Latest news with #Oklahoma
Forbes
3 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
Why NBA Free Agents Should Consider Signing Shorter Contracts For Now
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - APRIL 6: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives to ... More the basket around Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second quarter at Paycom Center on April 6, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by) From a financial perspective, there's never been a better time to be an NBA player. Just ask Naz Reid, who plans to re-sign with the Minnesota Timberwolves on a five-year, $125 million contract, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. The free-agent market projects to be bleak for players hoping to change teams this offseason because the Brooklyn Nets are the only team expected to have significant salary-cap space. But the cap itself has skyrocketed over the past decade, bringing player salaries right along with it, as Reid can newly attest. In 2015-16, the salary cap was $70 million flat. The non-taxpayer mid-level exception was roughly $5.5 million, while the taxpayer MLE was not even $3.4 million. The 2025-26 cap is expected to land at roughly $154.6 million, which would put the non-taxpayer MLE at $14.1 million and the taxpayer MLE at $5.7 million. Yes, you read that right. The taxpayer mid-level exception in 2025-26 is expected to be roughly $200,000 higher than the non-taxpayer mid-level exception was a decade ago. That stratospheric growth isn't expected to stop anytime soon, either. Thanks to the NBA's new 11-year, $75 billion national TV contracts and the cap-smoothing proposal that the league office and the players' union agreed to as part of the new collective bargaining agreement, the salary cap will likely rise by the full 10% that it's allowed to increase year-over-year for at least the next few seasons. Although it may be hard for NBA players to turn down nine-figure contract offers, they should think twice before locking in long-term deals this offseason. No matter what contract they sign, the salary cap projects to increase at a faster pace than their new deals will. The Compounding Problem Any NBA player looking to maximize their earning potential over the next half-decade needs to familiarize themselves with the concept of compounding. When a player re-signs with his own team, he's eligible for as much as 8% annual raises. However, that's a fixed rate after the first season. However much his salary increases year-over-year from the first season to the second is exactly how much it will rise in the ensuing years, too. For instance, say a player's new contract begins at $30.0 million and has 8% annual raises. It would jump to $32.4 million in the second year of the deal, but it would not increase by another 8% the following season. Instead, it would again rise by $2.4 million. It's even worse for players who sign with other teams in free agency. Those players are only eligible for four-year deals and have only 5% annual raises at most. Theirs work the same way as the 8% group, namely that the increase between the first and second seasons is equivalent to how much their salary will rise in future years. The NBA salary cap itself has no such issue. Not only is it projected to rise by 10% each year for the foreseeable future, but unlike the annual increase in contracts, those raises compound. As a result, long-term contracts will take up a slightly smaller portion of the cap each year, even if players get the full 8% max annual raise by re-signing with their own teams. If a player signed a five-year, $313.9 million max deal this summer, his salary would start at $54.1 million, increase to nearly $58.5 million in 2026-27 and then rise by another roughly $4.3 million over the remaining years of the deal. But if the cap does go up a full 10% annually over the lifespan of that contract, said deal would go from being 35% of the cap this coming season to only 31.6% in 2029-30. A contract starting at 35% of the salary cap will take up a smaller percentage of the cap each year. Granted, those smaller-than-the-cap-increase raises could ultimately benefit both players and teams. Given the new CBA's harsh team-building restrictions for the league's most expensive rosters, teams must be more cautious than ever while building around players on max contracts, particularly if they have two or more players on 35% max deals. Having those players take up an increasingly smaller portion of the salary cap each year could give teams extra wiggle room under the aprons to build out a championship-caliber supporting cast. Contracts are growing so massive that not every player will care about milking their respective teams for every dollar possible. For instance, New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson signed a four-year, $156.5 million extension last summer rather than testing free agency in 2025, when he could have been eligible for a five-year, $269.1 million contract. Knicks wing Mikal Bridges, Brunson's college teammate, could potentially follow suit this offseason. Thus far, Brunson has been the exception to the rule. Jimmy Butler forced his way off the Miami Heat after they refused to give him the two-year, $110-plus million extension that he received upon landing on the Golden State Warriors. Anthony Davis signed a three-year, $175.4 million max extension in August 2023 that runs through the 2027-28 campaign (player option). Cade Cunningham, Evan Mobley, Franz Wagner and Scottie Barnes all received max deals fresh off their rookie-scale contracts last year, too. As Reid just demonstrated, some players might prefer to lock in long-term financial security over fully maximizing their earning potential. After all, one major injury could threaten their ability to secure another nine-figure payday. Look no further than Isaiah Thomas and DeMarcus Cousins, both of whom were in line for massive contracts within the past decade before a hip injury (Thomas) and Achilles tear (Cousins) derailed their careers. However, players who want to earn the most money possible during their NBA careers should be open to taking shorter-term contracts given the salary-cap outlook over the next few years. In fact, they should try to line up their deals to coincide with when they become eligible for a new earning tier. (Players with 7-9 years of NBA experience can receive up to 30% of the cap as their starting salary, while players with at least 10 years can receive up to 35%.) That approach comes with clear injury risk, but it also features more financial upside. Unless otherwise noted, all stats via PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass or Basketball Reference. All salary information via Spotrac and salary-cap information via RealGM. All odds via FanDuel Sportsbook. Follow Bryan on Bluesky.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
OKC Thunder trading No. 24 pick Nique Clifford to Sacramento Kings in 2025 NBA Draft
If you buy something through a link in this article, we may earn commission. Pricing and availability are subject to change. The Oklahoma City Thunder will trade the 24th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft to the Sacramento Kings. The Thunder selected Colorado State wing Nique Clifford with the 24th pick. The Kings are sending a 2027 first-round pick to the Thunder. That pick is top-16 protected and would become two 2027 second-round picks if it doesn't convey. Advertisement The deal will be finalized later. The Thunder drafted Georgetown center Thomas Sorber 15th overall earlier Wednesday. More: OKC Thunder draft picks: Grades for Thomas Sorber selection in 2025 NBA Draft 2025 NBA Draft first-round results This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Thunder trading No. 24 pick Nique Clifford to Kings in 2025 NBA Draft
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
OKC Thunder draft picks: Grades for Thomas Sorber selection, Kings trade in 2025 NBA Draft
If you buy something through a link in this article, we may earn commission. Pricing and availability are subject to change. The Oklahoma City Thunder selected two players in the 2025 NBA Draft. OKC first selected Georgetown's Thomas Sorber with the 15th overall pick. He's a 6-foot-10 forward/center who averaged 14.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and two blocks last season as a freshman. Advertisement OKC then selected Northwestern's Brooks Barnhizer with the 44th pick. He's a 6-6 guard who averaged 17.1 points, 8.8 rebounds and 4.2 assists last season as a senior. The two rookies will now join an OKC team that just won its first NBA championship in franchise history. Here's a breakdown of OKC's draftees and initial grades for the selections. Pre-order our new book on Thunder's run to NBA title More: 2025 NBA Draft tracker: Live updates on Cooper Flagg, Ace Bailey and all first-round picks First round, No. 15 overall | Thomas Sorber, F/C, Georgetown Sorber should fit right in with the Thunder. Advertisement OKC posted a league-best defensive rating of 105.7 during the regular season. It boasts plenty of elite defenders such as Lu Dort, Jalen Williams and Alex Caruso. Now, it adds another standout disrupter in Sorber. Sorber has great length, which he uses to swat shots and intercept passes. The 6-10 big man averaged two blocks and 1.5 steals last season as a freshman. Sorber is also able to finish around the rim. He can use his strength or his soft touch to score, and his high IQ allows him to make some impressive passes at his size. Sorber has room for improvement when it comes to being more switchable on the perimeter, and his range on offense is a work in progress. He also underwent season-ending foot surgery in February. Advertisement Those concerns prevent me from giving this pick an "A" for now. But Sorber has the potential to develop into a two-way contributor for OKC, which did well to land him outside of the lottery. Grade: B+ More: What to know about OKC Thunder offseason: Draft picks, contracts after winning NBA title Thomas Sorber (center) reacts after being drafted 15th overall by the Thunder the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 25. OKC trades No. 24 pick to Sacramento Kings, who select Colorado State's Nique Clifford The OKC Thunder sent the No. 24 pick to the Sacramento Kings, who selected Colorado State guard Nique Clifford. OKC is reportedly receiving a 2027 first-round pick that originally belonged to the San Antonio Spurs. It's top-16 protected, and it'll become two 2027 second-round picks if it doesn't convey. Advertisement This trade shouldn't come as a surprise. OKC entered the draft as one of the deepest teams in the NBA, and it selected Georgetown big man Thomas Sorber with the No. 15 pick. With limited roster spots, OKC opted to trade for a future pick instead of bringing in another rookie. And, considering the trajectory of a San Antonio team that recently paired De'Aaron Fox with Victor Wembanyama, it's likely to convey. OKC will also be a significantly more expensive team by 2027, so the addition of someone on a rookie deal will be good for the books. This isn't a splashy trade, but it's a necessary one. Grade: A- Second round, No. 44 overall | Brooks Barnhizer, G, Northwestern Barnhizer is going to be a fan favorite. Advertisement The 6-6 guard is a good on-ball defender, and he thrives at getting into passing lanes. He averaged 2.3 steals and 1.1 blocks through 17 games before his senior season was cut short due to a broken foot. Barnhizer is also as tough as they come. He had his two front teeth knocked out twice last season but didn't let that stop him from playing with an incredibly-strong motor. Still, there's work to be done if Barnhizer wants to stick around in the NBA. Even though he'll be able to hold his own defensively, Barnhizer will have to become a more consistent shooter. He only shot 31% from deep throughout his college career. Advertisement It's difficult enough to find minutes on an OKC team with plenty of depth. It'll only be more difficult if Barnhizer isn't able to knock down his shots. Grades: B- Justin Martinez covers sports for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Justin? He can be reached at jmartinez@ or on X/Twitter at @Justintohoops. Sign up for the Thunder Sports Minute newsletter to access more NBA coverage. Support Justin's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC Thunder draft picks: Grades for selections in 2025 NBA Draft
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Undrafted NBA free agents tracker: Signings for OKC Thunder, players with Oklahoma ties
The 2025 NBA Draft is over, but the OKC Thunder's work isn't. OKC has already started to sign undrafted free agents to fill out its roster for NBA Summer League play, which begins on July 5 in Salt Lake City. Advertisement Most signees will be on an Exhibit 10 contract, which is a one-year, minimum salary agreement that isn't guaranteed. Each team also has three two-way contracts at its disposal. Here's a list of undrafted free agents who've signed with OKC, along with signees around the league who have ties to Oklahoma: Pre-order our new book on Thunder's run to NBA title More: OKC Thunder draft picks: Grades for Thomas Sorber selection, Kings trade in 2025 NBA Draft Undrafted NBA free agents tracker OKC Thunder Zack Austin, F, Pittsburgh DraftExpress' Jon Chepkevich reported on June 27 that Pittsburgh's Zack Austin agreed to an Exhibit 10 contract with OKC. Advertisement Austin is a 6-7 forward who averaged 9.2 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.6 blocks last season as a senior with the Panthers. He shot 42.4% from the field, 38.1% from deep and 90.2% from the free-throw line. Austin boasts great athleticism, which he uses to finish above the rim and swat shots. He also made strides as a 3-point shooter last season, and he could carve out a role as a 3-and-D player at the next level if that holds up. Erik Reynolds II, G, Saint Joseph's DraftExpress' Jon Chepkevich reported on June 26 that Saint Joseph's Erik Reynolds II will join OKC for NBA Summer League. Reynolds is a 6-2 guard who averaged 16 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.6 assists last season as a senior with the Hawks. He shot 38% from the field, 29.8% from deep and 85.7% from the free-throw line. Advertisement Despite what his shooting splits suggest, Reynolds is a capable scorer who does most of his damage from deep. He's Saint Joseph's all-time leader in career points (2,175), made 3-pointers (350) and free-throw percentage (86.8%). Payton Sandfort, F, Iowa ESPN's Jonathan Givony reported on June 26 that OKC agreed to a deal with Iowa's Payton Sandfort. Sandfort is a 6-8 forward who averaged 16.7 points, six rebounds and 2.9 assists last season as a senior with the Hawkeyes. He shot 40.7% from the field, 34% from deep and 89.1% from the free-throw line. Sandfort is a 3-point specialist who excels at knocking shots down on the move. He ranks second in Iowa's program history in career made 3-pointers (271). Advertisement More: OKC Thunder selects Georgetown center Thomas Sorber 15th overall in 2025 NBA Draft Players with Oklahoma ties Moussa Cisse, C, Memphis DraftExpress' Jon Chepkevich reported on June 26 that Memphis' Moussa Cisse agreed to an Exhibit 10 contract with the Dallas Mavericks. Cisse is a 6-11 center who spent two seasons at Oklahoma State from 2021-23. He averaged 5.7 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.6 blocks last season as a fifth-year senior with the Tigers. Cisse has good size, length and athleticism. He's also a strong shot blocker and a rim-running lob threat. Sean Pedulla, G, Ole Miss DraftExpress' Jon Chepkevich reported on June 26 that Ole Miss' Sean Pedulla agreed to an Exhibit 10 deal with the Portland Trail Blazers. Advertisement Pedulla is an Edmond native and former Edmond Memorial standout. The 6-1 guard averaged 15.4 points, 3.8 assists and 3.5 rebounds last season as a senior with the Rebels. Pedulla is a proven scorer who shot 36.7% from deep throughout his college career. He also makes up for being undersized by playing with good physicality and toughness. More: OKC Thunder selects Northwestern's Brooks Barnhizer 44th overall in 2025 NBA Draft This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Undrafted NBA free agents tracker: OKC Thunder signing updates
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
2025 NBA offseason calendar: Dates for free agency and Summer League
The ball never stops bouncing in the NBA. The 2024-25 season concluded on June 22, and the OKC Thunder defeated the Indiana Pacers to secure its first-ever championship. But the focus has already shifted to next season. Advertisement The 2025 NBA Draft concluded on June 26. It saw the Dallas Mavericks select Duke's Cooper Flagg with the first overall pick. The start of free agency is now right around the corner, followed by Summer League play. Here are key dates for the 2025 NBA offseason: More: What to know about OKC Thunder offseason: Roster, contracts after winning NBA title Key dates for 2025 NBA offseason All times are Central More: OKC Thunder schedule for 2025 NBA Summer League in Salt Lake City, Las Vegas Justin Martinez covers sports for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Justin? He can be reached at jmartinez@ or on X/Twitter at @Justintohoops. Support Justin's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: 2025 NBA offseason: Dates for free agency and Summer League
