Thunder sign 2014 1st-round pick Josh Huestis to 4-year deal

The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed Josh Huestis, their No. 29 pick in the 2014 draft, to a four-year rookie deal, the team confirmed on their website on Thursday. Terms of the deal were not disclosed on the team's site.

The agreement was originally reported by RealGM's Shams Charania. ESPN's Royce Young later clarified that Huestis' deal is a rookie scale contract with the last two years being a team option.

The circumstances which led to Huestis's pact with the franchise that hand-picked him at the end of the first round of last year's draft are somewhat unique. After being tabbed as the Thunder's second selection, Huestis agreed to be stashed in the D-League for the 2014-15 season, with the understanding that he would join the Thunder for the 2015-16 campaign.

The decision enabled him to play for the Thunder's development league affiliate, the Oklahoma City Blue, as an alternative to playing overseas and as a way to work on his game within the Thunder's organizational framework. The move likely cost him considerable income. Huestis earned $25,000 last year as opposed to the estimated $724,400 he could have pocketed had the Thunder signed him last summer.

The 6-foot-7 Stanford product averaged 10.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks in 44 games for the Blue last season.

Earlier in July, it was reported that the Thunder were prepared to make good on their promise to the 23-year-old small forward.

With a glut of big men, new head coach Billy Donovan could use some additional bench support at the wing. Although Huestis is not guaranteed significant playing time, he has every reason to pat himself on the back for having remained so patient, as he now joins a star-studded roster headlined by All-Stars Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant.