Grading and examining every OKC Thunder player contract
By Aidan E
Steven Adams:
Two years, $53 million dollars
The longest-tenured Thunder player, Steven Adams will start the 2019-2020 NBA season as the ninth highest-paid center in the NBA at 25 million dollars a year.
*RPM Ranking: 14th
*PIPM Ranking: 12th
* = Among centers
Steven Adams, much like Chris Paul, is a good basketball player but he is ultimately overpaid in my eyes. Despite his signature flip shot in the paint, Adams contributes nothing offensively from outside of the paint.
Adams ranked LAST among qualified players in the NBA in free throw percentage (50 percent) and was 44th in block percentage among all NBA players last season. Free throw percentage for big men is essential to me given the recent uptick in “Hack-A-Shaq” moments where centers might get played off the floor in crucial moments due to their inability to hit foul shots.
Adams is still a good defender despite his low block numbers and also has great touch around the rim, but I don’t think that’s enough production/skill to make his contract a valuable asset.