Contract Predictions for NBA's Best Extension-Eligible Players

With training camps opening in a month, the offseason is nearly over. Actual NBA basketball can't come soon enough, but teams still have business to attend to before opening night.

Several top stars and prospects are eligible for contract extensions. Some will sign in the coming weeks; others will wait until the offseason. For the veterans heading into the final year on their contracts, the deadline isn't until the end of the year. First-round picks heading into their fourth season must sign before the regular season begins; otherwise, they'll face restricted free agency next July.

Let's break down the five most interesting candidates from each category!

After striking out on LeBron James, the Warriors face an awkward transition period with Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody recovering from serious injuries, an aging roster on short contracts, and a still-brilliant superstar in Steph Curry.

Curry is in the final year of his deal, earning the largest salary in the league at a staggering $62.6 million. The Warriors have the flexibility to pivot next season with massive cap space, but the franchise isn't likely to pivot away from Curry. The larger question would be finding the right salary to keep him happy, while giving the front office the means to retool around him.

Curry is already 38. The team can add two additional seasons to his deal for another $136.7 million, but will they offer that much, and does Curry want to explore a more ready-made contender for what may be his final years in the league?

Prediction: Pencil in Curry back with the Warriors, but at a discount closer to $100 million through 2028-29.

The long-running Giannis Antetokounmpo saga finally resolved with the Heat, landing the former NBA MVP in South Beach. Realistically, Miami wouldn't have pulled the trigger without assurances that Antetokounmpo would extend at the first, best opportunity.

The question isn't "will it happen?" but "When?" given Antetokounmpo is limited for six months from the July trade. As of October 1, Antetokounmpo can only add two additional seasons at about $135 million, which also assumes he opts into his $62.8 million for 2027-28, which is projected to be higher than his next-season maximum as a free agent.

Instead, expect a longer wait until January 8, when Antetokounmpo's extend-and-trade restriction lifts, allowing for a longer deal with higher raises.

Prediction: Antetokounmpo extends in early January, adding three years, $213.6 million.

The Denver Nuggets are in an odd spot as one of the top teams in the Western Conference each year, but not quite a contender since earning the title in 2022-23. From previously parting with veterans like Michael Porter Jr. and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, to letting Peyton Watson go via sign-and-trade to the Cleveland Cavaliers this summer, the Nuggets seem to be squandering the best years of Nikola Jokić's career.

The three-time NBA MVP faces a situation similar to Giannis Antetokounmpo's, with a player option projected to exceed his max salary as a free agent next July. Jokić can opt in at $62.8 million and extend for almost $214 million for three additional seasons (through 2029-30).

Or, Jokić can wait until summer to opt out and re-sign for just under $360 million over five full seasons. The initial buzz has Jokić waiting, at least for now, to decide.

Prediction: Jokić doesn't extend, choosing to re-sign over the summer, with a non-zero chance he explores other opportunities, should the Nuggets continue to stagnate.

The Minnesota Timberwolves are another Western Conference contender, though unlike the Denver Nuggets, the franchise hasn't been able to break through to win a title. Instead, the team made a significant shift this offseason, sending big men Julius Randle and Naz Reid out, all while landing former All-Star point guard LaMelo Ball.

Whether it works or not is immaterial; the team's star remains Anthony Edwards, and Minnesota will pay whatever it takes to lock him into a new deal. Edwards can sign immediately, but he's limited to adding two years, $121 million. Despite his appeal, Edwards didn't reach the 65-game threshold to earn All-NBA honors, which would have opened the door to a much larger "supermax" extension.

Edwards waiting a year opens the door to a $300 million deal over four years, provided he stays healthy and continues to play at an elite level.

Prediction: No extension this offseason for Edwards, with an eye on the future windfall.

If the marriage between Karl-Anthony Towns and the New York Knicks was initially tenuous, the title run should cement the partnership for the long term. The larger question becomes budget, with team governor James Dolan likening the second apron to franchise suicide.

To win the title, the Knicks committed heavily to the core with Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, and Towns. Hart is also up for a new deal, with a team option for 2027-28 at $22.4 million. Instead, Towns owns a player option that is very close to next year's max salary at $61 million.

Will the Knicks commit to almost $273 million through the 2030-31 season, considering how many mouths the franchise needs to fill while avoiding the second apron?

Prediction: Towns extends with a lower starting number for 2027-28, in the $53.5 million range, paying up to $240 million over four seasons.

For the first rookie-scale entry on the list, representing the 2023 draft class, Keyonte George would have already signed a max deal were the Utah Jazz offering. Clearly, the team hasn't gone to that extreme to date.

George is eligible to add roughly $252 million over five additional seasons, or even $303 million should the team give him escalations for All-NBA, MVP, or Defensive Player of the Year. While Utah needs to be mindful of the $100 million it'll be paying Jaren Jackson Jr. and Lauri Markkanen together next season, the Jazz have yet to commit heavily anywhere else.

Last year, George put up tremendous numbers at 23.6 points and 6.1 assists a game, shooting 37.1 percent from three-point range on a solid 6.7 attempts per contest. Still, the team was relatively lousy, and he only made 54 appearances. Some of that had to do with the Jazz tanking for the draft lottery—recently addressed by NBA rule changes. Still, George is one of the league's more exciting young guards, and someone Utah should reinvest in.

Finding a viable number is the question, so he can avoid team-friendly restricted free agency.

Prediction: The Jazz and George compromise on a deal above $200 million over five years.

The Charlotte Hornets were one of the NBA's darling squads last season, coming on extremely strong in the second half of the season. The run ended with the play-in, but the Hornets had seemingly turned a corner, in part because of the play of Brandon Miller on the wing.

Then the franchise turned around two of its starting five in trades, sending LaMelo Ball to the Minnesota Timberwolves and Miles Bridges to the Phoenix Suns. Where does that leave Miller, who returned from injury that sidelined him for most of 2024-25 to play 65 games, averaging 20.2 points a night while shooting 38.3 percent from three on a heavy volume (8.2 attempts per game)?

The best case is a number both sides are comfortable with, but so far, no deal. The deadline for rookie-scale extensions is the day before the start of the regular season. Waiting for restricted free agency favors the team, but often sours the relationship and chemistry. Finding a compromise near the $200 million line over five years is the way to go.

Prediction: Miller and the Hornets reach an extension deal before the deadline, starting near $33 million for $191 million over five years.

On a team with Kevin Durant, Amen Thompson stood out last year as arguably the Houston Rockets' best player. For a non-shooter, Thompson is remarkably effective as a scorer, playmaker, and defender. The Rockets were just better when he was on the floor.

More importantly, Thompson represents Houston's future, whereas Durant, who will quickly join the Hall of Fame after he retires, will be 38 before the start of the season. How does all that translate into a starting salary in an extension? So far, it hasn't, but many rookie-scale deals don't get done until the October deadline.

Houston may be stubborn enough to take Thompson to restricted free agency, but hopefully both sides will find a deal.

Prediction: A five-year agreement for Thompson, with broad potential, but difficult to call, somewhere between $165 million and $200 million.

Twin brother of Amen Thompson, Ausar has become an integral part of the Detroit Pistons' resurgence. While he's not nearly as effective a scorer as his brother—neither shoots the three-ball well—Ausar is the better defender, elite enough to earn All-NBA All-Defensive First Team honors.

Elite offensive players tend to earn more than those who thrive on defense. The Pistons have also shown a willingness to wait on key players like Jalen Duren, who didn't extend last year and, as an All-Star through 2025-26, remains a restricted free agent.

That doesn't bode well for Thompson, who may have to wait if he's seeking too rich an extension. A compromise should start somewhere in the $20-$27 million range.

Prediction: The Pistons make Thompson wait until next summer.

The Orlando Magic have invested heavily in a roster designed to win now, yet the team has struggled to stay healthy enough to go deep into the playoffs. With investments in Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Desmond Bane, Jalen Suggs and Wendell Carter Jr., this tax-adverse franchise may not have the flexibility to compensate Anthony Black before the October deadline adequately.

Black has great size for a guard, defends, and has grown significantly as a scorer. Still, with Bane and Suggs earning over $71 million for 2027-28, can Black displace either in the starting lineup? The Magic may not be able to afford him as a reserve at the price Black would seek, likely over a $20 million starting salary. Equally, the team should be hesitant to trade an important piece of their contending squad when waiting until restricted free agency is a viable option.

Prediction: No extension for Black, as the Magic wait until July of 2027 to decide his fate.

The list of players who will negotiate throughout the rest of the summer—some all the way through the June deadline—is long.

A few top names include Kawhi Leonard, assuming the LA Clippers clear the NBA Aspiration investigation and the trade to the Toronto Raptors is finally executed. The Milwaukee Bucks can extend recently acquired Tyler Herro; the rebuilding Brooklyn Nets have the option to extend Michael Porter Jr. Others include Jaylen Brown (Philadelphia 76ers), Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers), Anthony Davis (Washington Wizards), LaMelo Ball (Minnesota Timberwolves), and Zion Williamson (New Orleans Pelicans).

Additional rookie-scale-extension candidates are Scoot Henderson (Portland Trail Blazers), Cason Wallace (Oklahoma City Thunder), Jaime Jaquez Jr. (Bucks), Brandin Podziemski (Golden State Warriors), and Dereck Lively II (Dallas Mavericks), among others.

Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on X @EricPincus and Bluesky .