Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey will be eligible for a rookie scale extension this offseason and has put himself in position for a major payday by averaging a career-high 20.3 points per game on .481/.434/.845 shooting in 60 games (33.6 MPG) this season, writes Sean Deveney of Heavy.com.
Assuming they look to negotiate a new deal with Maxey, the Sixers may want to use recent rookie extension recipients like Jordan Poole and Tyler Herro as points of comparison. Poole signed for four years and $123MM (plus incentives) last offseason, while Herro got $120MM (plus incentives) on his four-year extension. However, rival executives who spoke to Deveney believe the 22-year-old’s value has increased beyond that.
“They might have thought there was room to negotiate there,” an Eastern Conference executive told Deveney. “But look at what the guy has done. He’s gotten better at every turn, his work ethic is really, really amazing from everyone around him. That’s what stands out. This guy is only getting better. Probably, there’s no negotiation, they’re going to have to max him out.”
The exact value of a maximum-salary extension for Maxey would depend on where the 2024/25 salary cap lands, but it could exceed $40MM per year. For what it’s worth, the Sixers could have Tobias Harris and his $39.3MM expiring salary coming off the books in the summer of 2024.
Here’s more from around the Atlantic:
- Whether or not Nick Nurse remains with the Raptors beyond this season, he’ll coach Team Canada in the 2023 World Cup and 2024 Olympics, writes Doug Smith of The Toronto Star. Within the same story, Smith points out that this week’s Jeff Dowtin drama could have been avoided if Toronto had done a better job finding a reliable backup point guard instead of having to rely on a player on a two-way contract.
- In a pair of subscriber-only stories for The New York Post, Peter Botte explores how president of basketball operations Leon Rose set up the Knicks for future success despite missing out on Donovan Mitchell, while Brian Lewis suggests that Nets forward Mikal Bridges has room to continue getting better even after taking a big step forward since arriving in Brooklyn.
- Speaking to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Celtics forward Jaylen Brown said that he and Jayson Tatum have been “incredibly successful” together despite some calls over the years to break them up. “At this point, we’re part of each other’s destiny,” Brown said. “The only thing that could put the ribbon on top is winning a championship.”
- In an interesting feature for The Athletic, Jared Weiss takes a deep dive into the Maine Celtics’ season, focusing on a few of the players who spent time with Boston’s G League affiliate, including Luka Samanic, who eventually earned a call-up to Utah, and Eric Demers, who hopes to work in basketball when his playing days are over.
This season playoffs
Doc Rivers need to fully utilize Maxey, Harris and McDaniel
For the long run
76ers need to keep Harden, Maxey, McDaniel and Melton
Trade away Harris and Tucker to reduce payroll
If the sixers don’t get past the 2nd rd major changes will be coming
If they don’t win at least 2 in the conference finals everyone besides Embiid and Maxey will be on the market. Joel is going to win MVP. His health isn’t a crutch this year. Ben is long gone so that crutch is as well. Hardens playoff legacy is also very much at stake. He will be viewed as a perennial loser (not that he isn’t now)
I think 120/4 and comparisons to Poole and Herro are fair but overall Maxey is the better player.
Herro has been great ever since his rookie year and still hasn’t earned a starters job in Miami a side in the play in tournament. Poole is atleast stuck behind Curry and Klay. I’d say 80% of the other teams in the league he’d start on.
Maxey has been half and half a starter and on the bench this year due to injury and Melton playing terrific. It’s also abit of an odd fit at time with James Harden. Just imagine had we kept Jimmy Butler. Maxey and Butler would be a lethal backcourt
I think 140/4 would be a good deal, clearly better than the previous 2 but reasonably close.
The more concerning thing will be James Harden leaving. If he leaves we already don’t own half our own picks it’s going to be tough trying to replace him. I’d definitely consider offering Dallas Tobias Harris is a sign and trade for Kyrie.
Kyrie yes has problems but 2 years younger, personally I think he’s a better fit with Embiid cause of his willingness to score and attack. Him shoulder the load so much on that end would allow Embiid to go back to being a bette defender. Both players have injury history but I think I trust Kyrie more to avoid major injuries but pick up the occasional strain and niggle. I think Kyrie also still has some ill will towards Boston and would love to have him just for that.
I like the idea of Kyrie and Maxey, paired with McDaniels Tucker and Embiid as starters. 2 scorers in the backcourt and Embiid obviously doing his thing. But two versatile defensive forwards and Embiid at centre locking it down.
If Harden walks and we get nothing then good luck trying to find a replacement for cheap
Kyrie? You can have him. And Embiid wants to score. He doesn’t want some other guy shooting 30 shots a game on his team.
Jalen and Jason are a top duo. But I wonder if they would be better separated. Remember KD and Russ.
I’m sure Celtics would move Jalen first. And they could build a deep team. With what they get back for him.
If they don’t get back to Finals. What happens
Break Jason Tatum & Jaylen Brown up? Only if one wants to move. Otherwise Celtics could flounder for years as OKC did. OKC had Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden at various times and what have they accomplished by trading? Nothing. Even if we get to the Finals or not, we’d be smart to run the same core back next season. Go Celtics!
I’m looking forward to Nets vs Sixers.
Nets had a good yr. Thought they might implode after trade. Then Ben can’t come back or won’t come back. They have toughened up. Should be fun.
Before the new CBA, Brown’s contract situation almost mandated that he become a free agent after the coming season. Still might.
But either way, whether he’s going to be a UFA at the end of the year (if he doesn’t extend in advance) or he has a big poison pill raise built in for the following year (if he does), it complicates a trade for him.