Today is October 31, which is the last day for NBA teams to sign players in the final year of their rookie contracts to extensions. It’s also the last day for clubs to exercise team options on rookie contracts for the 2017/18 season.
If a player eligible for a rookie-scale extension hasn’t received a new deal yet, and doesn’t sign one today, he’ll remain on track for free agency in the summer of 2017, at which point his team can make a qualifying offer to ensure he’s a restricted free agent. Meanwhile, players who don’t have their third- or fourth-year options for 2017/18 picked up today will see their rookie deals end prematurely, making them eligible for unrestricted free agency in July.
With tonight’s deadline looming, there are a few situations worth watching. As our extension tracker shows, three players – C.J. McCollum, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Dennis Schroder – have signed new contracts with their respective clubs, but that still leaves plenty of extension-eligible players on the board.
According to reports on Sunday, candidates for extensions include Steven Adams (Thunder), Victor Oladipo (Thunder), Rudy Gobert (Jazz), Cody Zeller (Hornets), Gorgui Dieng (Timberwolves), and Shabazz Muhammad (Timberwolves). The Pistons also haven’t ruled out the possibility of new deals for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and/or Reggie Bullock. Even with a handful of other players, including Nerlens Noel (Sixers), Trey Burke (Wizards), and Tony Snell (Bucks) looking unlikely to re-up with their current teams, we could see some action today.
Meanwhile, most teams have already announced that they’ve exercised 2017/18 team options on their eligible players or waived players who would had those options on their contracts. According to our tracker, six players still on rosters haven’t had their options exercised: Marcus Smart (Celtics), James Young (Celtics), Terry Rozier (Celtics), Tyler Ennis (Rockets), Adreian Payne (Timberwolves), and C.J. Wilcox (Magic).
Smart’s option will certainly be picked up today by the Celtics, and the team is reportedly set to exercise Rozier’s as well. However, there’s a little more uncertainty on Young, and that uncertainty applies to the Rockets with Ennis and the Magic with Wilcox too. As for Payne, one report has already indicated his option won’t be exercised by the Wolves.
Stay tuned to Hoops Rumors today for updates on rookie-scale extension talks and team option decisions.