Perhaps the most intriguing sideshow in the lead-up to this year’s trade deadline has involved Kyrie Irving, who’s denied a report that he wants out of Cleveland amid a depressing season for the Cavs. Central to that story line is Cleveland’s ability to offer Irving an extension this summer, which will be Irving’s first opportunity at salaries commensurate with his ability. If the Cavs see Irving as a maximum-salary player, there’s little Irving can do even if he turns down the extension, since Cleveland would be able to match any team’s offer to him in the summer of 2015.
Still, Irving could signal his dissatisfaction with the Cavs organization if he turns down a max extension, so the negotiations provide a forum for him to express any desire he may have for changes. The Cavs will also have a chance to give Tristan Thompson a rookie scale extension this summer, and what they do with him might be even more interesting to watch. Thompson probably isn’t a maximum-salary player, making his worth harder to define. Pegging the value of second-tier guys is a challenge for teams and agents alike, and since the extensions usually entail a four-year commitment, the consequences are long-lasting. If the sides can’t come to an agreement, the team may pull off a trade, as the Thunder did with James Harden before last season.
Negotiations can start on rookie scale extensions July 1st, and the deadline to finalize deals is October 31st. Most deals don’t happen until the last minute, but max-level players, like John Wall this past summer and Blake Griffin in 2012, often ink their extensions in the summer.
Here’s a list of each player eligible for a rookie scale extension this year, sorted by team: