Here’s a number that will make your head spin: $822 million.
That’s what the Oklahoma City Thunder have committed in extensions for their star trio of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren.
Advertisement
It makes sense. They’re the team’s best players, and the organization is just coming off its championship in which they were led by, well, two of them.
(We’ll get there.)
For an organization that cheaped out of retaining James Harden after its 2012 NBA Finals appearance, the Thunder have turned the page and sent a strong message to the rest of the league: We’re willing to pay to potentially become a dynasty.
This is, unquestionably, a great sign to send to players, agents and fans. The potential of becoming a perennial powerhouse and being the inheritor of the Golden State Warriors’ dominance in the mid 2010s could lead to an extreme rise in popularity worldwide and turn the Thunder into a basketball brand.
Advertisement
This, in turn, will allow them to basically print money for decades, likely recouping their major investment.
(Just ask the Chicago Bulls, who are still shamelessly milking the Michael Jordan years for every last cent, 27 years after their last title.)
Of course, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. Because like Uncle Ben said, with great paychecks, come great responsibility.
So let’s get into it all.
Yep, all these guys should be sticking around OKC. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
(Michael Reaves via Getty Images)
The Holmgren conundrum — is there one?
While the Thunder didn’t do anything wrong in extending Holmgren to a five-year max that could be worth $250 million because he was inevitably going to get a similar offer next offseason if they let him test restricted free agency, it’s a lot of money for a guy who has appeared in just 114 regular-season games over the course of his three-year career.
Advertisement
Additionally, Holmgren hasn’t exactly performed at a max level in the playoffs, with his shooting percentages dropping and his rebounding becoming fairly pedestrian. In the 23 games of OKC’s title run, Holmgren averaged 15.2 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.9 blocks while…
..
