Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder guard Alex Caruso advised Jake Fischer of “The Stein Line” throughout a current interview that he would welcome a contract extension provide from the Western Convention contender. The eight-year veteran mentioned it “could be superior” to signal a possible four-year deal future with this group.
NBA Rumors: Alex Caruso Is Eligible To Signal A Multi-12 months Contract With An Common Wage Of $20 Million
Caruso, who turns 31 on Feb. 28, is at present within the remaining season of the four-year, $37 million deal he signed with the Chicago Bulls in August 2021. The Thunder absolutely assured his $9.89 million wage for 2024-25 in June after they acquired him from Chicago within the Josh Giddey commerce.
“Clearly this can be a place that I feel is ascending and that’s one thing I need to be part of,” Caruso advised Fischer. “That’s why I’m right here. I feel the writing is on the wall. Folks don’t commerce for guys within the final 12 months of their contracts except they count on to maintain ’em for some time.
“That’s simply the enterprise a part of it. So I’m wanting ahead to having that dialog with [general manager] Sam [Presti]. The whole lot that the Thunder stand for are issues that I stand for. I feel their focus, their drives and needs, are the identical as mine. It’s been a great match and I’m wanting ahead to hopefully a pair extra years.”
Alex Caruso is eligible to signal a multi-year contract that features a mean annual wage of $20 million, in keeping with Fischer. For comparability, his present $37 million contract carries a mean annual wage of $9.245.
By way of 19 video games off the bench this season, Caruso is averaging 5.7 factors, 2.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists, a career-high 1.9 steals, and 20.2 minutes per contest whereas capturing profession lows of 38.5% from the sphere and 27% from 3-point vary.
Golden State Warriors Had Supplied A number of First-Spherical Draft Picks For Caruso At Final Season’s February Commerce Deadline
The 6-foot-5 Alex Caruso should play higher if he desires a $20 million wage with the Thunder. Final season with the Bulls, he averaged profession highs of 10.1 factors, 3.8 rebounds, and 28.7 minutes in 71 video games (57 begins).
Fischer additionally added that the Golden State Warriors had provided a number of first-round draft picks for Caruso finally season’s February commerce deadline and was even prepared to half with Moses Moody, together with different gamers, to ensure that Golden State to land Torrey Craig and Andre Drummond from Chicago.
Moody went on to signal a three-year, $39 million contract extension with the Warriors in October. Per Spotrac, the 22-year-old has a poison capsule restriction till July 1, 2025.
The Thunder claimed the No. 1 seed within the Western Convention final season and maintain that spot once more via their first 25 video games this season. OKC remains to be thought of the betting favourite to signify the West within the NBA Finals.
“We’re a younger staff and quite a lot of instances within the league it’s important to earn your stripes. You actually don’t get given something,” Alex Caruso added. “For us, it isn’t about how loud you’re. It’s about getting the job executed.”
The highest-seeded Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder (22-5) host the lowly Washington Wizards (4-21) on Monday.