A choice must be made! Bobby Marks: Two years later, the Thunder team s salary is expected to reach 340 million yuan

On May 23, the regular season MVP and the best defensive team of this season were all released. Thunder guard Alexander was elected as the regular MVP of this season, and Jaylen Williams was selected as the best defensive team of this season. This summer, the Thunder can complete an early contract renewal with 2022 rookies Jaylen Williams and Chetholmgren, and both of them have the opportunity to obtain designated rookie terms. Salary expert Bobby Marks said that if Jaylen Williams and Chetholmgren both trigger the Ross clause, both will receive a super maximum salary of $297 million for five years, and Alexander will also receive a super maximum salary of $380 million for five years in two years, with the three people accounting for a total of 95% of the salary cap.

In the next three years, there will be five rookies including Carson Wallace, Gion, Mitchell, Jerry Williams, and Topic in the Thunder that need to complete the contract renewal. In December last year, the Thunder just signed a four-year, 80 million contract with Caruso. This means that if the Thunder leaves behind its current core lineup, the Thunder's salary will reach $340 million in two years. Obviously, this is something that the Thunder management is unacceptable. Last summer, in order to avoid renewing the contract with 2021 No. 6 Show Kiddy, the Thunder sent him to the Bulls in exchange for Caruso.

The Thunder selected four rookies in 2022, namely Chetholmgren, Jaylen Williams, Gion, Mitchell, and Jerryn Williams in 2021. Thunder management needs to decide whether these five people will stay or not. It wouldn't be too surprising if the Thunder sent Jaylen Williams away this summer. In the summer of 2012, the Thunder decided to send away James Harden, who had just helped the team reach the finals, who only helped the Thunder get a first-round pick.