”

He said the deal creates more playing time for Bobby Portis and Denzel Valentine. Payne figures to get a serious look, too.
The bigger story for the Bulls is that Jimmy Butler is staying at least for now.