Thunder waive Rautins, Orton and Thompson

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Your 15th man, DeAndre Liggins.

The Thunder announced Saturday they have waived non-guaranteed players Andy Rautins, Daniel Orton and Hollis Thompson, meaning Liggins won the final roster spot.

If the three players aren’t signed by another NBA team, it’s likely they will join the Tulsa 66ers and remain part of the Thunder organization.

Liggins came into camp as a longshot, seen mostly as a guy to just fill out the preseason roster. But he obviously won over Scott Brooks, playing extremely hard, doing little things, hustling everywhere and making plays. He earned that 15th spot. Liggins not only played well enough to win the spot, but he’s even opened the door for thoughts to if he could be a contributor down the line.

Orton appeared in only one preseason game for the Thunder scoring 13 points with three rebounds in 19 minutes. Rautins averaged 7.0 points and 1.3 rebounds in 11.5 minutes per game in four appearances and Thompson saw action only in three games averaging 2.7 points and 2.0 rebounds in 9.7 minutes a game.

All three showed promise in different ways, with Rautins clearly possessing the ability to shoot, Orton having a little offensive polish and Thompson with his size and length. The story might not be over for those three with the Thunder. Depending on what happens in the future with Kendrick Perkins, Orton could be in the picture again, Rautins could be a reasonable cheap replacement for Daequan Cook and Thompson the same.

An interesting choice for OKC to go with Liggins seeing as the team has a bunch of depth on the wing already and good size always matters in the league, but again, he truly earned the spot. And it’s hard to deny a player like that when he’s legitimately won it.