Latest news with #ShaiGilgeousAlexander
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
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dwyane Wade believes Westbrook is still the OKC GOAT despite Shai's historic season: "We are talking about a player who went and did something, and people said it will never be done again"
Dwyane Wade believes Westbrook is still the OKC GOAT despite Shai's historic season: "We are talking about a player who went and did something, and people said it will never be done again" originally appeared on Basketball Network. We're just days removed from watching the Oklahoma City Thunder climb the NBA's mountaintop for the first time in franchise history. A young, hungry squad led by a calm killer who turned the entire league into his playground for eight straight months. If it wasn't one of the greatest individual seasons of all time, then it was easily one of the best we've seen in recent memory. Advertisement Oh, to be completely honest, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander didn't just lead — he dominated. He took home the scoring title, started in the All-Star Game, was All-NBA First Team, and ran through the Playoffs like a seasoned vet. He bagged Western Conference Finals MVP, followed it up with Finals MVP, and just for good measure, he added the league MVP to the trophy case. Then he topped it all off with a ring. That run right there doesn't happen often. So it's no surprise the "Shai-for-Thunder-GOAT" conversations have hit another gear. It's only been six seasons, but with everything he just pulled off, fans are starting to wonder if we've already seen the best to ever do it in an OKC jersey. But not everyone's ready to give him that crown. Dwyane Wade, a guy who knows a thing or two about being the legend of the franchise, still sees Russell Westbrook at the top of that list. Advertisement "To me, I still think that Russell Westbrook is the best player in Oklahoma City history. Right now… Doesn't mean he is going to end up that way, but to me, I still believe that," Wade said in his recent breakdown after the 2025 Finals. "You can tell me now that a player can come to Miami, win a regular season MVP, win a Finals, a Finals MVP and he just becomes the greatest player in Miami history like that," he added. Westbrook embodied the OKC spirit for over a decade D-Wade's argument isn't only nostalgia talking; it's about the whole body of work for over a decade. When he looks at Russ, he sees a guy who gave everything to that franchise, a walking highlight reel who never cheated the game. Advertisement Westbrook won MVP in 2017 and made eight All-NBA teams and eight All-Star appearances during his 11 seasons with the Thunder. And, of course — he averaged a triple-double for three straight seasons in OKC, something most of us thought was impossible in this era. "Wait a minute. We are talking about a player who went and did something (average a triple-double), and people said it will never be done again. He did it four times," the Miami Heat legend argued. Sure, he didn't bring the Larry O'Brien title home. And yes, the team never made it back to the Finals after Kevin Durant left. But in terms of doing the heavy lifting night after night, carrying rosters, setting the tone and building a brand of basketball that was all heart, nobody embodied Oklahoma City more than Russ did. Related: "We only needed one more guy" - Patrick Beverley says the Clippers lost SGA because Kawhi thought he needed more help The narrative could shift soon The Thunder have something real on their hands. A young core, a winning culture and a new face of the franchise who's already accomplished what Russ couldn't — and he's only entering his best career years. Advertisement If the Thunder runs it back and Shai keeps performing at this level, the conversation is going to shift fast. Because when you start stacking rings on top of MVPs, Finals MVPs, and everything else he just pulled off, that's when legacy talk gets real. Westbrook's impact in OKC will always be legendary, and there is no doubt about it. But if SGA keeps leading this franchise like he did in 2025, not even Wade might be able to keep Russ at the top of that mountain. Related: Montrezl Harrell says Clippers gave up too soon on Shai: "All you had to do is let the kid develop" This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 25, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jalen Williams Had Doris Burke Message After NBA Finals
Jalen Williams Had Doris Burke Message After NBA Finals originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Oklahoma City Thunder just capped off their dominant season by defeating the Indiana Pacers in the NBA Finals. It was just their second-ever trip to the finals, the first coming in 2012 when their trio of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden fell to the LeBron James-led Miami Heat. Advertisement The Thunder were determined to make this trip to the Finals better than the last one, and they did just that. They finished the regular season third in offensive efficiency and first in defensive efficiency. It also helped that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the best player in the league this season and led the league in scoring. Alonzo Adams-Imagn ImagesAlonzo Adams-Imagn Images Jalen Williams had Doris Burke message after NBA Finals While Gilgeous-Alexander might be considered the "Batman" of their team and Jalen Williams the "Robin," there were games where it could have gone either way. In Game 5, with the series tied at two games apiece, Williams had a statement game, finishing with 40 points. Advertisement Following their NBA Finals win, Williams sent a message regarding ESPN's Doris Burke and her commentary on the finals after a viral video. "I gotta rewatch the games," Williams said in reaction to the video. "I was not aware she hated us." Burke is not a fan favorite among announcers. It's not uncommon to believe that certain announcers have biases with specific teams, but Burke has the rare talent that makes it seem like she hates both teams she's commentating on. During the Western Conference Finals, she received some flak when she called Gilgeous-Alexander a "free-throw merchant" in Game 1 of the series. Advertisement "'Oklahoma City fans took exception to that. They didn't like it,' Burke said via the New York Post. 'And usually, I can tell I feel like I'm doing a decent job when multiple fan bases are pissed off at me … at various times, Boston fans think I hate them, Knicks fans think I hate them, Sixers fans, and now Oklahoma City's like, 'why doesn't Doris like SGA?' I love SGA. Absolutely love him.' Burke isn't going away anytime soon, but it doesn't mean fans will come around and begin to like her, particularly the fanbases she mentioned in the above quote. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Is Better Than Michael Jordan, Claims Former Bulls Star
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Is Better Than Michael Jordan, Claims Former Bulls Star originally appeared on Athlon Sports. There's no denying Shai Gilgeous-Alexander just delivered one of the most impressive seasons in NBA history. The Oklahoma City Thunder star led his team to a championship, outlasting the Indiana Pacers in seven games and capping a year that will be remembered for decades. Advertisement Now, the debate has turned to where Gilgeous-Alexander fits among the game's all-time greats. In doing so, the Thunder guard joined elite company. He became just the fourth player in NBA history to win a scoring title, regular-season MVP, and finals MVP in the same season, joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan and Shaquille O'Neal. That rare feat prompted former NBA All-Star Metta Sandiford-Artest, formerly known as Ron Artest, to drop a bold comparison: that at times, SGA is better than Michael Jordan. "People laughed at my quote with I said 'at times' @shaiglalex is better than MJ. Explain this . Shai is 1st ballot and will get more than 3 rings. That statement was originally made during the Western Conference finals between the Thunder and Timberwolves. In an interview with Essentially Sports, he expanded on the idea: Advertisement 'I think SGA is at times better than Michael Jordan. At times, when you look at SGA's games, he is the best basketball player that probably touched the front, top and bottom…Every move you ever dreamed of.' Speaking on the podcast "Casuals with Katie Nolan," Sandiford-Artest elaborated: "Michael Jordan's done things nobody has ever done, and it looks so elegant. But SGA, the way he plays the game, through the legs, behind the back, step back, crossover, spins, it's exactly how he wants to play it.' Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-AlexanderAlonzo Adams-Imagn Images Gilgeous-Alexander, known for his smooth, methodical style and advanced footwork, has quickly risen to the top of the league. His ability to control tempo and get to his spots on the floor has drawn comparisons to past greats, but few expected his name to be mentioned alongside Jordan, let alone ahead of him. Advertisement Sandiford-Artest, a 6-foot-7 forward, played for the Chicago Bulls from 1999 to 2002 before helping Kobe Bryant and the Lakers win the 2010 NBA title. He was an All-Star in 2004 and played for six NBA teams during his career, which spanned from 1999 to 2017. He's perhaps best remembered for the 2004 'Malice at the Palace' brawl, which led to an 86-game suspension. Michael Jordan, of course, remains the gold standard. He was a six-time NBA champion and won finals MVP every time. He also claimed five regular season MVPs and was selected to 14 All-Star games. Jordan finished his career with 32,292 points, averaging 30.1 per game. Whether SGA ever reaches that kind of legacy is still up for debate, but in the eyes of at least one former All-Star, he's already there at times. Related: Kristaps Porzingis Used Two Words to Describe the Celtics After Being Traded Related: Luka Doncic Reportedly Makes Big Change in Physical Appearance This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 25, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Thunder Disrespected After Lakers Claim During Offseason
Thunder Disrespected After Lakers Claim During Offseason originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Oklahoma City Thunder just capped off a magical postseason run by winning the NBA Championship. The Thunder had only made one appearance in the NBA Finals before this season's trip, but this one ended in the Thunder's favor, hoisting the Larry O'Brien Trophy for the first time in their young history. Advertisement Many believed that the Thunder were the best team in the league, a sentiment that had been held for months. And why not? They finished the regular season third in offensive efficiency and first in defensive efficiency. It also helped that they had the best player in the league on their team in Most Valuable Player award winner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) against the Indiana Pacers during the 2025 NBA Adams-Imagn Images Thunder disrespected after Lakers claim during offseason Following the Thunder's win in the NBA Finals, some are already knocking their road to the championship. On Friday's edition of First Take on ESPN, Peter Rosenberg seemingly disrespected the Thunder while talking about how close the Los Angeles Lakers are to contending for a championship. Advertisement "We can all act as if it's impossible that they can get there, but we also just saw the Indiana Pacers take the Oklahoma City Thunder to seven games," Rosenberg said. "As great as OKC is, and they are a great team, they were taken to seven games two times throughout the playoffs. "Did anyone realistically think about the Indiana Pacers challenging and making it to a seventh game for the NBA Finals? So, I'm sorry, no. I cannot rule out a LeBron James and Luka Doncic-led Lakers this year." While it's not impossible for a Lakers team starring those two players to make the NBA Finals, it feels unlikely based on what we've seen from them. Top-tier talent is clearly there. However, what makes the Thunder so lethal beyond Gilgeous-Alexander is their depth. Advertisement Their depth is what allows them to play as tenaciously on the defensive end because they always have bodies on the bench that can come in and give them real minutes in big games. Former Lakers guard Alex Caruso is the case and point. While they didn't rely on him for his scoring, he was brought in for his defense, which helped shift games at times. The Thunder return many of this group, and repeating as champions will undoubtedly be on their minds next season. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
