For the second time in two years, the OKC Thunder have signed a big man whose early career has been hampered by injury.
Last season it was Nerlens Noel, originally taken by the New Orleans Pelicans with the sixth pick of the 2013 draft prior to trading his rights to the Philadelphia 76ers. From there the 76ers sent him to the Dallas Mavericks after drafting big men Joel Embiid and Jahlil Okafor in successive drafts.
Noel was injury plagued his first four seasons in the NBA, but since coming to the Thunder at the start of the 2018-19 season, he’s missed only five of a possible 82 games.