Thunder sees hope of defending the title! Spend huge sums of money to keep the three young giants!

Alexander's four-year, $285 million, $287 million, five-year, $287 million, has a five-year contract extension, with a rookie cap compared to the two other biggest rookies we expect to renew in the first round of 2022 - one reported by Paulo Banchero on Monday and the other hasn't completed with Homegren's Thunder teammate Jaylen Williams - which is a little effortless.

5-year $287 million renewal Williams

Williams won the highest 30% standard in his trade, and if he is selected to the NBA All-Squad or selected as MVP or Defensive Player of the Year this season, its value will increase to an estimated maximum of $287 million.

Given that Williams was selected to the NBA All-NBA Third Team at 23 last season, the Thunder should certainly be prepared, as if his salary would exceed the 25% cap that teammate Chet Homgren got on the highest contract extension.

Like Homgren, Williams did not get the player option that Bancero had obtained in his contract renewal. This is especially important because Oklahoma City is planning for the future. Williams won’t start a potential supermax contract extension until the 2031-32 season at the earliest — or become an unrestricted free agent.

Given that Williams has achieved more than Benchero in three seasons, including averaging 23.6 points in the NBA Finals, he certainly has reason to get the player option.

From a big picture perspective, the Thunder now has the contracts of Homegren and Williams through the 2030-31 season, with MVP Shay Gilgius Alexander signing to the 2029-30 season (with a player option for the 2030-31 season) after completing his supermax renewal last week.

When Gilgius Alexander's contracts began the 2027-28 season, the size of these contracts guaranteed about 85% of the salary cap for the three players, which would challenge Oklahoma City to maintain its depth. But the Thunder have been preparing for this moment since draft picks Homegren and Williams, and have the financial flexibility and draft picks to ensure they continue to compete at the peak of their star.

If the Thunder had invested in the early days of Westbrook, Durant and Harden, would they have won the championship soon?