OKLAHOMA CITY, Feb. 23, 2017 – The Oklahoma City Thunder has acquired forwards Taj Gibson and Doug McDermott as well as an unprotected 2018 second round draft pick from the Chicago Bulls in exchange for forward Joffrey Lauvergne and guards Anthony Morrow and Cameron Payne, Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti announced today.
Gibson (6-9, 245) has appeared in 55 games (all starts) this season, averaging 11.6 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 27.3 minutes per contest. The University of Southern California product has spent his entire seven-year career with Chicago, owning career averages of 9.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.0 assist , 1.24 blocks and 25.2 minutes per game in 562 games (229 starts). He has played in 56 career postseason contests (seven starts), averaging 8.0 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.16 blocks in 21.5 minutes a game.
McDermott (6-8, 222) is averaging a career-best 10.2 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.0 assist and 24.5 minutes in 44 games (four starts) this year. The 11th overall selection in the 2015 NBA Draft, McDermott owns career averages of 8.2 points, 2.3 rebounds and 20.2 minutes in 161 games (eight starts).
Lauvergne is averaging 5.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.0 assist and 14.8 minutes in 50 games this season with Oklahoma City after being acquired on Aug. 30, 2016 in a trade with the Denver Nuggets.
Morrow signed with the Thunder as a free agent on July 16, 2014 and is averaging 5.8 points and 15.7 minutes in 40 games (seven starts) this season.
Payne was selected by Oklahoma City in the first round (14th overall) of the 2015 NBA Draft and is averaging 5.3 points, 2.0 assists, 1.6 rebounds and 16.0 minutes in 20 games this year.
###