Thunder’s future assets analysis: 14 first round picks and flexible salary space

According to the NBA famous reporter Shams, the Thunder and Jaylen Williams have reached a five-year, $287 million contract renewal. In addition to Alexander's four-year, 285 million and Homgren's five-year, 250 million, the total contract volume of the Thunder's Big Three soared to US$822 million, setting a record for the most expensive trio in NBA history!

However, behind this sky-high contract renewal, there is a huge salary storm - in 2027, the total annual salary of the Thunder Three will exceed 154 million, and the pressure of luxury tax may force the team to demolish and rebuild. The contract structure of the three Thunders will make the team's salary explosive growth in the future:

2026-27 season: The new contract of Jewish + Homgren takes effect, the Big Three will be 124.7 million, and the team's total salary is 247 million (the luxury tax line is estimated to be 200 million).

2027-28 season: Alexander's super maximum salary comes into effect, with the Big Three salary of 154.3 million. Together with Caruso (20.3 million), Aaron Wiggins (8.35 million), etc., the total salary easily exceeds the 210 million luxury tax line.

Many people said that the Thunder may follow the footsteps of the Celtics last year. After winning the championship last year, the latter renewed the contract with many champion members, but after losing this year, coupled with the injury of main player Tatum, he then demolished the team this summer.

Holiday and Posses were sent away respectively, and the Celtics saved 200 million in luxury taxes.

But the Thunder are a little different, because everything is under the control of General Manager Presti. The team will not only remain competitive in the next few years, but will also free up a lot of salary space.

From the current perspective, although the Thunder will pay a lot of luxury taxes in the 26-27 season, since contracts such as Harten (28.5 million) and Dortmund (18.22 million) are all team options, the team can make flexibly adjustments in 2026.

After the 27-28 season, Alexander's four-year, 285 million super contract began to take effect, and the Thunder's salary continued to face a test, but at the beginning of this year, except for the three young men, the team only had Caruso's 20.3 million and Aaron Wiggins' 8.35 million to guarantee the contract.

And Isaiah Joe's 11.32 million and Jerin Williams' 7.74 million are also team options. In this way, the Thunder can re-evaluate whether they should continue to invest money to win the championship or stop.

The Thunder Three (Alexander 26, Jewish 24, and Homgren 23) are at their peak. If they succeed in winning consecutive championships in the next two years, their boss may be willing to bear luxury taxes; if they fail, they may follow the model of selling teams and demolishing teams after winning the championship.

So it's all in the team's calculations.

Not only that, in addition to the release of salary, the Thunder will also have a bright future, because in the next seven years, they will hold 14 first-round picks (2025-2031), far surpassing other teams in the league.

This means they don't need to get some scraps like other teams. The Thunder can not only use these draft picks to supplement cheap rookies, but also package and trade superstars or share wage pressures if necessary.

I have to admire Presti.