The Indiana Pacers have agreed to a four-year, $77 million contract extension with big man Domantas Sabonis, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. Wojnarowski adds that the deal can reach as much as $85 million with bonuses.
Sabonis is coming off of a breakout 2018-19 campaign in which he played 74 games and averaged 14.1 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.9 assists over 24.8 minutes per game while shooting 59 percent from the floor and 71.5 percent from the free-throw line.
The 23-year-old, who played his collegiate basketball at Gonzaga, was originally selected by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round (11th pick overall) of the 2016 NBA Draft.
He appeared in 81 contests and made 66 starts during his rookie campaign, registering 5.9 points and 3.6 boards across 20.1 minutes a night while making 39.9 percent of his field-goal attempts, 32.1 percent of his long-distance tries and 65.7 percent of his foul shots.
That ensuing offseason, the Thunder traded Sabonis (along with Victor Oladipo) to the Pacers in a deal that sent Paul George to Oklahoma City.
During his first year in Indiana, Sabonis participated in 74 games and recorded 11.6 points, 7.7 rebounds and two assists through 24.5 minutes per game, connecting on 51.4 percent of his shots and 75 percent of his free throws.
Due to his inability to space the floor and his lack of defensive talent, Sabonis is viewed by many as a situational type of player, which is a big reason why he comes off the bench for the Pacers and has yet to play 25 minutes per game thus far in his young NBA career.
However, there is no doubting his value as a post scorer and rebounder.
The Pacers will open up their season on Wednesday when they host the Detroit Pistons.
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