{"id":124608,"date":"2025-02-19T14:00:44","date_gmt":"2025-02-19T19:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=124608"},"modified":"2025-02-19T13:27:17","modified_gmt":"2025-02-19T18:27:17","slug":"sga-contract-extension-brunson","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/02\/19\/sga-contract-extension-brunson\/","title":{"rendered":"Why SGA Should Follow This Superstar With Contract Extension"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Thunder have 28 games left before they try a second time with this core to win the NBA Finals. Everyone in OKC’s organization is focusing on this season and trying to win the NBA Finals for the first time. However, it is not too early to look ahead at a crucial offseason for the Thunder. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander<\/a>, Jalen Williams<\/a>, and Chet Holmgren<\/a> are all eligible for contract extensions. SGA is eligible for a supermax contract extension, while Jalen and Chet are eligible for the rookie max extension. All three players deserve the money and contract they are going to receive. It will be a shock if the Thunder don’t offer the max extensions to these three players. However, to help his team’s ability re-sign future players, SGA should consider following Knicks superstar<\/a> Jalen Brunson<\/a> by taking less money.<\/p>\n

Brunson was eligible to sign a five-year, $269 million deal last offseason. However, he took a $113 million pay cut<\/a> and signed a four-year $156.5 million contract extension. Gilgeous-Alexander is eligible for a four-year<\/a>, $294.3 million supermax extension. This is around $73.5 million per year and has a chance to become the first player to earn $80 million per year. It will be up to SGA to take less in the contract extension, as the Thunder, without hesitation, will offer him this supermax extension. Let’s dive into why Gilgeous-Alexander should consider taking less than the supermax, like Brunson did.<\/p>\n

Why SGA Should Follow Brunson With Contract Extension<\/h2>\n

What Kind of Pay-Cut Should Shai Take?<\/h3>\n

Shai shouldn’t be asked to take a $113 million pay cut like Brunson did, but he should highly consider taking some form of pay cut. He is eligible to earn around $73.5 million per year, which is a good chunk of the Thunder’s salary room. This will make it very challenging for the Thunder to put a championship roster together year after year, especially with the new CBA deal. However, instead, he could take a $52-$72 million pay cut and earn $55.5 or $60.5 million per year. This will allow the Thunder to have a better chance at staying under the second apron and keep more of this core together for the long term.<\/p>\n

Gilgeous-Alexander is currently on his five-year<\/a>, $179.3 million rookie max extension that runs through the 2026-2027 season. He will earn $38.3<\/a> million next year and $40.8<\/a> million in his final year. Even with the small pay cut, he is still earning a $15-$20 million pay raise from his last contract. Instead of signing a four-year $294.3 million deal, he would sign a four-year $222-$242 million contract.<\/p>\n

It Will Allow The Thunder to Keep More Players<\/h3>\n

If he is willing and takes a small pay cut, the Thunder will be able to keep more of their core players together. Regardless of whether Shai gets the supermax or takes a pay cut, after the extension to him, they will have four players on their roster making $20 million. In addition, they will have three players making north of $30 million. This will most likely cap them out in the second apron. Players like Lu Dort<\/a>, Isaiah Hartenstein<\/a>, and Cason Wallace<\/a>, who are crucial to this team’s success, won’t be able to re-sign. The Thunder do have a ton of draft capital to replenish any talent that leaves. However, it isn’t a guarantee you will be able to.<\/p>\n

This is why Shai should consider taking a small-pay cut to try and keep one or two of Wallace, Dort, and Hartenstein on this team. In addition, the Thunder could always trade Alex Caruso<\/a> as well, and then, with Shai’s small pay cut, the Thunder could end up keeping all three. If players on the Thunder see Shai taking a pay cut, who is the leader of this team it may allow other players to do the same thing, so this core that enjoys playing with each other can stay together for the next five to seven years, instead of breaking up in two to three years.<\/p>\n

Shai Just Recently Fired His Agent<\/h3>\n

Finally, Shai may now be more willing to sign for less, considering he parted ways with his agent. This means that he will represent himself moving forward. If Shai does take a $52-$72 million pay cut, it actually won’t be that much. Instead, it will be around $40-$60 million since he won’t have to pay the 4%-5% to an agent like he would have had to do previously. There are a bunch of reasons why Shai fired his agent; however, because of it, it makes it more reasonable for Shai if he chooses to take a small pay cut.<\/p>\n

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Report: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leaves Wasserman, to represent himself as agent (via @The_ThunderWire<\/a>):https:\/\/t.co\/NEJVUKZHEU<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) February 19, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n