Atlanta Hawks Sign Thabo Sefolosha

Finally! A contract for a free agent role player that actually makes sense!

As RealGM’s Shams Charania first reported, the Atlanta Hawks have agreed to a three-year deal with former Oklahoma City Thunder swingman Thabo Sefolosha worth $12 million. The deal won’t have any team or player options and will be fully guaranteed.

Sefolosha had a bit of a down year with the Thunder last year, averaging 6.3 points and 3.6 rebounds per game and shooting 31.6 percent from three-point range. His poor shooting in the playoffs eventually lost him his starting job in the Western Conference Finals. Although he struggled from beyond the arc this season, the two seasons prior he shot above 41 percent from downtown.

At an extremely affordable price that’s fair to both Atlanta and Sefolosha, general manager Danny Ferry has signed a decent 3-and-D guy. His contract still leaves the Hawks with tons of flexibility and although Sefolosha often caught a bad rap with the Thunder for being the weak link in the starting rotation, he will add perimeter defense and three-point shooting to an already versatile and intriguing lineup.

For the Thunder, this is a more significant loss than one would assume, but it will also open the door for Reggie Jackson, Jeremy Lamb and Andre Roberson to get more minutes. With so many young players waiting in the wings, it was time for Sefolosha and the Thunder to part ways so the younger guys could get more minutes and build the experience OKC needs them to gain. By doing so, the Thunder have taken the first step toward feeling more comfortable with their reserves when the playoffs roll around.