When the NBA’s 2022/23 league year begins this summer, players eligible for free agency will be able to begin negotiating and reaching contract agreements with suitors. In addition to those free agents, another group of players will also become eligible to sign new deals.
For players who are entering the fourth and final year of their rookie scale contracts, the first day of the new league year (July 1) is the first day they can agree to rookie scale extensions. Those players, who were 2019 first-round selections, will have until the day before the 2022/23 regular season starts to finalize long-term agreements with their current teams.
Players eligible for rookie scale extensions can sign new deals that run for up to four – or even five – years, with those contracts taking effect beginning in 2023/24. If they don’t sign extensions during the coming offseason, those players will be eligible for restricted free agency in the summer of 2023.
Eleven players who were eligible for rookie scale extensions during the 2021 offseason signed new deals. That number was a new record, and continued a recent trend — we’ve seen an uptick in rookie extensions during the last few years as more teams look to lock up their promising young players in advance of free agency. We should expect several more rookie scale extensions to be signed between July and October of this year.
Here are the players who will be eligible to sign rookie scale extensions during the 2022 offseason:
- Nickeil Alexander-Walker (Jazz)
- RJ Barrett (Knicks): Signed
- Darius Bazley (Thunder)
- Goga Bitadze (Pacers)
- Brandon Clarke (Grizzlies): Signed
- Darius Garland (Cavaliers): Signed
- Rui Hachimura (Wizards)
- Jaxson Hayes (Pelicans)
- Tyler Herro (Heat): Signed
- De’Andre Hunter (Hawks): Signed
- Ty Jerome (Rockets): Waived
- Cameron Johnson (Suns)
- Keldon Johnson (Spurs): Signed
- Romeo Langford (Spurs)
- Nassir Little (Trail Blazers): Signed
- Ja Morant (Grizzlies): Signed
- Jordan Poole (Warriors): Signed
- Kevin Porter Jr. (Rockets): Signed
- Cam Reddish (Knicks)
- Matisse Thybulle (Sixers)
- P.J. Washington (Hornets)
- Coby White (Bulls)
- Grant Williams (Celtics)
- Zion Williamson (Pelicans): Signed
- Dylan Windler (Cavaliers)
The following players were selected in the first round of the 2019 draft along with the players listed above. However, they aren’t eligible for rookie scale extensions this year for the reasons noted:
- Jarrett Culver: Fourth-year option declined by Grizzlies in 2021.
- Sekou Doumbouya: Waived by Rockets in 2021.
- Mfiondu Kabengele: Third-year option declined by Clippers in 2020.
- Chuma Okeke: Signed rookie scale contract in 2020; on track to be extension-eligible in 2023.
- Luka Samanic: Waived by Spurs in 2021.
I really looking forward to seeing what the sixers offer Thybulle.
Cavs should try and extend both Sexton and Garland together since they’re both repped by Rich Paul.
Great 3rd year talent
Even culver the flop of the bunch
Still shows flashes
Okeke is more than Ok-k, OK…?
For the sake of the league and the health of the game, not to mention their employers, FO’s need to learn the difference between their being allowed to give a player an extension, and it being prudent (in the team’s best interest) to do so. It rarely is, at least on full (best case) pricing, which seems to be the norm.
I hope the Rockets don’t overpay for KPJ. 4/45 million seems more than fair. 4/35million is the extension I’d aim for though. I am still uncertain who’s the better choice leading the offense and primary shooter, KPJ or Green. Both have serious flaws.