While the majority of February's biggest transactions have been trades, it has also been an eventful month for contract extensions.
The Bulls took point guard Lonzo Ball off the trade market when they reached an agreement on a two-year, $20MM extension, which was finalized on Friday. The Warriors completed a two-year, maximum-salary extension with Jimmy Butler as part of the trade that sent him from Miami to Golden State. And the Raptors locked up Brandon Ingram to a new three-year, $120MM deal shortly after acquiring him from New Orleans.
Among the players who entered the month eligible for veteran extensions, Ball, Butler, and Ingram were three of the top candidates to sign new contracts. But even with that trio off the board, there are more than two dozen players eligible for veteran extensions up until June 30.
Not all of those players should be considered legitimate candidates for new deals. For instance, I wouldn't hold my breath on P.J. Tucker signing an extension with the Raptors or the Nets getting a new deal done with Bojan Bogdanovic. Still, there are a number of extension candidates worth keeping an eye on in the coming days, weeks, and months.
Let's take a closer look at those players to watch...
Jaylin Williams unlikely? I would think they would bring him back at the right number. Do you think he’ll look for a bigger role elsewhere?
OKC has 13 other players with guaranteed salaries for next year, plus up to three first-round picks, so I’m skeptical they’ll be looking to extend their third-string center and lock in another roster spot before the offseason. (Williams also has a min-salary team option that would need to be declined as part of an extension — they may just pick up that option if they want to hang onto him).
That makes plenty of sense, thank you!