The Oklahoma City Thunder aren’t going anywhere for the foreseeable future.
General manager Sam Presti signed star Jalen Williams to a massive contract extension, making him the latest OKC cornerstone to get paid—following Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and rising star Chet Holmgren, who both secured their own megadeals this week.
The Thunder’s championship big three is here to stayGettyWilliams and the Thunder agreed to a five-year maximum rookie contract extension that could reach $287million.
The third-year pro was the second-best player on a championship team and he has now been rewarded for it.
Williams earned All-NBA and All-Defensive Team honors, while averaging 21.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.1 assists on 48.4 per cent shooting from the field.
He had a monster 40-point outburst in Game 5 of the Finals, and was the perfect complement to Gilgeous-Alexander throughout the series.
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 math, and that’s an historic $822m in new extensions given to the Thunder’s three young stars. Presti and owner Clay Bennett have opened up the checkbook after winning the franchise’s first NBA championship in Oklahoma City.
The news of the Thunder’s latest extension has left fans asking the same thing:
Who is on their way out?
They may be able to keep their core intact for next season as they will be under the luxury tax, but once the extensions kick in after that, all bets are off.
According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, the Thunder will have a projected payroll of $246m two seasons from now, which will put them over the first and second apron.
SGA and Williams are two of the best young stars in the entire AssociationGetty The Thunder are set up for success over the next half-decadeGettyIsaiah Hartenstein is surely out the door. Alex Caruso? Lu Dort? Their days in OKC are likely numbered.
However, because of Presti’s wizardry, the Thunder have an embarrassment of riches in the form of dozens of draft picks, largely in part to one of the worst trades in NBA history, and a handful of non-guaranteed contracts, leaving them plenty of room to work with.
Still, some fans aren’t nearly convinced.
“The second apron hit will knock out the Thunder in one shot,” one fan suggested.
“CBA is going to wreck them man,” another added.
“That second apron is gonna cook them in a couple years,” one said.
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“SGA, Chet, Dub all locked in within a week of each other. Let’s see if OKC can turn this into a dynasty or not,” one more chimed in.
If there was ever a team to win back-to-back titles for the first time since Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and the Golden State Warriors did in 2017-2018, it’s the current one in Oklahoma City.
The roster is sure to turnover in the next few seasons, but the big three will remain.
While the bill will eventually come due, the Thunder’s present and future remain as bright as ever.
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