NBA: Heat trade KZ Okpala to Thunder for draft pick

KZ Okpala #4 of the Miami Heat dunks against the Milwaukee Bucks during the second quarter at American Airlines Arena on December 29, 2020 in Miami, Florida.

FILE–KZ Okpala #4 of the Miami Heat. Michael Reaves/Getty Images/AFP

The Oklahoma City Thunder acquired forward KZ Okpala from the Miami Heat on Wednesday in exchange for a 2026 second-round draft pick.

Okpala, 22, averaged 3.7 points, 2.0 rebounds and 11.6 minutes in 21 games off the Heat bench this season. He has not played since Dec. 28 due to a wrist injury.

Okpala has played in 63 games (nine starts) over three seasons with the Heat and owns career averages of 2.8 points, 1.8 rebounds and 11.6 minutes.

As part of the trade, the Thunder and Heat also agreed to amend the 2023 first-round pick that Miami had previously owed to Oklahoma City. That pick is now a protected 2025 first-round pick that will convey as unprotected in 2026.

In a related move, the Thunder released forward Mamadi Diakite. He appeared in 13 games (three starts), averaging 4.3 points and 4.5 rebounds in 14.5 minutes per game.

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