285 million in 4 years and 250 million in 5 years! A new NBA record is born, and the league s first place is not far from reconstruction

Editor|Lao Kankanqiu

NBA free market has been in operation for more than a week. With the rise in the league's salary cap ($154.6 million), many stars have obtained Xin Xinannian's maximum salary contracts. The Rockets used five years to lock in the core Jabbarri Smith Jr. in advance, the Clippers and Harden re-signed a new contract of 2-year and 81.5 million US dollars, Irving also gave up the option of 43 million players next season and re-signed a maximum salary of 113 million to the Mavericks for three years, and the Magic also gave the star star Kaylo a super maximum salary of 287 million US dollars in five years, etc. In addition, the Lakers plan to lock in the new storefront Doncic with a four-year, 229 million or 3-year, 165 million (including player options) contract, the Suns plan to retain Booker with a four-year, over 200 million contract, and the Rockets are also expected to renew Durant's maximum salary for 111 million for two years. The NBA's big contract is really crazy.

What's even more crazy is that after the Thunder, which just won the championship trophy, gave the star Alexander a four-year, $285 million super maximum salary contract, directly setting a new record in NBA history - the average annual salary for the new contract is as high as $71.3 million, of which the annual salary in the 2030-31 season will reach $78.77 million, becoming the first player in the league to exceed 75 million annual salary.

This is not over yet. Today, the Thunder signed a maximum salary of 250 million US dollars with Chet Holmgren in five years. The contract has increased year by year since the 2026-27 season, and reached 54.45 million US dollars in the fifth year. In addition, Jaylen Williams has basically locked in a five-year, $275 million maximum salary quotation contract in advance. If these three contracts are finally reached, the total amount of these three contracts has exceeded 800 million US dollars, which will account for 90% of the team's salary cap in 2027, which is a bit outrageous. By then, next to Alexander, who had an annual salary of $78.77 million, there were two partners with an average salary of over 50 million. The championship flag of the small ball market had faded rapidly before it was raised.

In fact, it would be fine for the Thunder to give the MVP a historical maximum salary contract, but it was unexpected that it would be 250 million yuan in 5 years. You should know that this 23-year-old second-tier 2022 No. 2 show, despite its outstanding talent, has insufficient confrontation and serious injury history. It is directly reimbursed for the rookie season. Last season, he only played 32 games. His average of 15 points and 8 rebounds per game in the regular season is not amazing. His shooting percentage is 49.0% and his three-pointers are 37.9%, but he won the maximum salary with his core position in the defensive system. It is indeed surprising.

And the real Eye of the Storm is still in Jaylen Williams, who has not yet renewed his contract. The strong player who averaged 23.6 points in the finals had previously rejected the Thunder's five-year contract renewal offer of 220 million yuan, and firmly demanded a maximum salary of 280 million yuan in five years. Many NBA salary experts predict that the two sides may eventually reach a compromise in the five-year range of US$250-280 million. By then, when the three contracts are superimposed and the total amount exceeds 800 million US dollars, Thunder's salary structure instantly becomes a time bomb.

According to the current salary forecast, the total salary of the Thunder will exceed the $220 million mark in the 2026-27 season. This is not only a simple luxury tax issue, but also a "death penalty sentence" under the new version of the labor-management agreement. Once the punishment clause of the "second tyrant line" in the new version of the labor-management agreement is triggered, the first round of signing will be frozen, cash transactions will be banned, and the right to buy out market signing will be deprived. All Thunder's signing channels will be completely blocked.

The more cruel reality comes from the market size. As the "20th smallest" media market in the United States, Oklahoma City's local broadcast revenue is less than 1/5 of that of Los Angeles. Even if the boss Clayton Bennett is willing to spend money briefly, the small ball market is destined to be unable to afford more than $300 million in the long run. Then, role players are destined to become "financial cannon fodder". Isiah Joe, Jelin Williams and even champion Caruso may leave the team under huge salary pressure.

And this seems to be surprisingly similar to the team's dilemma twelve years ago. In 2012, in order to save $4 million in the price difference, the Thunder management had no choice but to trade Harden to the Rockets, and the old version of the Three Young Masters of the Dynasty fell apart. Now General Manager Presti is standing at the intersection of fate again - are Chett and Jewish destined to be unable to stay at the same time?

ESPN expert Kevin Pelton commented: "The three cores must strive for a discount price, otherwise the integrity of the substitute lineup will collapse. It is indeed a bit unbearable to renew a three-point salary for a team. In the future, either send the main rotation away, or one of the three will leave!"

It has to be said that in this era of maximum salary contracts flying everywhere, the renewal of the championship team is indeed a big problem. Everyone of the champion players wants a premium salary, and this is also the reason why different teams have won the championship for seven consecutive years.

Faced with three sky-high contracts with a total price of US$800 million, the calculator in the hands of the management of the city has been knocked hot, but no matter how careful the management is, it is a foregone conclusion that the team is demolished. In this way, the Thunder, which has the largest record in the league, is really not far from reconstruction!