4 NBA players who benefit from the new CBA

F Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings

Domantas Sabonis’ arrival has been the biggest spark in the Sacramento Kings‘ play this season, the first for them in the playoffs in 16 years. They’ll want to keep the big man in the fold and should soon have slightly more money to make that happen.

The big man has been a dominant player for the Kings this season, perhaps even a sneaky candidate to get some MVP votes. There’s nothing more valuable than ending a lengthy postseason drought, after all.

The Indiana Pacers signed Sabonis to what now feels like a team-friendly contract, four years and $74.9 million. That deal came before the trade deadline last year, when Indiana and Sacramento swapped players and assets, including Tyrese Haliburton landing in Indiana. That deal comes to an end following next season. Sabonis is eligible to sign an extension with the Kings this offseason, though.

Under the terms of the old CBA, Sacramento could only offer a four-year, $111 million extension. Under the new CBA, that rises to $121 million extension, roughly $2.5 million more each year. Every penny counts, right? Sabonis could make more than $30 million per year on an extension under the CBA. That’s not high enough to be befitting a player of Sabonis’ stature, though.

In all likelihood, Sabonis is going to take his chances going into the final year of his contract and assume he can play at or near this level again next season. That would be enough to get him a bigger contract, as well as a chance to test free agency.