The Oklahoma City Thunder added another young player to the team on Tuesday, announcing they’ve signed Justin Patton, a 22-year-old center who was waived by the Philadelphia 76ers in April.
The seven-footer only appeared in three games for the Sixers in 2018-19, all coming in March. He was drafted No. 16 overall by the Chicago Bulls in the 2017 NBA Draft, though was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves with Jimmy Butler two days later. The Bulls received Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn and the then-just-drafted Lauri Markkanen, who went No. 7 in the 2017 NBA Draft.
Oddly enough, Patton was packaged with Butler again when the superstar was dealt to the 76ers in November of last year. Minnesota received Dario Saric, Robert Covington, Jerryd Bayless and a 2022 second-round pick in return.
Patton has only appeared in four NBA games in his two years as a professional.
Last year, he averaged 8.7 points per game on 50 percent shooting, two blocks, 1.1 steals, and 5.5 rebounds a night while playing 18.6 minutes per game in 11 G League games.
In his one year with Creighton, Patton shot 67.6 percent from the floor, averaged 12.9 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game over 35 contests.
