Renewed as soon as he won the championship, with a three-year contract of 9 million, the Thunder locked in Mitchell s potential

According to Shams Charania, a well-known ESPN reporter, the Oklahoma City Thunder made an important decision on young guard Ajay Mitchell on June 30. The team decided not to implement his team options related to the 2025-26 season, but the move does not mean abandoning Mitchell's plan. In fact, the Thunder quickly paved a new path for the young player, signing him a three-year contract worth nearly $9 million.

Mitchell was selected with the 38th overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft. Although he was a second-round rookie, he successfully played in 36 regular season games last season under the trust of the Thunder coaching staff. Although he played only 16.6 minutes per game, he still delivered outstanding performances of 6.5 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game. For a rookie, such a report card reflects his potential to quickly adapt to the NBA rhythm.

Thunder management has very clear strategic thinking. Although abandoning the original one-year team option, which seems to relax restrictions on Mitchell, is actually locking in the player who has shown potential at a lower cost in advance by signing a new contract with a longer and controllable total amount, ensuring his service over the next three years. This is not only a recognition of Mitchell's performance, but also the team's careful budget in salary management, choosing to replace short-term options with a more secure contract.

For 24-year-old Mitchell, this new three-year contract is undoubtedly a major opportunity. It provides him with a more stable environment, and he needs to work on improving his shooting stability and organizational skills in the coming seasons to prove his worth in the talented young roster of the Thunder and strive for more important rotation roles.

The Thunder have shown unique vision in draft and young player training in recent years. Mitchell was selected as a second round pick and quickly won a new contract, which is undoubtedly another reflection of the team's success in "scraping lottery" strategy. Whether this second-round player can continue to grow in the Thunder environment and meet the team's expectations is worth following