Seven 2023 First-Round Picks Sign Rookie Scale Extensions
The NBA’s annual deadline for rookie scale contract extensions passed on Monday, bringing the extension period for 2023 first-round picks to a close with a total of seven players signing new deals, Hoops Rumors reported. This year’s total represents a drop from figures seen in recent offseasons.
Between 2019 and 2025, at least nine players completed rookie scale extensions in every offseason. The 2026 total is the lowest number since 2018, when just five eligible players signed new agreements out of 23 candidates entering the offseason.
Detailed Breakdown of the Seven Signings
Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs secured a five-year maximum salary extension with a projected value of $255,200,000, based on a $174MM salary cap for the 2027/28 season. His agreement includes a fifth-year player option and a 15% trade kicker. Brandon Miller signed a five-year contract with the Charlotte Hornets worth $208,800,000, though exact details remain to be confirmed. Amen Thompson agreed to a five-year, $208,000,000 deal with the Houston Rockets, which includes a 10% trade kicker.
Keyonte George signed a five-year, $155,000,000 extension with the Utah Jazz featuring $2,500,000 in incentives. Ausar Thompson accepted a five-year, $155,000,000 deal with the Detroit Pistons. Cason Wallace reached agreement with the Oklahoma City Thunder on a five-year, $135,000,000 contract that includes $4,000,000 in incentives, pending final confirmation of exact details. Brandin Podziemski finalized a five-year, $110,000,000 deal with the Golden State Warriors, featuring a fifth-year mutual option and a trade kicker set at the lesser of $1 million or 15%.
Wembanyama Stands Alone as Sole Max Extension Signee
Wembanyama stands as the only player from the 2023 draft class to receive a maximum-salary commitment. This marks the first year since 2016 without multiple maximum rookie scale extensions, breaking a streak from 2017 to 2025 where two, three, or four players signed for the full maximum annually. Wembanyama opted to forgo Rose Rule language that could have pushed his projected extension value to $306MM if he earns All-NBA honors next season.
Rising stars such as Miller and Amen Thompson fell well below the maximum threshold. This trend points to teams exercising caution regarding apron-related restrictions and negotiating more aggressively. While incentives largely disappeared from recent contracts due to strict apron calculations where even unlikely bonuses count against team totals, both the Jazz and Thunder included incentives in their agreements with George and Wallace.
Fourteen Players Enter Contract Years Without Extensions
Out of the 23 players eligible for rookie scale extensions this offseason, seven signed new deals and two—Cam Whitmore and Jordan Hawkins—were waived. The remaining 14 players did not reach agreements and enter their contract years, making them eligible to become restricted free agents during the 2027 offseason.
Players such as Gradey Dick, Taylor Hendricks, and Jalen Sasser head into the season needing to prove their worth for qualifying offers. Meanwhile, Anthony Black and Jaime Jaquez Jr. enter contract years viewed as strong candidates for lucrative paydays in 2027. Bilal Coulibaly, Henderson, and Dereck Lively II look to rebound after missing significant time due to injuries last season, with Lively still recovering from foot surgery.
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