Today was the deadline to extend rookie contracts from the 2020 draft class. Obviously we had a notable extension for the Spurs with Devin Vassell which happened weeks before the deadline, but now that all extensions are finalized it’s easier to compare and see how well the Spurs did relative to others. Info from [HoopsRumors](https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2023/07/2023-24-nba-contract-extension-tracker.html).
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LaMelo Ball (Hornets): Five years, maximum salary. Projected value of $216,953,495, can increase to $260,344,194 if Edwards meets Rose Rule criteria. Includes 15% trade kicker.
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Anthony Edwards (Timberwolves): Five years, maximum salary. Projected value of $216,953,495, can increase to $260,344,194 if Edwards meets Rose Rule criteria. Includes 15% trade kicker.
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Tyrese Haliburton (Pacers): Five years, maximum salary (story). Projected value of $216,953,495, can increase to $260,344,194 if Edwards meets Rose Rule criteria. Includes 15% trade kicker.
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Desmond Bane (Grizzlies): Five years, $197,230,450. Includes $8,669,550 in incentives. Includes 15% trade kicker.
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Devin Vassell (Spurs): Five years, $135,000,000. Includes $11,000,000 in incentives.
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Jaden McDaniels (Timberwolves): Five years, $131,000,000. Includes $5,000,000 in incentives.
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Onyeka Okongwu (Hawks): Four years, $62,000,000.
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Isaiah Stewart (Pistons): Four years, $60,000,000. Includes $4,000,000 in incentives. Includes fourth-year team option.
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Deni Avdija (Wizards): Four years, $55,000,000.
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Josh Green (Mavericks): Three years, $41,000,000.
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Cole Anthony (Magic): Three years, $39,100,000. Includes third-year team option.
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Aaron Nesmith (Pacers): Three years, $33,000,000.
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Zeke Nnaji (Nuggets): Four years, $32,000,000. Includes fourth-year player option.
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Payton Pritchard (Celtics): Four years, $30,000,000 (story). Starts in 2024/25.
by WD51
2 Comments
Personally, I think that Ant was the main no-brainer max extension and that LaMelo and Tyrese were ones that you had to think a little bit more but make sense in the context that they are the cornerstones of their rebuilding franchises at this point. Everyone that got this tier are at least guys that you could reasonably see as all star level next year with superstar potential by the time the contract finishes.
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The next tier of Bane, Vassell, and McDaniels are guys that might project to be the 2nd or 3rd best players on a playoff team in the future. I think Bane is the only one that is going to be there at the beginning of his contract, which also makes sense as he’s 2 years older than Vassell and McDaniels and will be 26 when this contract starts so it effectively takes him through his prime. He’s also getting paid a ton more than the other two. I think McDaniels is the closest comparison point to Vassell when it comes to extensions this offseason, with Vassell having more offensive potential and McDaniels having more defensive potential. As a 3rd best player, I might like McDaniels more than Vassell personally given the lockdown perimeter big wing is so so valuable in NBA.
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After that it seems like a collection of higher end role players. I’m surprised Okongwu only got 62/4 to be honest, that seems like a great deal for Atlanta (and therefore bad for us if we own their future…). Between the Murray extension and Okongwu they seem to have locked down their core while remaining flexible enough to trade for upgrades since they now have few flotsam contracts (Hunter may be the only one that looks iffy). Avdija also looks nice as a big defensive wing with some offensive potential, but how well he can shoot will determine whether that contract is a steal or whether he’s just a rich man’s Stanley Johnson. Green and Anthony seem to have signed for relative steals of contracts as players that project to be skilled role players, but their contracts are relatively short so if they show out the teams will be kicking themselves they didn’t spend that extra money to lock down another year or two.
I like McDaniel’s as much as the next guy. Not from Minnesota but seeing so many people rip on Devin’s contract but praise Jaden’s had me pulling my hair out in confusion.
I feel like people have kind of jumped the gun with him a little bit. He had about 5 months of truly excellent defensive play combined with some streaky offensive output and people are already proclaiming. He’s going to be a all-star/ borderline all-star are that he already is a defensive player of the year caliber defender, which is just cray cray to me
Don’t get me wrong. I think his contract is okay. Not a steal, but if he realizes his defensive potential and can improve a bit on offense, he’ll be worth every bit of that and then some
It was just interesting to see how different both very similar extensions were received
Goes to show how very little people have watched Devin
Honestly, I like most of these extensions.
I think beef stew was probably a bit steeper than Detroit needed to pay, particularly when they have so many other center prospects on their roster. It felt like letting him go to restricted free agency would have made sense. Now they’re kind of locked into a financial commitment with a player who on paper would make very little sense with several of their other prospects if they do pan out