The Thunder bought out Patrick Patterson’s contract on Thursday, allowing the nine-year veteran to become a free agent. Here’s what it means for the Thunder:
Clearing a logjam (a little)
The Thunder was going in a different direction at backup power forward even with Patterson on the roster.
Patterson started the first three games of the regular season in 2018, but was quickly replaced by Jerami Grant in the starting lineup. Then, Markieff Morris was signed as a free agent during the All-Star break and Thunder coach Billy Donovan immediately gave Patterson’s minutes to Morris.