The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder aren’t going wherever for the foreseeable future.
Common supervisor Sam Presti signed star Jalen Williams to an enormous contract extension, making him the most recent OKC cornerstone to receives a commission—following Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and rising star Chet Holmgren, who each secured their very own megadeals this week.
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Williams and the Thunder agreed to a five-year most rookie contract extension that might attain $287million.
The third-year professional was the second-best participant on a championship group and he has now been rewarded for it.
Williams earned All-NBA and All-Defensive Crew honors, whereas averaging 21.6 factors, 5.3 rebounds and 5.1 assists on 48.4 per cent capturing from the sector.
He had a monster 40-point outburst in Recreation 5 of the Finals, and was the proper complement to Gilgeous-Alexander all through the collection.
Williams’ new deal comes after Holmgren landed a five-year, $250m max extension and franchise centerpiece Gilgeous-Alexander signed a four-year, $285m supermax.
Do the mathematics, and that is an historic $822m in new extensions given to the Thunder’s three younger stars. Presti and proprietor Clay Bennett have opened up the checkbook after profitable the franchise’s first NBA championship in Oklahoma Metropolis.
The information of the Thunder’s newest extension has left followers asking the identical factor:
Who’s on their manner out?
They are able to preserve their core intact for subsequent season as they are going to be beneath the posh tax, however as soon as the extensions kick in after that, all bets are off.
Based on ESPN’s Bobby Marks, the Thunder may have a projected payroll of $246m two seasons from now, which is able to put them over the primary and second apron.
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Isaiah Hartenstein is definitely out the door. Alex Caruso? Lu Dort? Their days in OKC are doubtless numbered.
Nevertheless, due to Presti’s wizardry, the Thunder have a humiliation of riches within the type of dozens of draft picks, largely partially to one of many worst trades in NBA historical past, and a handful of non-guaranteed contracts, leaving them loads of room to work with.
Nonetheless, some followers aren’t practically satisfied.
“The second apron hit will knock out the Thunder in a single shot,” one fan instructed.
“CBA goes to wreck them man,” one other added.
“That second apron is gonna cook dinner them in a pair years,” one mentioned.
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“SGA, Chet, Dub all locked in inside per week of one another. Let’s examine if OKC can flip this right into a dynasty or not,” yet another chimed in.
If there was ever a group to win back-to-back titles for the primary time since Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and the Golden State Warriors did in 2017-2018, it is the present one in Oklahoma Metropolis.
The roster is certain to turnover within the subsequent few seasons, however the huge three will stay.
Whereas the invoice will finally come due, the Thunder’s current and future stay as vibrant as ever.