Skip to content

Injury-ravaged Thunder sign PG Ish Smith

David Manning-USA TODAY Sports / reuters

The Oklahoma City Thunder announced Friday the signing of point guard Ish Smith. 

Smith, who took a physical with the Thunder Wednesday, has been linked to the injury-riddled team for days and will be in uniform against the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night. 

Oklahoma City used the NBA's hardship rule to complete the deal. The hardship exception allows teams to exceed the 15-man roster maximum providing certain criteria is met. 

A team must have four players miss three-plus consecutive games and be out an additional two weeks minimum to be granted the exception. Further, according to Royce Young of ESPN, an independent league physician has to grant the waiver based on the estimated timetables of all the players.

The Thunder are without a number of players, including their two biggest stars, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. 

Smith, who will provide Oklahoma City with some depth, averaged 3.7 points and 2.6 assists in 70 games with the Phoenix Suns last season. 

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox