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Report: Pelicans agree to two-year extension with Steven Adams

Oklahoma City Thunder v Houston Rockets - Game Five

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 29: Steven Adams #12 of the Oklahoma City Thunder reacts to a call against the Houston Rockets during the second quarter in Game Five of the Western Conference First Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at the Field House at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 29, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

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Steven Adams — traded from New Orleans as part of the Jrue Holiday trade — was entering the final year of his contract at $27.5 million. That’s a lot for a big man who is not also an elite shot creator or Defensive Player of the Year candidate. Adams is not those things but is a quality big man on both ends of the court.

And the Pelican want to keep Adams around, so they have agreed to a two-year extension with him, reports Adrian Wojnarowski and Zach Lowe of ESPN.

That extension is about $10 million less a year than he will make in 2020-21, but it also is in line with what a good starting center should make. From Adams’ perspective, having seen the brutal market for centers around the league, he realizes this is a good payday and jumped at it.

Adams will start and should do a lot of the dirty work inside that allows Zion Williamson to do what he does as the four. Adams also brings a strong professional culture to the locker room. The athletic and promising but still raw Jaxson Hayes will back Adams up, and now he can develop with less pressure. Willy Hernangomez also is in the mix looking for minutes. It’s a strong center rotation.