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Kyle Singler Reportedly Waived by Thunder Using Stretch Provision

Mike Chiari@mikechiariX.com LogoFeatured ColumnistAugust 30, 2018

Oklahoma City Thunder's Kyle Singler in action during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Philadelphia 76ers, Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016, in Philadelphia. The Thunder won 103-97. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
Chris Szagola/Associated Press

The Oklahoma City Thunder reportedly waived small forward Kyle Singler on Thursday.

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, OKC will use the stretch provision on the final year of Singler's contract.

By using the stretch provision, the Thunder will spread Singler's remaining cap hit out over multiple years rather than incurring the full cap hit in 2018-19.

Wojnarowski noted that the move will save the Thunder $23.4 million in salary and luxury tax this year.

Per Spotrac, Singler was due to make just under $5 million in 2018-19, and the Thunder had a club option on his deal for 2019-20.

In July, ESPN's Bobby Marks reported that the Thunder became the first team in NBA history with a team salary of $300 million. That also equated to a $150 million luxury tax bill.

Shortly thereafter, the Thunder traded Carmelo Anthony to the Atlanta Hawks in a deal that dropped their luxury tax bill from $150 million to $88.8 million, according to Wojnarowski.

The 30-year-old Singler was essentially a spare part for the Thunder, as he appeared in just 12 games last season and averaged a career-low 1.9 points per game.

Over the past two seasons, Singler has played in only 44 contests.

He was originally selected in the second round of the 2011 NBA draft by the Detroit Pistons out of Duke.

Singler was an effective player in his first three NBA seasons, and he even started 74 games as a rookie in Detroit.

Singler's best season came in 2013-14 when he averaged a career-high 9.6 points per game and shot a solid 38.2 percent from beyond the arc.

Detroit traded Singler to the Thunder in 2014-15 as part of a three-team deal that sent guard Reggie Jackson to the Pistons and center Enes Kanter to OKC.

In 2015, the Thunder signed Singler to a four-year, $19 million contract, per Spotrac, but he averaged just 3.2 points per game in parts of four seasons in Oklahoma City.