Basketball: Steven Adams reportedly signs a two-year, $ 50 million NBA extension with the New Orleans Pelicans

Kiwi basketball star Steven Adams has pledged his future to the New Orleans Pelicans, signing a contract extension just days after being traded.

The NBA center reportedly signed a two-year, $ 35 million ($ 50 million) contract that will keep him under contract with the Pelicans until the end of the 2022-23 season.

On Saturday, the 29-year-old was part of a huge four-team trade involving the Denver Nuggets and Milwaukee Bucks that saw the Oklahoma City Thunder trade him and bring in five new players and three draft picks. He had previously spent all seven seasons in the NBA with the Oklahoma City franchise.

The move was confirmed on Monday.

The contract is fully guaranteed and Adams’s career earnings are expected to exceed $ 140 million.

Adams initially had a year with $ 27 million ($ 38 million) left on his contract, which was absorbed by the Pelicans, but now has two more years as the Pelicans indicate that the Kiwi center is part of his future.

Included in the trade was former New Zealand Breakers point guard RJ Hampton, who was sent from New Orleans to Denver on the day of the NBA draft. Hampton was selected 24th last week in the draft and will make his debut next season.

So far, there has been a mixed reaction to the move on social media.

“You know how you can’t shoot? And run like your feet are in cement buckets? Here’s 35 million more,” wrote one fan.

“Don’t people realize how good a player he is, both on and off the pitch? 17.5 is nothing for someone who will do everything that most players don’t … people need relaaax”, wrote another.

Adams joins the Pelicans after some strong seasons with the Thunder, averaging 12.9 points and 9.3 rebounds per game over the past three seasons.

His experience in the playoffs will serve a radiant franchise of talented youngsters with an eye toward continued playoff races in the future. Only once in his career has Adams not played in the NBA postseason.

He also gives up the opportunity to enter free agency in 2021 and choose where to play among the teams that showed interest.