Former Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Roby didn’t stay a free agent for very long. Just days after he was waived, he was picked up by the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday.
The Thunder was going to owe the 24-year-old center nearly $2 million next season, which may be the reason they wanted to cut him and his salary. With No. 2 pick Chet Holmgren in the building, that also made Roby more expendable.
Thank you Oklahoma City for the opportunity to grow over the last 3 seasons, great organization, people, and fans ✌🏽
— Isaiah Roby (@roby_isaiah) July 5, 2022
Roby appeared in 45 games for OKC last season, posting 10.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.8 blocks in 21.1 minutes. Over the final 10 games of the regular season (all starts), Roby took on a larger role (29.6 MPG) and averaged 17.0 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 2.0 threes, 1.4 blocks, and 1.0 steals.
The signing of Roby may quiet down Spur fans who haven’t seen their team’s name mentioned in a lot of blockbuster signings so far during the free agency period, except for players leaving town.
Roby may not be the big name the Spurs were planning on signing, but he may be what this team is looking for to carry them into the near future. He may end up being the steal of this offseason for the Spurs as they watch other NBA teams potentially give up half their rosters in order to land a Kyrie Irving or a Kevin Durant.
While other NBA teams fight for the big-name superstars, the Spurs may have quietly gotten better overnight and a lot of NBA fans seem to agree.
You can just tell Isiah Roby is gonna gonna skyrocket under the Spurs development staff.
— Wai Wilgeous-Walexander (@waiwlwalex) July 5, 2022
Isiah Roby’s a San Antonio Spur…I WISH HE WAS A BULL
— Beno⌖ (@goatedcrocs) July 5, 2022
San Antonio was 9th in the claim order (standings from the 2021-22 season)
His $1.9M contract is guaranteed because he was claimed and San Antonio now has 15 players under contract (13 guaranteed).
$32M in room (post Gallinari waiver) https://t.co/5BWrsXSWxR
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) July 5, 2022
Congrats to Isaiah Roby for being claimed by the Spurs and congrats to the Spurs for claiming a good player and an even better person. https://t.co/PAS3nUUhXj
— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) July 5, 2022
D’oh! I was hoping the Pistons would grab him. Had their chance and passed. https://t.co/SM79dEh51O
— PistonPowered (@PistonPowered) July 5, 2022
[ESPN]