SGA decision suggests long-term extension coming with Thunder

Chris Haynes reported that the Thunder star is leaving his outdated administration in favor of representing himself in contract negotiations. It is an uncommon transfer for an NBA famous person, however one which is smart given Gilgeous-Alexander’s state of affairs.

This summer time, SGA can signal a four-year extension to his present five-year contract, which runs by the 2026-27 season. It might be price $294.3M, giving him $373.4M over the following six seasons. If he is prepared to commit long-term, it’s totally possible that the Thunder can be completely satisfied to lock their MVP candidate by his age-32 season.

If his group is providing Gilgeous-Alexander the utmost permissible wage, there’s not far more than an agent can get him. Gamers want brokers when their future is unsure, whether or not it is getting into free company or attempting to rearrange a commerce. That is one motive Joel Embiid hasn’t had an agent since leaving Creative Arts Agency in 2021.

Embiid misplaced his outdated agent, Leon Rose, when Rose grew to become president of the New York Knicks. However with Embiid staying with the Philadelphia 76ers, he saved an excessive amount of cash on agent commissions when he signed supermax
extensions in 2021 and 2024.

One different former 76er possible regretted going with out an agent. James Harden did not have an agent for six years, earlier than hiring one in February 2023. That was lower than a 12 months after Harden signed a below-market deal with the Sixers, which he thought would result in a long-term extension. That by no means got here, and Harden finally pressured a commerce to the Los Angeles Clippers after a protracted standoff with Philadelphia.

That is a state of affairs the place an agent is invaluable. However Gilgeous-Alexander dismissing his reps is a good signal that he isn’t planning to play anyplace however Oklahoma Metropolis within the subsequent half-decade.