Spend 822 million! Thunder killed crazy! It still hurts to lose Harden s lesson!

In the new era of hard salary caps in the NBA, the league will limit the generation of super teams, so if you want to win the championship, you attach great importance to rookie dividends.

In the past 7 years, this factor has been found in the league's 7 different championships (Rapgers, Lakers, Bucks, Warriors, Nuggets, Celtics, Thunder).

After all, teams that exceed the luxury tax line of $17.5 million will no longer have the chance to get the Mini Middle Class Special.

Teams with a super luxury tax line of $17.5 million cannot give out cash (match) in transactions, cannot trade the first round of picks after 7 years, and are not allowed to sign people in the buyout market.

The contradiction is that after players help the team win the championship, they will definitely pursue a larger contract, and this demand is normal.

How to retain the core? It is an eternal issue that the management of the champion team needs to face.

How did Thunder helmsman Presti do this offseason?

Just spend money!

Today, Jaylen Williams renewed the contract with the Thunder for $287 million in five years.

At this point, the third young master of Thunder has completed early renewal this summer.

The other two, Alexander had a super maximum salary of 285 million in four years; Homgren had a maximum salary of 250 million in five years.

Thunder spent 822 million yuan on the three cores this summer.

In the next six seasons, the total estimated salary for SGA, Chet and J-Dub:

2025-26: $58.6 million; 2026-27: $124.7 million.

2027-28: US$154.3 million; 2028-29: US$166.1 million.

2029-30: US$177.9 million; 2030-31: US$189.7 million.

The Thunder have a bonus for rookie. Jaylen's annual salary next season is more than 6 million yuan, and Homgren's annual salary is more than 13 million yuan.

So, although the renewal they did during this offseason was large, we were not surprised at all.

Ordinary fans will be stunned when they see this three-point maximum salary. Their first reaction is: Can't this salary explode? Can a team allow three maximum salaries?

Presti had already figured out what we could think of.

Where is the awesome thing about Thunder?

First, Presti's contract design is quite exquisite and it is very flexible in lineup construction.

Most of their supporting role contracts are the last year team options, and the contracts are still diminished.

Second, the source of confidence is that they have capital.

In the next seven years, the Thunder will have 14 first-round picks, of which there will be up to four first-round picks in 2026.

If you can still get a lottery, there will be a bonus for rookie.

Besides, even though Homegren is still suffering from injuries in the future, even if Jewish's upper limit is stopped, it is not difficult to clean up, so it will be over if you post the first round.

From a realistic perspective, the Thunder's salary space is beginning to face tremendous pressure, and it is very likely to be after the 27-28 season.

This team can be at least two more years old. What if there is a dynasty?

For "small town boys" like Oklahoma, every step they have to be arranged very well.

Retaining people has always been a big problem.

No matter what happens in the future, Presti has done his job brilliantly this summer.

Don’t worry about the long-term things and worry about the distant future. Those three are all very young. When will they wait for this time?

A youth team with an average core age of less than 25 years old has just become the second youngest championship team in NBA history, and has locked in the core of the future for many years and paved the way toward the dynasty first. Whether

can be accomplished is what players and coaches should do, and the general manager has tried his best.

If the team fails next season, it is not impossible for the Thunder to destroy the house... The Celtics are the best example.

Finally, from a historical perspective:

Let Harden be let go back then, but the lesson to Thunder was still too painful...