The Oklahoma City Thunder knew they needed to address their center depth after losing to the Cleveland Cavaliers in one of the season’s most well-received games.
Thunder Sign Branden Carlson For Third Time
After waiving former Utah standout Branden Carlson on Jan. 7, they decided to bring him back on a 10-day contract on Jan. 10. On the heels of that successful six-game stint, the Thunder have signed Carlson to a second 10-day contract, per an official team release.
In 2024-25, the undrafted rookie is averaging just 2.8 points and 0.4 blocks per game. However, he’s made 39.1 percent of his threes. Over his last six games, those that coincided with his 10-day contract, he posted averages of 5.5 points and 0.7 blocks per game.
Thunder Signs Branden Carlson to Second 10-Day Contract
📲 https://t.co/7aRESLcaBZ pic.twitter.com/MFjTHIoxlk
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) January 22, 2025
In that stretch, he knocked down 52.9 percent of his threes.
Thunder signed Branden Carlson to a 10-day deal on Jan. 10. OKC played six games in those 10 days. Carlson made a 3 in every game. pic.twitter.com/2DaqsmHadb
— Christian Clark (@cclark_13) January 21, 2025
Considering how their Jan. 8 loss to the Cavs illuminated their need to fortify their center position, Carlson’s performance in their rematch on Jan. 16 was particularly notable. In just over 17 minutes, he was able to tally 11 points and a block while going 3-6 from beyond the arc. Cleveland might not have been too aware of who he was when he checked into the game, but they were enlightened by the time the final buzzer sounded.
OKC beat them by 20, with Carlson playing more than a third of the game.
Job’s Not Done
During Carlson’s next 10-day contract, the Thunder will play five games. In that stretch, they’ll face three playoff contenders: the Dallas Mavericks, Sacramento Kings, and Golden State Warriors.
As the Thunder are now a perennial playoff team rather than lottery-bound, Carlson’s age and upside probably aren’t enough for them alone. He likely has to show that he can make an impact against teams they may face in the postseason. If so, this could be his last chance. Since teams are limited to two 10-day contracts per player, Oklahoma City would have to sign him for the rest of the season to keep him around.
It’s certainly possible that the Thunder do decide to bring him back. His shot-blocking and shooting would be valuable tools for any team. OKC has proven they can win with small-ball but having a big man with his size can also be useful.
It’s worth noting that Chet Holmgren is slowly but surely progressing through his injury rehab though. If there’s any reason to doubt that the Thunder re-sign Carlson even if he plays well, it’s Oklahoma City thinking they have enough at center without him. A healthy Holmgren could inspire that belief.
