Beginning on July 1st, fourth-year players on rookie scale contracts were eligible to sign contract extensions with their respective teams and forgo the chance to hit restricted free agency next summer. Those players had until October 31st to sign new deals, but the ones who finalized extensions with their teams generally did so well in advance of that deadline, so we didn’t exactly see a flurry of activity yesterday.
Here’s a recap of the extension-eligible fourth-year players that signed contract extensions this offseason, removing themselves from 2014’s free agent market:
- Paul George (Pacers): Five years, maximum salary
- John Wall (Wizards): Five years, maximum salary
- DeMarcus Cousins (Kings): Four years, maximum salary
- Derrick Favors (Jazz): Four years, $47.7MM (plus incentives)
- Larry Sanders (Bucks): Four years, $44MM (plus incentives)
- Quincy Pondexter (Grizzlies): Four years, $14MM
The following extension-eligible players didn’t sign new deals and will hit the open market next summer. Assuming their teams tender qualifying offers, they’ll be restricted free agents:
- Eric Bledsoe (Suns)
- Trevor Booker (Wizards)
- Avery Bradley (Celtics)
- Jordan Crawford (Celtics)
- Ed Davis (Grizzlies)
- Gordon Hayward (Jazz)
- Greg Monroe (Pistons)
- Patrick Patterson (Kings)
- Kevin Seraphin (Wizards)
- Evan Turner (76ers)
- Ekpe Udoh (Bucks)
- Greivis Vasquez (Kings)
A year ago, eight extension-eligible players inked new contracts worth well over $400MM, making it the most lucrative offseason for extensions over the last several years. 2013’s six extensions is more in line with previous years, though depending on what the maximum salary is worth for 2014/15, the total amount of money committed will still be significant. By my estimation, the six deals could be worth more than $330MM, which would be the second-highest amount since 2008.