RealGM

Hi guys,

So, the Thunder hold the rights for SG/SF Alex Abrines, currently playing in Spain for Barcelona, one of Europe's top teams.

I've seen him play maybe 3 or 4 times and it seems to me he has some nice potential. Good size for a Shooting Guard and really good stroke. In fact, almost 2 out of 3 shots he takes are from 3 point land. He will turn 22 this summer.

I'll leave here some of Abrines' stats this season:

Euroleague: 23 Games, 18mpg, 7.6ppg, 45 FG%, 34 3FG%, 77 FT%, 1.5 RPG, 1.3 APG
Liga ACB (Spanish League): 22 Games, 19mpg, 9.3ppg, 47 FG%, 47 3PG%, 93% FT%, 1.9 RPG, 1 APG

The Liga ACB is still underway.

Is there any indication he may be coming over anytime soon?

From my understanding it is unlikely that he will come over for 2015-2016 due to the size of his buyout this off-season. It looks like 2016-2017 is most likely at this point. If the tax payers MLE covers his buyout and they can move Lamb and PJ3 to clear roster spots and it is possible they could bring over Abrines for 2015-2016 it just seems unlikely that everything would happen as needed. If they draft a SG/SF in the first round that they feel could earn some playing time that would also make it less likely they would bring over Abrines this year.

With the current roster situation of 13 players under contract along with a lottery pick and Kanter needing to be resigned they should have a full roster. Unless something happens on draft night that opens up some roster room I don't expect Abrines to be a realistic option next year. I would prefer him over Roberson and Waiters, but they are already under contract and trades would have to happen to open up room for Abrines.

Makes sense to bring Abrines over after Waiter's contract ends.

He is one of the only trade chips we have.

Didn't he just tear up his knee?

No. He missed a few games, but it was nothing serious.

Per translation on hoopshype, he resigned for 4 years w/ his Spanish team:

http://www.mundodeportivo.com/baloncest ... hasta.html

So there's that.

That has more to do with forcing a buyout for OKC than expressing a desire to stay in Europe. It is standard for players to be re-signed early when they have been drafted. It guarantees the player more money than they would otherwise be guaranteed and it makes sure the team gets financial compensation when he leaves. Most of the European teams barely break even. Last year Pleiss' team was leaking that he was being brought over repeatedly in hopes that it would cause the Thunder to do it from the fans expecting it.