playBobby MarksOct 13, 2026, 07:00 AM ETCloseMultiple AuthorsOpen Extended ReactionsThe NBA season starts in one week, but that isn’t the only thing on the minds of league executives. The deadline for rookie extensions is Monday, a day before the 2026-27 regular season tips off.Since the start of the offseason, five players — Victor Wembanyama, Amen and Ausar Thompson, Keyonte George and Brandin Podziemski — have signed rookie extensions. That’s currently far below the average of 11 rookie extensions signed per year since 2023, but expect that number to rise in the coming days. Of the 34 players to land rookie extensions in the past three seasons, 17 signed on deadline day.What deals will the next week bring?
We broke down what to expect for six of the 16 eligible players.Rookie extension decisions aren’t the only things we’re watching. Oct. 19 is also the deadline to extend veterans with two years remaining on their contract — not including an option year — and the deadline to reduce rosters to 15 players on standard contracts.Let’s examine the league’s most important extension decisions and what Monday’s deadline could bring for teams around the league.Jump to a section: Six big rookie extension decisions KAT, Giannis among vets to watch Moves coming for Lakers, Knicks?Rookie extension candidates to watchBrandon Miller, Charlotte HornetsWhy an extension could get done: Following offseason trades of LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges, the Hornets view Miller and Kon Knueppel as the franchise’s new foundation. An injury-plagued sophomore 2024-25 season limited Miller to 27 games, but he rebounded last season to post career highs in 3-pointers made, 3-point percentage and free throw attempts and averaged more than 20 points per game for the second straight season.Why it might not: Miller views Amen Thompson’s five-year, $208 million extension with Houston as a comparable salary. The main difference: Thompson played at least 60 games in each of his first three seasons and was selected for the All-Defensive First Team in 2025.What I would offer: Five years, $175 million.
The contract can either start at $30.2 million and increase each year, ending at $39.8 million, or start high and decline each season. (Coby White’s latest contract with the Hornets declines in Years 2 and 3.) With no player earning more than $25 million in 2027-28, Charlotte has the flexibility to increase Miller’s offer. Not including new contracts for Miller and center Moussa Diabate, who is eligible for an extension in February, Charlotte projects to be $80 million under the luxury tax next season.Dereck Lively II, Dallas MavericksWhy an extension could get done: The Mavericks would need to bypass injury concerns and look at his impact when healthy. Despite playing only 36 games in 2024-25, Lively ranked 17th out of 138 players in offensive rebounding percentage and fourth in defensive rebounding percentage. During that season, Lively held opponents to 56.3% of shooting at the rim, ranking 20th out of 165 players.
In 21 postseason games as a rookie, Lively averaged 7.4 rebounds in 22 minutes per game.Why it might not: What else? Injuries and durability. Lively has played a total of 98 games in his first three seasons, including 55 his rookie year, and missed all but seven games last season. He had right foot surgery in July 2025 before another surgery on the same foot four months later.
Lively continues to ramp up his recovery but was not cleared to play 5-on-5 during training camp.What I would offer: Three years, $35 million. The first-year, $10.8 million salary is comparable to the one-year qualifying offer Lively is eligible for next summer if an extension is not reached. The second year is guaranteed, but the third is contingent on Lively playing at least 41 games in the first or second season of the contract.Jaime Jaquez Jr., Milwaukee BucksWhy an extension could get done: If we are evaluating Jaquez off last season with Miami, then discussions for a new contract are warranted. With the Heat, Jaquez became one of four players to average at least 15 points, five rebounds and four assists off the bench since the 1982-83 season.
The forward shot a career-high 50.7% last season and saw his assists nearly double from 2.5 to 4.7. Considering Kyle Kuzma is on an expiring contract and Nate Ament is in his rookie season, having Jaquez under contract should be a priority.Why it might not: Other than failing to reach a compromise, Milwaukee could pause extension talks to evaluate how Jaquez fits in with new Bucks coach Taylor Jenkins.What I would offer: Four years, $78.8 million. Comparable to Jaquez’s free agent hold, the contract starts at $17.8 million and ends with a player option.Cason Wallace, Oklahoma City ThunderWhy an extension could get done: If there ever was an indication, it was the trade sending Lu Dort to Atlanta.”I would just say Cason is someone we think very highly of and has done a great job for us,” Thunder general manager Sam Presti said before training camp. “I think the greatest sign of respect we could have shown Cason is moving Lu [Dort] in that trade.
We potentially could have looked at a series of other options, but it’s a bit of a gesture to him to say, ‘We think you can have a great role on this team. We believe in you as a player.'”Named All-Defense for the first time in his career, Wallace led all players in steals last season. He finished seventh in Defensive Player of the Year voting and was one of five guards (Dyson Daniels, Derrick White, Andrew Nembhard, Amen Thompson) over the past two seasons to win Defensive Player of the Month.Why it might not: Second apron concerns. With Year 1 of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s supermax extension beginning, Oklahoma City is $1.9 million over the second apron.
A contract for Wallace starting at $25 million not only puts the Thunder deeper into the apron but will cost them an additional $150 million in luxury taxes. As this past offseason proved with the trades of Dort, Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe, Oklahoma City is not afraid to make difficult choices to keep its core intact.What I would offer: Five years, $145 million. The contract starts at $25 million and increases to $33 million in the final year. You can make a case that Wallace should get more in guaranteed money than Keyonte George and Ausar Thompson, but Oklahoma City is in a different bracket financially than Utah and Detroit.Anthony Black, Orlando MagicWhy an extension could get done: Past precedent.
The Magic have been aggressive in signing former draft picks to rookie extensions. In the past three offseasons, Orlando has extended Cole Anthony, Jalen Suggs, Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero. If not for injuring his back in early March, Black would have been a candidate for 2026 Most Improved Player; his scoring increased from 9.4 to 15.3 points per game and he shot a career-high 44.7% from the field. Defensively, Black had 25 games with multiple steals.Why it might not: Finances.
A new contract would likely put Orlando over the luxury tax for consecutive seasons and over the first apron. The Magic are a projected $20 million under the tax threshold. Next season and in 2028-29, they will have four players (Wagner, Banchero, Desmond Bane, Jalen Suggs) earning more than $26 million. Considering Orlando has failed to advance past the first round with this roster, is it prudent to pay a significant penalty once again?What I would offer: There are two ways to look at Black’s next contract: the deal Orlando should offer because of its financial constraints, and what Black deserves.
If the goal is to remain below the luxury tax, the starting salary cannot exceed $13 million — below the $16 million non-tax midlevel exception for next season. There is also the question of whether Orlando views him as a starter or a sixth man. The starting backcourt of Suggs and Bane is under contract through at least the 2028-29 season.Scoot Henderson, Portland Trail BlazersWhy an exten
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