Contract extension?
Alex Abrines has stepped up his game, but he is in the last year of his contract.
Alex Abrines has never been more valuable to the Thunder. He’s also in the final year of his contract.
If a two-game road sweep of Charlotte and Washington didn’t make it obvious, Abrines has become one of the most important pieces surrounding the Thunder’s core of Russell Westbrook, Paul George and Steven Adams. So why is Abrines playing the last year of his deal without an extension?
“It’s nothing I’m concerned about,” Abrines told The Oklahoman on Sunday. “If I don’t re-sign within the year for whatever reason, whenever it is, it’s going to happen.”
On a team starved for shooting to start the season, Abrines helped the Thunder break through from 3-point range. In the last three games, he’s connecting on 44.4 percent (8-of18) from 3.
It’s no coincidence that when the minutes at shooting guard shifted in Abrines’ favor, the
Thunder has had its best stretch of offense this season.
“He’s helpful to us, there’s no question,” Thunder coach Billy Donovan said. “He’s got a really good feel of how to play. Because of the way he shoots the basketball he provides a lot of spacing.”
That ability to space the floor will earn Abrines a pay raise.
Abrines is making a bargain $5.4 million in the last year of a threeyear contract signed in 2016. To his knowledge, his representation hasn’t had any discussions yet with the Thunder about an extension.
Since Abrines was a second-round pick in 2013, he’s not on the rookie-scale contract of a first-rounder. Thus, the Thunder can offer Abrines an extension him any time this season.
While the Thunder is well above the $101.8 million salary cap at $145.5 million in salary, the team owns Abrines’s Bird Rights, meaning they can exceed the salary cap to re-sign him. Any extension Abrines agreed to this season wouldn’t go into effect until 2019-20, helping the Thunder’s monster luxury tax bill this season.
Still, the Thunder doesn’t have to rush. Since Abrines is a restricted free agent, the Thunder would have the right to match any offer he’d receive in free agency. The question is does OKC want to let Abrines get to restricted free agency?
A leaguewide salary cap boost to a projected $109 million this summer will give teams the financial flexibility to overpay for Abrines’ shooting. Teams would be getting more, as Abrines’ defense has gone from liability to competent in less than a year.
Entering Monday’s game against the Pelicans, Abrines has been one of the Thunder’s best defenders, sporting a 94.2 defensive rating (points allowed per 100 possessions) that’s second only to Nerlens Noel’s 90.
Abrines, 25, is improving. He possesses a skill that’s being hoarded by every team in the league. Only potential health issues stand in the way of a long career.
Will it come in Oklahoma City beyond this season?
“I don’t like to think about the future,” Abrines said. “I know this is my last year, but I’m just trying to live dayby-day, trying to be better, try to play the best I can and try to help the team get as many wins as possible.”