The NBA’s annual deadline for rookie scale contract extensions passed on Monday, officially bringing the extension period for 2023 first-round picks to an end.
A total of seven players signed rookie scale extensions prior to Monday’s 5:00 pm Central time deadline, which represents a step down from the figures we’ve seen in recent years. In each of the seven offseasons from 2019-25, at least nine players completed rookie scale extensions, so this year’s total is the lowest number since 2018, when just five eligible players signed new deals.
Here are the year-by-year totals over the past decade:
Here’s a breakdown of the seven rookie scale extensions signed before this year’s deadline, sorted by total value.
Note: The projected value of a maximum-salary extension is based on a $174MM salary cap for 2027/28. If the cap comes in lower or higher than that, a max deal would change in value, since it’s determined by a percentage of the cap.
- Victor Wembanyama (Spurs): Five years, maximum salary (story). Projected value of $255,200,000. Includes fifth-year player option and trade kicker (15%).
- Brandon Miller (Hornets): Five years, $208,800,000 (story).
- Note: Exact details still to be confirmed.
- Amen Thompson (Rockets): Five years, $208,000,000 (story). Includes trade kicker (10%).
- Keyonte George (Jazz): Five years, $155,000,000 (story). Includes $2,500,000 in incentives.
- Ausar Thompson (Pistons): Five years, $155,000,000 (story).
- Cason Wallace (Thunder): Five years, $135,000,000 (story). Includes $4,000,000 in incentives.
- Note: Exact details still to be confirmed.
- Brandin Podziemski (Warriors): Five years, $110,000,000 (story). Includes fifth-year mutual option and trade kicker (lesser of $1MM or 15%).
Notably, the fact that Wembanyama was the only player to sign a maximum-salary deal means that 2026 is the first year since 2016 in which we didn’t see multiple players receive max rookie scale extensions. From 2017-25, either two, three, or four players signed for the full maximum.
You could make a case that Wembanyama was the only player from the 2023 draft class to actually earn a maximum-salary commitment through three seasons. None of the other 2023 first-rounders who were extended this offseason have come especially close to making an All-Star or All-NBA team.
Still, rising stars like Miller and Amen Thompson would’ve been candidates for maximum-salary extensions in the past. The fact that they ended up well below that threshold – while Wembanyama decided to forgo Rose Rule language that would’ve increased the projected value of his extension to $306MM if he earns All-NBA honors next season – could certainly be interpreted as a sign that teams are wary of apron-related restrictions and are making an effort to negotiate more aggressively than they used to.
It’s also interesting that all seven players who signed rookie scale extensions this year got fully guaranteed five-year deals. The Wembanyama and Podziemski deals technically include fifth-year options, but both hold player options, so they’re assured of receiving their full salaries unless they opt out to negotiate new deals in 2031 (Podziemski’s deal also includes a fifth-year team option, so either he or the Warriors could opt in).
While most rookie scale extensions are longer-term agreements, we typically see at least a handful of four-year contracts and occasionally even some three-year deals — and often, at least one or two of those extensions will feature team options in the final season.
Finally, it’s worth noting that while incentives have fallen almost entirely out of fashion in the last couple years due to their impact on apron calculations (even incentives considered unlikely to be earned count toward a team’s apron salary), both the Jazz and Thunder were willing to include them in their deals with George and Wallace. That’s a little surprising, especially for an Oklahoma City team that projects to operate over the second tax apron in 2027/28 and beyond.
A total of 23 players entered the offseason eligible for rookie scale extensions. Seven signed extensions and two – Cam Whitmore and Jordan Hawkins – were waived, so there are 14 players who didn’t reach agreements and will be entering contract years.
Here’s that list of those players, who are now eligible to become restricted free agents during the 2027 offseason, assuming they finish out their current deals:
A few players in this group – like Dick, Hendricks, Murray, and Sasser – never looked like serious extension candidates and will need to make their case this season that they’re worthy of qualifying offers in 2027 free agency. However, there are several intriguing names on this list, including a few who have a shot at big paydays next offseason if they have strong contract years.
Black and Jaquez look to me like the safest bets for lucrative contracts in 2027, but Coulibaly, Henderson, and Lively are a few of the others who could do well next summer if they’re able to get or stay healthy and make strides in 2026/27. All three missed significant chunks of last season due to injuries, and Lively is still recovering from foot surgery.
Sensabaugh will have to battle for playing time in an increasingly crowded rotation in Utah, while Strawther’s push for a big contract year will be delayed as he recovers from a knee sprain.
In Indiana, Sheppard and Walker will be looking to show they can thrive in complementary roles, though it remains to be seen how much flexibility the cap-strapped Pacers will have to re-sign either player next summer.
As for Clowney, Brian Lewis of The New York Post (Twitter link) suggested today that the Nets have been “encouraged by his combination of length, shooting, and ability to get to the foul line.”
Finally, it’s worth mentioning that there were seven players selected in the first round of the 2022 draft who weren’t eligible at all for rookie scale extensions entering this offseason, for various reasons. Those players are as follows:
Of these seven players, only Prosper is currently on a standard NBA contract — he had a modest breakout season in Memphis in 2025/26, earning a promotion from a two-way contract to a two-year, minimum-salary deal.
Brown and Howard are currently on two-way contracts with the Pacers and Mavericks, respectively, and Smith is playing for Real Madrid. Bufkin was in camp with the Pelicans but was waived on Saturday, while Whitehead was recently signed-and-waived by the Thunder and figures to open the season with Oklahoma City’s G League affiliate. Hood-Schifino, meanwhile, hasn’t been in the NBA since finishing the 2024/25 season on a two-way deal with Philadelphia.
