The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder have waived rookie heart Branden Carlson, in keeping with HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto. The 7-footer signed a cope with Oklahoma Metropolis after the Toronto Raptors waived him in October. He went undrafted out of the College of Utah.
Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder waived heart Branden Carlson to keep away from paying the rookie his full-season wage
Carlson, 25, appeared in seven video games off the bench for the Thunder, averaging 0.6 factors, 1.3 rebounds, 0.4 assists, and three.6 minutes per contest, whereas additionally taking pictures simply 12.5% from the sector.
Since Carlson signed a one-year, minimum-salary contract with OKC in mid-November, waiving the rookie ensures that the staff won’t must pay his full-season wage, since his deal was non-guaranteed.
The Thunder have waived Branden Carlson.
Carlson’s deal would have grow to be assured for the yr if he remained on the roster previous as we speak. Offers Thunder some flexibility.
Raptors 905 personal Carlson’s G League rights, however attainable he indicators a 2-way in OKC or elsewhere.
— Blake Murphy (@BlakeMurphyODC) January 7, 2025
Through the preseason, Carlson was suiting up for the Raptors 905, the Toronto Raptors’ G League affiliate. Nonetheless, the Raptors waived him in October as Jamison Battle claimed the staff’s closing two-way spot.
Now that Carlson has been waived by the Thunder, his G League rights will return to the Raptors 905.
In Carlson’s first three video games (all begins) with the Raptors 905, he averaged 14.3 factors, 8.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.7 blocks whereas taking pictures 51.5% from the ground and 42.9% from 3-point vary.
Carlson is the all-time shot blocking chief for the Runnin’ Utes
Based on Faculty Basketball Reference, in 146 profession NCAA video games (140 begins) with Utah throughout 5 seasons (2019-24), he averaged 12.9 factors, 5.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.7 blocks, and 26.1 minutes per contest whereas taking pictures 51.3% from the ground.
In his closing yr of collegiate eligibility, he averaged profession highs of 17 factors, 6.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 29.6 minutes whereas taking pictures 50.1% from the sector and 71.4% on the free throw line.
Moreover, Carlson posted profession highs of 34 factors and 7 assists in a 95-90 victory over Washington on Dec. 31, 2023. He hit a number of photographs from past the arc to assist Utah erase a double-digit deficit.
Carlson completed fourth in factors (613) within the Pac-12 his closing season. He additionally ranked sixth in complete rebounds (236), third in blocks (54), second in discipline targets (232), and sixth in participant effectivity score (22.9).
Carlson, a local of South Jordan, Utah, led the convention with 63 blocks within the 2022-23 season as effectively. He ended his school profession with two first-team All-Pac-12 picks and one second-team All-Pac-12 honor.
