Dec 19, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso (9) reacts after a play against the Orlando Magic in the second quarter at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

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Oklahoma City Thunder’s updated salary cap after Alex Caruso $81 million contract extension

The deal will keep Caruso with the Thunder through the 2028-29 season.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have locked up veteran guard Alex Caruso with a four-year, $81 million contract extension, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

The deal, which will keep Caruso with the Thunder through the 2028-29 season, ensures the 30-year-old will not hit free agency any time soon.

Oklahoma City Thunder two-time NBA All-Defensive Team guard Alex Caruso has agreed to a four-year, $81 million contract extension with the franchise, his agent Greg Lawrence of Wasserman told ESPN. pic.twitter.com/22YqvnXaOd
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 22, 2024

Notably, this extension is the maximum amount allowed under the league’s salary cap.

The timing of Caruso’s extension is crucial for Oklahoma City. With the entire roster now under contract through the 2025-26 season, the Thunder’s payroll is projected to be right at the luxury tax threshold, per NBA salary cap analyst Yossi Gozlan.

Caruso, who arrived in a trade with the Chicago Bulls this summer, has played a key role in Thunder’s surge this season.

Also Read:

2x All-Defensive Team guard is averaging 5.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and a career-high 1.9 steals this season for the Thunder.

He is leading the league in defensive field goal percentage (32.4%) and deflections per game, fifth is recovering loose ball per game, and fourth in steals per game.

Alex Caruso’s Salary Structure

The 30-year-old will earn $18,102,000, which makes up 11.7% of the team’s salary cap. In the following season, his salary will increase to $19,550,160. For the 2027-28 season, his earnings will be $20,998,320. And his final season of his contract will earn him $22,446,480, which is 10.9% of the cap.

2025-26: $18,102,000 (11.7% of cap)

2026-27: $19,550,160 (11.5% of cap)

2027-28: $20,998,320 (11.2% of cap)

2028-29: $22,446,480 (10.9% of cap)

Total: $81,096,960

Image Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Alex Caruso

Oklahoma City Thunder

Swati Bhatia

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I work as a content strategist, specializing in creating engaging content about the NBA, WNBA, and MLB. My main focus is on writing breaking news updates, research-based articles, and covering trending topics. Right now, I’m leading the content team for the NBA, WNBA, and MLB categories at Playoffs English.