During the days leading up to the October 31 deadline, it appeared that uncertainty about the terms of a new Collective Bargaining Agreement may suppress the number of rookie scale extensions signed in 2016. A few players had already locked in new deals, but there was speculation that a handful of extension candidates taking things down to the wire may opt for restricted free agency next summer instead.
On Monday though, a flurry of players inked last-minute deals before the deadline of midnight eastern time, bringing the total number of 2016 rookie scale extensions to eight. In 2015, seven extension-eligible players signed new deals, while nine did so in 2014, so this year’s total nestles right in between those figures.
Here’s a breakdown of the eight rookie scale extensions agreed upon on or before October 31 this year, sorted by total value:
- C.J. McCollum (Trail Blazers): Four years, $106,633,450 (story)
- Steven Adams (Thunder): Four years, $100,000,000 (story)
- Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks): Four years, $100,000,000 (story)
- Rudy Gobert (Jazz): Four years, $94,000,000 (story)
- Victor Oladipo (Thunder): Four years, $84,000,000 (story)
- Gorgui Dieng (Timberwolves): Four years, $62,800,000 (story)
- Dennis Schroder (Hawks): Four years, $62,000,000 (story)
- Cody Zeller (Hornets): Four years, $55,625,000 (story)
Based on the numbers we know are official and those that have been unofficially reported, these eight extensions will total nearly $665MM, which would easily dwarf the totals in past years for rookie scale extensions. That doesn’t come as a real surprise, based on this year’s salary cap increase and record-setting free agency period.
[RELATED: Rookie scale extension recaps for 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012 and the preceding five years]
With those eight fourth-year vets locked up, that leaves the following players, who had been eligible for rookie scale extensions, on track for restricted free agency in 2017:
- Reggie Bullock (Pistons)
- Trey Burke (Wizards)
- Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (Pistons)
- Michael Carter-Williams (Bulls)
- Tim Hardaway Jr. (Hawks)
- Alex Len (Suns)
- Ben McLemore (Kings)
- Shabazz Muhammad (Timberwolves)
- Nerlens Noel (Sixers)
- Kelly Olynyk (Celtics)
- Mason Plumlee (Trail Blazers)
- Otto Porter (Wizards)
- Andre Roberson (Thunder)
- Tony Snell (Bucks)
Meanwhile, there are a few other members of the 2013 rookie class who were former first-round picks but weren’t eligible for extensions because they had previously been waived or had one of their team options declined. They are as follows:
- Anthony Bennett (Nets): Waived in 2015.
- Archie Goodwin: Waived in 2016.
- Shane Larkin: Third-year option declined in 2014.
- Sergey Karasev: Fourth-year option declined in 2015.
- Solomon Hill (Pelicans): Fourth-year option declined in 2015.
- Nemanja Nedovic: Waived in 2014.