Caris LeVert‘s contract agreement with the Nets on Sunday marked the third time this offseason that a player eligible for a rookie scale extension has reached a deal with his team.
Heading into July, 20 players were eligible for rookie scale extensions. So far, Ben Simmons, Jamal Murray, and LeVert have received them, leaving 17 players still up in the air. Not all of those players are legitimate candidates for new deals, but many of them figure to enter negotiations with their respective clubs, and they still have plenty of time to work something out before the October 21 deadline.
Rookie scale extensions haven’t been completed quite as frequently within the last couple years as they were in the past, but five deals were reached last year and four occurred in 2017. In other words, we can probably count on at least one or two more happening before the 2019/20 season begins.
Pascal Siakam (Raptors), Domantas Sabonis (Pacers), Buddy Hield (Kings), and Jaylen Brown (Celtics) are among the most productive players who remain eligible for rookie scale extensions. Their teams would certainly like to lock them up long-term, but it might be in the players’ best interests to wait.
After all, if any of their teams were willing to put a max contract on the table right now though, a deal would likely already be done — that’s why Simmons and Murray didn’t waste much time in agreeing to their new pacts. And while a max contract may not be waiting in free agency for the likes of Sabonis, Hield, and Brown, the 2020 unrestricted free agent class projects to be weak. There could very well be teams willing to overpay on huge offer sheets for the top restricted free agents.
The Pelicans seem unlikely to invest heavily in Brandon Ingram before he suits up in a single game for the franchise, but a bridge deal like the one LeVert is signing with Brooklyn could make sense for another player who has dealt with health issues: Dejounte Murray. This offseason might be the Spurs‘ best chance to lock up Murray at a team-friendly rate, since he appeared poised for a breakout before tearing his ACL last fall.
Dario Saric (Suns), Taurean Prince (Nets), and Damian Jones (Hawks) are the other extension-eligible players who changed teams this offseason — new deals seem like long shots unless their clubs really like what they see in the preseason.
Role players who could sign modest rookie scale extensions if the price is right include Malik Beasley (Nuggets), Juan Hernangomez (Nuggets), Thon Maker (Pistons), DeAndre’ Bembry (Hawks), and Jakob Poeltl (Spurs).
Bulls guards Kris Dunn and Denzel Valentine and Trail Blazers big man Skal Labissiere are the remaining players eligible for rookie scale extensions. Valentine is the best extension candidate of the three, but I’d be surprised if any one of them signs a new deal.
What do you think? Are more rookie scale extensions are on the way before the season begins? Which of the eligible players do you think are most likely to sign new deals, and what would a fair price be in those cases?
Head to the comment section below to join the discussion!
Predict signings by Poeltl and Maker. Poeltl is nominallly a starter because LMA and Popovich prefer that arrangement but he would not be on perhaps most teams. So he will be willing to lock in with a team historically featuring a Eurobruiser type. A 3/36, 12 per, should do it.
Maker knows how much older than 22 he really is; he gamed the sysyem & won; time to cash out. Detroit likes him defensively so a 3/21 doubling should work.
Most of those players can dream of breaking out or at least not getting worse.
Heild will sign a deal next, 3/54 flat so 18 mil a year would be right for him.
Siakim will get a huge rookie extension.
I think the Suns might pay Dario Saric like 3/30, at 10 mil a year. He has fallen off a cliff with his level of play but is still a good 3 point shooter from the 4. I think the Nets will be really smart and get Prince on a bargain like 3/30 as well. He will give them good production and be a nice fit on that team.
Brandon Ingram and Jaylen Brown are both interesting. The Celtics already have Smart at the 2 and have paid Kemba, Browns going to have to lift his production. Ingram is a good player but the pelicans only just got him and they have a lot of players playing the 2 which might take some of his minutes at the 3, Zion might want some minutes at the 3 also. If Zion wants the 3 then Ingram isn’t really needed
Hield & Siakim can reasonably hope for maxxes & will likely wait.
Nets should wait on Prince. Why: A)just extended Levert; B)Durant will return at his spot; C) must fit with Irving; D) must sync with the Nets’ D style which has used zone principles & handoffs.
ATL had mixed opinion on him. I doubt he stays a starter or even stays.
Hmmm yeah I do kinda agree but I think if you act quicker rather than later you can get him cheaper. Yes he has to fit into the system but I think with a centre like Jordan and Allen and with KD being so tall and good on D you can play him at the 4 and have Prince at the 3.
Obviously with Jordan and Allen you have a centre that will crash the boards and fill up the paint on D and set good screens on attack. This means you don’t have to have a traditional PF that’ll help get boards and possibly clog the paint, instead KD who is 7 foot (taller than most PF’s), is quicker than nearly all PFs, can score in so many ways and is great on D. He would dominate on offence similar to Giannas.
Then obviously you can play Prince or Harris at the 3. I think because of KDs injury Chandler will start at the 4 with Prince at the 3 but I can see KD playing the 4 when he returns.
Thats true Durant should probably be prepared to be the 4 upon return. It could even be healthier for him… He got injured making perimeter moves.
It would be so much easier for him to score on bigger, slower guys because of his speed and dribbling ability combined with his size. On D he would still be a good player and if anything he marks slower, less skilled (fast, dribbling) guys and can still get boards.
Other than Giannas and AD who would be the other 4s capable of matching him on both ends of the floor. In the East he would go up against Giannas, Haywood who is a 3, Horford who is a 5, TJ Warren, Issacs who is just tall, Griffin who is respectable, Siakim is young but good, it would be a cake walk for him. Instead of Middleton, Harris, Tatum and so on