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Alex Karaban's Vault into Draft's First Round a Big Boost for UConn alum
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- Alex Karaban's Vault into Draft's First Round a Big Boost for UConn alum
(© Steven Branscombe-Imagn Images)
This simple sentence uttered by NBA commissioner AdamSilver during the first round of the league's draft on Tuesday will make UConn alum Alex Karaban aricher man.
"With the 29th pick in the NBA draft, the Cleveland Cavaliers select Alex Karaban from the University of Connecticut."
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The Cavaliers chose Karaban on behalf of the Sacramento Kings , who did not want to risk losing him to another team beforethey chose again with the No. 34 pick on Wednesday.
Instead, Sacramento traded that pick and a futuresecond-round selection to the Cavaliers to walk away with Karaban.
In doing so, Karaban receives much more than first-roundbragging rights . He gets a first-round paycheck.
Contract value
In the NBA, each first-round pick is assigned a previously agreed-upon value for a four-year contract. The first two seasons are guaranteed. The nexttwo are option years, typically picked up for steady performers because their annualpay won't be as low again.
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The first-round contract values are on a slidingscale. The slot value for No. 1 selection A.J. Dybantsa, taken by the Washington Wizards , is $69 million for four years.
UConn's Tarris Reed Jr. , the No. 26 overall pick and off to the San Antonio Spurs , has a $16.3million value.
The slot value for Karaban's No. 29 selection is $15.6million over the four years, according to Spotrac.
The Ryan Kalkbrenner comparison
Ryan Kalkbrenner was the No. 34 selection in 2025 bythe Charlotte Hornets . He's an ideal comparison to Karaban, who long was expectedto be taken by Sacramento with that same pick in 2026.
Both come from Big East schools;Kalkbrenner spent five seasons at Creighton, taking advantage of the extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA because of COVID-19. Karaban was a four-year player, like Kalkbrenner was, will be an olderrookie, both drafted at age 23. Both were leaders of their teams, consistentbut not flashy.
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Another fun fact: both wore No. 11 in college.
According to Spotrac, Kalkbrenner signed a four-yearcontract worth just shy of $10 million.
There are no set financial requirementsfor second-round picks – other than the NBA rookie minimum scale – and dealsare negotiated individually. Players can negotiate guaranteed money – but nothingis guaranteed for second-rounders heading into contract talks.
As a first-round pick, Karaban will have the firsttwo seasons of his deal guaranteed. The third season will be fully guaranteedonce the Kings – or any team he might be with if he has been traded – pick upthe option. Same for the fourth season.
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So, the takeaway? Sacramento's yearning for Karaban,combined with Cleveland's desire to save money by moving out of the firstround, created a perfect storm for the UConn grad to wind up as the No. 29 pick.
And it could put at least another $5 million in Karaban's pocket over the next four years.
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