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Sources: Thunder to sign free agent Norris Cole

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Norris Cole played 45 games with the Pelicans last year. (AP)
Norris Cole played 45 games with the Pelicans last year. (AP)

After creating roster space in a trade that included Cameron Payne, the Oklahoma City Thunder and free agent Norris Cole have agreed to a contract for the remainder of the season, league sources told The Vertical.

Cole, 28, won two NBA championships with the Miami Heat in 2012 and 2013, and has served as a reliable backup point guard in five NBA seasons. Cole will back up Thunder All-Star guard Russell Westbrook after the departure of Payne.

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Oklahoma City on Thursday at the trade deadline sent Payne along with Anthony Morrow and Joffrey Lauvergne to the Bulls for Taj Gibson, Doug McDermott and a 2018 second-round pick.

Cole went unsigned as a free agent in the offseason after averaging 10.6 points and 3.7 assists for the New Orleans Pelicans in 2015-16. He signed with the Chinese Basketball Association in October, but departed in December after suffering an injury. Cole received clearance from the CBA in recent days to sign with the Thunder, league sources said.

Cole has averaged 7.1 points, 2.8 assists and two rebounds for his NBA career. He was the No. 28 overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft out of Cleveland State.

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