Grading every NBA rookie extension: Evaluating new contracts for Victor Wembanyama, Keyonte George, more

First-round picks from the 2023 Draft were eligible to sign rookie extensions until Oct. 19, so we As the 2026 offseason draws to a close we have officially reached the NBA's Oct. 19 deadline for rookie extensions. First-round picks in the 2023 NBA Draft were eligible to sign rookie extensions until today, and ultimately, six of them did so: A total of seven 2023 first-round picks were not eligible for rookie extensions because they either had their fourth-year options declined or were waived earlier. The bulk of the 2023 class, however, was still eligible to negotiate, and we graded all of the deals that ultimately came. Terms: Five years, $252 million, player option on the final year There is no contract Wembanyama could have signed that would not have represented an enormous organizational victory for the Spurs.

The best player in the NBA in his early 20s, or really at any point in his career, always has one of the league's best contracts because the absolute top of the market is restricted by the very concept of a max salary. Nikola Jokić is underpaid even at 35% of the cap. LeBron James was underpaid for virtually his entire career. There's no amount you can pay someone this good that isn't team-friendly. Yet Wembanyama's deal is especially notable because this isn't