Three of the first four players selected in the 2021 draft have already received rookie scale extensions, but Rockets guard Jalen Green may have to wait until next summer, writes Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report. Despite a strong finish to last season, there are still questions about Green after three years in the NBA. Houston may want to maximize its cap space for 2025, and Pincus suggests the Rockets’ final offer to Green may not be in the neighborhood of what fellow top four picks Cade Cunningham, Evan Mobley and Scottie Barnes received.
That philosophy would also affect Alperen Sengun, who was taken with the 16th pick in 2021. Pincus suggests that Sengun could receive a generous offer before the October 21 deadline if the Rockets are planning to pick up Fred VanVleet‘s $44.9MM option for the 2025/26 season. However, the Turkish center will only have a $16.3MM cap hold if the team plans to decline its option on VanVleet and operate using cap space.
Pincus’ comments are part of his analysis of the entire first round from 2021 and the likelihood of an extension for each remaining player. He gives a C-minus to Cunningham’s new deal, stating that the Pistons assumed unnecessary risk when they could have signed him to a similar contract next summer. The Cavaliers‘ Mobley extension gets a B-minus from Pincus, while the Raptors‘ Barnes extension rates a B-plus.
There’s more news from around the basketball world:
- Stephen Curry‘s extension with the Warriors and Paul George‘s max contract with the Sixers will push them above $500MM in career earnings, joining LeBron James and Kevin Durant as the only players with deals in place to reach that figure, notes Steve Henson of The Los Angeles Times. James Harden will top $400MM under his new two-year, $70MM deal with the Clippers, while Chris Paul will get close to that number after joining the Spurs for one year at $10.46MM.
- Longtime NBA guard Patrick Beverley made his debut for Hapoel Tel Aviv today in Israel, according to Eurohoops. Beverley, 36, was in the starting lineup and contributed three points, six assists and his typical intense defense in a preseason win over Elitzur Ironi Netanya.
- Former NBA players Shabazz Muhammad and Thomas Robinson have signed with Homenetmen Beirut, per Dario Skerletic of Sportando. Muhammad, who joined the Kings’ G League affiliate in January, last played in the NBA during the 2017/18 season. Robinson, a lottery pick in 2012, has been out of the league for seven years.
I liked both Robinson and Shabazz
Good for Paul George, I remember when when he first got injured and it looked like it might end his career or severely limit his earning power.
He already had generational wealth at that point…
Once you get there the money game is easy… As the money has earning power…
Rockets are in the unique position of having enough young talent and future assets that they don’t have to stretch on a max deal for Green. Cavs couldn’t replace Mobley and they are going for a chip even though no one outside of CLE thinks they have a chance. The Pistons would have to admit abject failure not to resign Cade
Cleveland has no veterans. They will not make it far
Respectfully speaking cavs are not contenders though.
Its…
celtics
Knicks
Sixers
Pacers
Bucks
Heat
Cavs
Magic in the east with everyone healthy.
Raps
Hawks
Cavs do not have enough to make the ECF let alone the finals and Mitch and Garland don’t work just as Mobley and Allen together aren’t who we thought they were. Heck Mobley was supposed to be what Brandon Miller is and at times he looks like Jason Thompson.
I’m not too high on the pacers. I see them at the Cavs level below the Heat and bucks. Love the Jason Thompson reference. Another wonderful Kings draft pick. Back in those days I think the same guy was making the atrocious pics for both the Kings and the Warriors LOL
Well said
And draft picks of
Porter (2nd rd) and Tyson (late 1st) show rotation readiness and Ty Jerome back off surgery
Cavs are Deep and ascending
Even if Okoro walks
Watch rox overpay Green and live to regret it.
They won’t do it. He’s been in trade rumors headlines for a year and a half.