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Report: Thunder sign undrafted free agent Michael Qualls

Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

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The draft-year story of Michael Qualls has a happy ending, after all.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have reached a one-year agreement with Qualls, according to Shams Charania of RealGM.

Qualls spent his junior season at Arkansas solidifying his draft stock, peaking during the NCAA tournament and turning himself from a likely afterthought to an almost certain second-round pick. He lost that momentum during a mid-June workout with the Phoenix Suns, though, when he tore his ACL and effectively ended his chances of getting drafted.

While Qualls won't be ready to play until late in the season at the earliest, the Thunder will get the opportunity to monitor his rehabilitation closely and get to know the player more intimately.

It's likely Qualls' deal has only a small guarantee, if any, and would almost certainly be for the league minimum. With 13 players under guaranteed contracts, and Enes Kanter close to making it 14, the Thunder will likely waive Qualls before the start of the regular season.

That would allow Qualls to join the Oklahoma City Blue of the D-League as an affiliate player, and, while he'd be free to sign with any NBA team, the hope would be that the Thunder have purchased some loyalty. The situation isn't dissimilar from the Philadelphia 76ers paying Pierre Jackson for a lost season last year.

An incredible athlete and effective open-court player, Qualls earned praise for his toughness and his offensive versatility, but was hurt by his lack of an effective jump shot. If that stroke improves, he'd have a clear place in the league. Hard-nosed defenders who can barrel into the paint certainly have utility, but they're a tough offensive fit if defenders can ignore them outside.

The Thunder will have to hope Qualls can effectively regain his burst, as athleticism is an indispensable component of his style of play.

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