Two ex-NBL stars sign, two depart NBA teams

Tuesday, October 24, 2023

Former Next Stars Josh Giddey and Ousmane Dieng have had their team options exercised by the Oklahoma City Thunder.

It’s been a busy few days for former NBL stars in the NBA, as a pair of former Next Stars have had their team options taken up by the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Former Adelaide 36er Josh Giddey and ex-New Zealand Breakers Ousmane Dieng have played a combined 172 games for the Thunder since leaving the NBL.

Giddey is entering his third season as a member of the Thunder, while Dieng is entering his second.

Giddey was named as the NBL Rookie of the Year in his sole season with the 36ers and has since emerged as one of the most exciting talents in world basketball, while Dieng played 40 games in his debut NBA season last campaign.

Former Melbourne United forward Jack White has been waived by Oklahoma City, per the team's website, after the Thunder previously signed him following his NBA title triumph with the Denver Nuggets.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Thunder will eat $600K in dead money after waiving Jack White, unless he's claimed off waivers.<br><br>Oklahoma City is still $12.2M under the luxury tax line. Plenty of room to make any in-seasons moves that might come up.</p>— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/KeithSmithNBA/status/1716206888973410562?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

It has also been confirmed ex-Illawarra centre Duop Reath has been waived by the Portland Trail Blazers, per the club's website, after the Oregon-based side signed him following an exceptional Summer League performance.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Duop Reath will also be waived today, in addition to Kevin Knox II, I’m told. Both Reath and Knox are in the mix to stay with the organization in some capacity, likely with the Rip City Remix. Blazers picking up Ish Wainright off waivers from Phoenix as <a href="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ShamsCharania</a> reported.</p>— Sean Highkin (@highkin) <a href="https://twitter.com/highkin/status/1715837587976507668?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 21, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>