Rookie Extension Roundup: Thompson, Rubio among 9 players signed before deadline
Friday marks the deadline for players on rookie scale contracts to sign extensions with their respective teams. After midnight, any fourth-year player playing on a rookie scale deal without an extension in place is locked in to restricted free agency next summer.
It's a complicated process every season, but this year it may be more difficult than at any other time. With the salary cap set to rise significantly, deals signed today could look far more favorable a year or two down the line. Unfortunately for players and teams alike, there remains a good deal of uncertainty over when and by how much the cap may rise.
That didn't matter for nine players who were able to come to terms on extensions. For the others, 2014-15 becomes a crucial season for proving their value. For the teams who have opted to let their young players hit restricted free agency, the focus now turns to working out a deal next summer before they're met with an unmatchable offer sheet.
What follows is a list of the deals consummated ahead of Friday's deadline, and a list of the players who were unable to come to terms. Each extension kicks in for the 2015-16 season.
Change got bigger so their chains got bigger
Kyrie Irving, Cleveland, 5 years, $90M
Back on July 10, the first day such extensions could be signed, the Cavaliers locked up point guard Kyrie Irving with a five-year maximum contract extension. Depending on where the 2015-16 salary cap lands exactly, Irving stands to make in the neighborhood of $90 million over the life of the deal.
Klay Thompson, Golden State, 4 years, $70M
Like with Irving, Klay Thompson receiving the maximum salary means the exact figures won't be known until the 2015-16 cap is set. He'll be paid handsomely in any case, reportedly agreeing to a four-year maximum extension on Friday.
Ricky Rubio, Minnesota, 4 years, $55M
Ricky Rubio may have benefited from Kemba Walker signing an extension of his own earlier in the week, as it firmly established a floor for Rubio's own extension. It came down to the wire, but the Wolves reportedly agreed to a four-year, $55-million deal with the Spaniard on Friday.
Nikola Vucevic, Orlando, 4 years, $53M
Vucci Mane avoided the drama of a tight deadline, agreeing to a four-year, $53-million extension with the Magic back on Oct. 21.
Kenneth Faried, Denver, 4 years, $50M
Coming off of a terrific summer with USA Basketball, The Manimal landed a five-year, $60-million extension on Oct. 6. Or so he thought. Because five-year extensions are only eligible to players coming off of their rookie contracts and earning the maximum salary, the Nuggets had to go back to the drawing board. Ultimately, they agreed on a four-year, $50-million pact.
Kemba Walker, Charlotte, 4 years, $48M
Walker stood as this week's tipping point, seemingly setting the gears in motion for teams and players delaying earnest negotiations. On Tuesday, the Hornets locked up Walker with a four-year, $48-million extension, just ahead of the season opener.
Alec Burks, Utah, 4 years, $42M
In the most surprising of the extensions, the Jazz ponied up for Alec Burks, who hasn't done a great deal yet but has flashed appreciable potential. The team is betting on progression and hoping to avoid the max-contract fate they dealt with by letting Gordon Hayward hit restricted free agency this past summer, locking Burks up on a four-year, $42-million deal.
Markieff and Marcus Morris, Phoenix, 4 years, $32M and $20M
The Suns worked quick to keep their twins a pair long-term, signing Markieff and Marcus Morris to four-year extensions back on Sept. 29. The kicker? The Suns let the brothers determine the split of their collective $52-million pay day, with Markieff taking $32 million and Marcus taking $20 million.
The 2015 RFA market
Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio
The Spurs couldn't get a deal done with the reigning NBA Finals MVP, and it makes sense on the surface. Kawhi Leonard reportedly pushed for a maximum extension, and there's little incentive for the Spurs to lock him down now if they are going to pay him the max eventually. By waiting until summer, they can better time the steps of their offseason, protect themselves in the event of a serious injury and aren't at great risk of losing the player since they maintain the right to match any offer.
Jimmy Butler, Chicago
With the Bulls having tabled a final offer south of where Jimmy Butler's camp sees his value, Butler has decided to gamble on himself and play the season out without an extension in place. He'll now look to show his broken jump shot from a year ago has returned to form, making him a valuable two-way piece.
Reggie Jackson, Oklahoma City
Both sides are probably wise to have waited this situation out. For the Thunder, financial flexibility is paramount, and if they weren't getting what they felt was a discount, it makes sense to re-visit the matter in the summer. That may cost them a few ducats, though, which is why Jackson is probably fine playing out the season - at least a month of which will see him as the team's lead ball-handler - and increasing his market value. He's said to want a starting job, too, which complicates matters further.
Tristan Thompson, Cleveland
Sharing a locker room and agency with LeBron James surely has its privileges, but that edge didn't manifest itself in an extension for Tristan Thompson. His demands were said to be quite high, even north of $48 million over four years, so he'll instead look to post a strong season on the revamped Cavaliers before hitting the market as a 24-year-old fresh off of a deep playoff run.
Brandon Knight, Milwaukee
It appears the Bucks are still evaluating whether Brandon Knight is their point guard of the future or not, a fair concern given his oft-inconsistent play. He's off to a nice start in 2014-15 (it's one game, but hey), and if he can improve his playmaking, he could find himself the recipient of an offer sheet from a guard-hungry team this summer.
Enes Kanter, Utah
With big money committed to Derrick Favors already, the Jazz need to make sure Enes Kanter is a complementary piece before opening up their wallets. The sides never seemed all that close, but with size always in demand, more marginal improvement for Kanter could land him a major offer come July.
Others not receiving extensions
- Tobias Harris, Orlando
- Iman Shumpert, New York
- Norris Cole, Miami
- Bismack Biyombo, Charlotte
- Derrick Williams, Sacramento
- Joel Freeland, Portland