Eight days — that’s how long Meyers Leonard was a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Athletic’s Senior NBA Insider broke the news that Leonard’s tenure of the Thunder has come to a close, effective immediately.
Leonard was moved to the Thunder last week as a salary filler to orchestrate Trevor Ariza’s induction to Miami — Oklahoma City netted the Heat’s 2027 second-round pick in the deal,
From the time Leonard was acquired by Oklahoma City, the writing was on the wall he wouldn’t stay for long. The Thunder’s official press release on the move even stated, “Leonard will not be reporting to Oklahoma City and will not be an active member of the organization.”
The waiving of Meyers Leonard will cost the Thunder $9.4 million dollars, more importantly though — it brings the Thunder’s standard roster back down to 15 players — the league maximum.
Leonard will not be in any franchises future plans as of now, as the 29-year-old will miss the remainder of the season with a shoulder injury — but ultimately, it’s his actions from earlier this Month have put his standings with the league on thin ice.
Leonard made headlines using an anti-Semitic slur while live streaming Call of Duty on Twitch. The 29-year-old received a $50,000 fine from the NBA, and was placed away from the Heat organization. The big man has made contact with Jewish leaders in the Florida community since the incident.
Nobody is surprised that Leonard’s time in Oklahoma City has come to an end, but with no extra roster space to upgrade Moses Brown’s two-way contract, Presti may not be finished.