As NBA free agency heats up, several high-profile players have finalized their contracts, showcasing dramatic shifts in the league. Notably, reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has committed to the Oklahoma City Thunder with a staggering $285 million extension, while James Harden has opted to remain with the Los Angeles Clippers for an annual salary exceeding $40 million. Meanwhile, Dennis Schroder has joined the Sacramento Kings, but his recent decisions might leave him with lingering regrets.
Major Moves in the NBA Free Agency
In the latest wave of free agency activity, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has solidified his future in Oklahoma City by signing a monumental contract extension worth $285 million. This deal underscores his status as one of the league’s premier talents following his MVP win.
James Harden, who opted out of his previous contract, has chosen to resign with the Los Angeles Clippers for a lucrative deal exceeding $40 million per year. His decision to stay signals the Clippers’ intention to compete at the highest level moving forward.
Dennis Schroder’s Path of Regret
Meanwhile, Dennis Schroder has finalized a three-year, $45 million contract with the Sacramento Kings. However, his current situation contrasts sharply with a significant opportunity he declined four years ago. In 2021, while playing with the Los Angeles Lakers, Schroder turned down a potential four-year extension estimated at between $80 and $84 million, opting instead to pursue a larger contract based on his anticipated performance.
Unfortunately for him, the subsequent season proved challenging. His scoring average, shooting accuracy, and playoff performance all dipped significantly. When free agency arrived, he found himself without a team or the lucrative contract he had hoped for, ultimately signing a one-year deal with the Boston Celtics for $5.9 million—missing out on approximately $78 million in the process.
Since that fateful decision, Schroder has ventured through several teams, including a trade from the Celtics to the Houston Rockets, followed by brief stints back with the Lakers and then the Toronto Raptors, where he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets mid-season. Last year, he played with both the Nets and the Golden State Warriors before ending the season with the Detroit Pistons.
Despite his extensive time in the league, Schroder’s cumulative earning across multiple contracts has yet to reach the sum he rejected back in 2021. With his new contract, he has the potential to further increase his earnings, but even then, he will fall short of the $84 million he once declined. The silver lining is that at just 31 years old, Schroder has already amassed over $103 million in career earnings. By the next free agency period, he may be on the verge of reaching close to $150 million, a milestone most players would envy.
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