Alex Caruso Aims for Extension to Stay with Oklahoma City Thunder
Alex Caruso expresses his desire to sign an extension with the Thunder, hoping to secure a long-term future in Oklahoma City.
Alex Caruso, Oklahoma City, Thunder, NBA, Contract Extension
Oklahoma City: Alex Caruso is really fitting in with the Thunder. He’s a solid defender and can shoot the three, plus he can handle the ball a bit. Coach Mark Daigneault can bring him off the bench without missing a beat.
Last week marked six months since Caruso was traded to the Thunder, which means he can now sign an extension. He’s totally open to it, saying it “would be awesome,” but he’s looking for a big pay bump from his current $9.9 million salary. He might even want double that!
Caruso mentioned, “This is a place that I think is ascending, and that’s something I want to be a part of.” He feels like the Thunder are a good fit for him, and he’s excited about the possibility of sticking around for a few more years.
Oklahoma City is about $10 million under the luxury tax, so they can afford to pay him. That’s what good teams do—they keep their best players to chase championships.
But the ownership has some tough decisions ahead. They’ll need to think about how much they’re willing to spend to keep the team together in the coming years. By 2026, things could get pricey with Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams looking for big contracts. And let’s not forget about Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who will also be up for an extension.
For now, though, the Thunder are in a good spot. When you have a player like Caruso who fits both on and off the court, you’ve got to pay him what he deserves.