Report: Thunder Waive Alex Abrines
The Alex Abrines saga came to its conclusion today for the Oklahoma City Thunder, as the organization has officially waived the 25-year-old shooting guard. The news was first reported by Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Abrines’ release comes in the middle of a strange 2018-19 season that saw him struggle through the first 29 games (career-low 32.3% 3P), then missed 17 consecutive games due to personal issues. Though he ultimately returned to the court on January 29 in Orlando, then played the following game in Miami, he was again out of the Thunder lineup in each of the last three contests due to personal reasons.
According to ESPN’s Royce Young, the decision to release the guard was mutual:
With Abrines’ departure, the Thunder’s roster sits at 12 guaranteed contracts and two 2-way contracts. Look for the team to add a player via the buyout market, or by converting the two-way contracts into guaranteed deals for the remainder of the season. Erik Horne of the Oklahoma also wrote, “The Thunder could pursue players on a series of 10-day contracts up to the 80th game of the season (April 7 at Minnesota) or up to 10 days before the final regular-season game.”
In the end, it’s a mysterious ending for a player that figured to play an important role on the Thunder this season. Basketball aside, we wish him the absolute best and hope he finds peace moving forward.
*Update:
