The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed small forward Chris Wright to a "partially guaranteed deal" on Wednesday as the team tries to "fill the gaps along the frontline" with the huge void left by Kevin Durant's departure to the Golden State Warriors this summer.
At the moment, OKC has Steven Adams and Enes Kanter alternating at the center spot with Ersan Ilyasova, Nick Collison, and Mitch McGary as the power forward options for head coach Billy Donovan.
With his 6-foot-8, 226-pound frame, the 27-year-old former Dayton standout could be used mainly as a wingman to add depth to the number three position behind Kyle Singler and Josh Huestis.
Tulsa World reported that Wright, who was an undrafted player in the NBA during the 2011-2012 season with the Golden State Warriors, agreed to a "partially guaranteed contract with the Thunder", which means he can be waived anytime and not be owed any salary or compensation.
The Trotwood, Ohio native is coming off a stint with the Maccabi Rishon LeZion of the Israeli Basketball Premier League, where he played since last season. He also had a stint with Polish ballclub Turów Zgorzelec during the 2014-2015 season.
Wright last played in the NBA in 2014, suiting up in only eight games for the Milwaukee Bucks averaging 6.0 points and 2.5 rebounds playing 15.8 minutes a night.
When he went undrafted in 2011, Wright decided to forego playing overseas and just stay in the US during the lockout-marred season by suiting up for NBA D-League team Maine Red Claws, which is affiliated to the Boston Celtics.
He played in four games with the Red Claws before he was signed by the Warriors in December 2011.
Fansided noted, though, that despite his unguaranteed deal with the Thunder, he has a "solid chance of making the team because of the depth issues at small forward" as Singler and Huestis are not seen as long-term solutions for the team's woes at the spot.
Wright averaged 12.0 points, five boards, and a little over one steal per game with the Rishon LeZion in 34 games last season.
At the moment, the Thunder only has 14 spots filled in its roster and so the team is finding ways to fill it up before the new season starts this October.
