The NBA might be in a state of financial instability but you wouldn’t know it the way several teams have handed out money in recent days.
Players from the 2017 draft class had until 6 PM EST on Dec. 21 to come to an extension with their current teams. We saw many notable names fail to do so, thereby setting themselves up to enter restricted free agency in the summer of 2021.
Lonzo Ball, the No. 2 pick in 2017, John Collins, coming off a 20-10 season, and Lauri Markkanen, a sweet-shooting seven-footer, will all play out the final year of their rookie contracts. Though they’re likely to remain put in the years to follow, that they couldn’t make that commitment official raises questions their respective teams need to be answered before handing over an eight-figure deal.
Those who only recently signed new deals aren’t your superstars or even All-Star caliber players. The guys who represent this draft class in that regard, Jayson Tatum, Donovan Mitchell and Bam Adebayo, were taken care of near the start of free agency.
Nevertheless, the names you’ll find in the slide to follow remain invaluable to the teams they play for. Hence the deals that express appreciation on the part of the organization. Each is different in length and salary. More importantly, every deal means something specific to the team that agreed to it.
Most of those details are to the benefit of the organization. Some less so. Both will wind up impacting the future. We just have to determine to what end.
Reports led us to believe the two sides weren’t even in discussion</a> with Kuzma lacking clarity on his role entering the new season.</p>
<p>Kuzma entered the 2019-20 season pegged as the third star next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis, only to watch as his offensive responsibilities diminished, posting career-lows in minutes, field goal attempts and points. As the 27th pick from the 2017 Draft, he has yet to cross even $10 million in career earnings.</p>
<p>Underpaid with inklings of stardom is a recipe for betting on yourself. LA made sure Kuzma never had to with a deal that works out for both sides.</p>
<div class="embed ">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kuzma on LeBron and AD extensions: “Yeah, I got a great situation having a 2+1 player option and being able to align myself with those guys and also continue to learn and develop … to be in a championship window until my deal is up when I’m into my prime. It’s a win win."</p>
<p>— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/12/22/grading-rookie-nba-extensions-handed-out-before-the-deadline/"https://twitter.com/LakersReporter/status/1341129729336700928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>December 21, 2020</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/12/22/grading-rookie-nba-extensions-handed-out-before-the-deadline/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div>
<p>A yearly salary of roughly $13.3 million is manageable for the Lakers, who have come to value Kuz’s defensive versatility and his growing comfort playing off the ball. By getting his signature now, Rob Pelinka won’t have to compete with offers next summer, the type that almost assuredly would’ve come with more dollars in an attempt to pry the 25-year-old from Staples.</p>
<p>Kuzma could’ve waited out the season and entered a thinning free-agent class with plenty of teams possessing cap space to fill. Instead, he gets a nice yearly salary while getting a rare player option for Year 3 that will allow him to hit unrestricted free agency at the prime age of 28.</p>
<p>He may never have a starring role in LA. There may come a point in time when that drives Kuzma elsewhere. That won’t come anytime soon, which is why the Lakers’ chances at a repeat have only strengthened while allowing them to steer clear of an issue that would’ve lurked in the distance.</p>
<p><strong>Grade: A+</strong></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/12/22/grading-rookie-nba-extensions-handed-out-before-the-deadline/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Luke Kennard </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_418967" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img class="size-full wp-image-418967" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/12/22/grading-rookie-nba-extensions-handed-out-before-the-deadline/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2130,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1185723467.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2130" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1185723467.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1185723467-768x511.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">NBA (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)</p>
</div>
<h2>Luke Kennard (four-year $64 million)</h2>
<p>Though no Donovan Mitchell, Luke Kennard is coming off a breakout season with career-best averages of 15.8 points, 4.1 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game.</p>
<p>He is an unquestionable upgrade over Landry Shamet, an equally adept outside shooter (39.9 percent on over six attempts per game) and superior ballhandler (77th percentile as a pick-and-roll initiator). The more creators at Tyronn Lue’s disposal, the more attention he can draw away from Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, and in this instance without sacrificing floor spacing.</p>
<p>Questions about Kennard are directed towards his durability. He missed 38 games in Detroit’s abbreviated season after playing in just 63 games the prior year. The LA Clippers are the last team in need of more injury histories to manage after similar circumstances derailed their chemistry and subsequently their season in 2020.</p>
<p>That doesn’t make Kennard a mistake for LA to bring in. Especially when considering how little Shamet was utilized. But if the questions about his health are legitimate, why commit to them so early in the relationship?</p>
<p>Let’s say Kennard outperforms the $16 million a year he’s owed and is able to turn that into a more lucrative offer sheet elsewhere. The Clippers have clearly shown no hesitation when it comes to spending big to capitalize on the championship opportunity in front of them, having given $64 million to Marcus Morris before committing north of $200 million to Paul George.</p>
<p>But by locking in Kennard now, LA loses the chance to truly see what that inconsistent availability means for its team and adjust its valuations accordingly.</p>
<p>Perhaps they were comfortable with the middle ground they came to. That feeling might not last long if Kennard isn’t able to hold up his end of the deal.</p>
<p><strong>Grade: B</strong></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/12/22/grading-rookie-nba-extensions-handed-out-before-the-deadline/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Markelle Fultz </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_418973" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img class="size-full wp-image-418973" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/12/22/grading-rookie-nba-extensions-handed-out-before-the-deadline/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2082,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1209181046.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2082" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1209181046.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1209181046-768x500.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">NBA (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)</p>
</div>
<h2>Markelle Fultz (three-year $50 million)</h2>
<p>For someone who’s had to overcome as much during his brief NBA career as Markelle Fultz had, seeing a team commit $50 million to the former No. 1 overall pick is a heartwarming example of the benefits of perseverance.</p>
<p>On the other hand, you have to ask some questions about the Orlando Magic’s thought process here.</p>
<p>Fultz has looked much-improved since arriving in Orlando. He earned the starting point guard job this past season and averaged 12.1 points and 5.1 assists in just 27.7 minutes a night. The 3-point stroke remains a work in progress (26.7 percent) but Fultz did shoot 73.0 percent from the free-throw line and canned 50.7 percent of his 2-pointers.</p>
<div class="embed ">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Markelle Fultz reportedly secures $50 million contract extension, but his comeback story is far from finished</p>
<p>by: <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/12/22/grading-rookie-nba-extensions-handed-out-before-the-deadline/"https://twitter.com/bradbotkincbs?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>@bradbotkincbs <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/12/22/grading-rookie-nba-extensions-handed-out-before-the-deadline/"https://t.co/JlTpzJbDls">https://t.co/JlTpzJbDls
<p>— CBS Sports NBA (@CBSSportsNBA) <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/12/22/grading-rookie-nba-extensions-handed-out-before-the-deadline/"https://twitter.com/CBSSportsNBA/status/1341207821883486208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>December 22, 2020</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/12/22/grading-rookie-nba-extensions-handed-out-before-the-deadline/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div>
<p>After all the drama in Philadelphia, Fultz is clearly trending in the right direction, even showing promise as a defender. But there’s still work to be done, specifically with a jump shot that has to reach a level of respectability for Fultz to take the next step and bolster Orlando’s bottom-third offense.</p>
<p>Maybe this is simply an example of a small-market team handing over its money to one of the few players who will accept it.</p>
<p>But the Magic can show promise in their young point guard without paying him $600,000 a year less than All-Star Domantas Sabonis. It could potentially have an inverse effect, pressing Fultz to live up to a standard he was so relieved to be free from.</p>
<p><strong>Grade: B-</strong></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/12/22/grading-rookie-nba-extensions-handed-out-before-the-deadline/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Jonathan Isaac </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_418975" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img class="size-full wp-image-418975" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/12/22/grading-rookie-nba-extensions-handed-out-before-the-deadline/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1191153962.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1191153962.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1191153962-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">NBA (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)</p>
</div>
<h2>Jonathan Isaac (four-year $80 million)</h2>
<p>Jonathan Isaac is worth $80 million in a vacuum. Because in a vacuum, injuries are non-existent, allowing the All-Defensive caliber wing to flex the full range of his defensive versatility and blossom into one of the game’s best stoppers.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, NBA games are played on the hardwood where bones, ligaments and other body parts are susceptible to the injuries that have dictated Isaac’s career thus far.</p>
<p>A sprained ankle limited him to 27 games as a rookie. Isaac hyperextended his left knee and wound up missing 31 games this past season. After making an unexpected return to play in the bubble, a torn ACL now has the 23-year-old set to miss the entirety of the 2020-21 season.</p>
<p>On a personal level, you hope Isaac can make a full recovery and put these health issues behind him. But the Magic don’t work on a personal level — at least they shouldn’t be. They have to do what’s best for the organization.</p>
<p>That doesn’t mean waiting until next summer to get a deal done for the sake of financial gains. Without any court time, it’s not going to make Isaac’s progress much clearer to determine.</p>
<p>Isaac is worth re-signing because of the potential he has to one day win Defensive Player of the Year. Committing $80 million via an extension, however, is taking a risk no other team was putting the Magic in a position to make.</p>
<p><strong>Grade: C</strong></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/12/22/grading-rookie-nba-extensions-handed-out-before-the-deadline/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> OG Anunoby </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_388222" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img class="size-full wp-image-388222" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/12/22/grading-rookie-nba-extensions-handed-out-before-the-deadline/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2134,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1200534663.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2134" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1200534663.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1200534663-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">NBA Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images</p>
</div>
<h2>OG Anunoby (four-year $72 million)</h2>
<p>The Toronto Raptors have a strong history in player development. You would expect the 23-year-old OG Anunoby to use his place as the presumed next in line as the springboard for a breakout season everyone is anticipating, parlaying it into a nine-figure extension next summer.</p>
<p>Instead, Anunoby secured his future in the present much to the delight of a Raptors team that will get to reap the expanding benefits.</p>
<p>A combination of size and agility make Anunoby one of the few defenders you’d feel comfortable matching up against most if not all of the five positions. Thus making him a popular pick for either All-Defensive Team this season.</p>
<div class="embed ">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/12/22/grading-rookie-nba-extensions-handed-out-before-the-deadline/"https://twitter.com/Raptors?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>@Raptors rewarded OG Anunoby for being the kind of player that can be plugged into any winning rotation and make a positive impact. (<a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/12/22/grading-rookie-nba-extensions-handed-out-before-the-deadline/"https://twitter.com/michaelgrange?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>@michaelgrange)
https://t.co/SrtrTaSPh3
<p>— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/12/22/grading-rookie-nba-extensions-handed-out-before-the-deadline/"https://twitter.com/Sportsnet/status/1341213016013025280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>December 22, 2020</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/12/22/grading-rookie-nba-extensions-handed-out-before-the-deadline/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div>
<p>He’s flashed growth as an offensive creator during preseason play. The departures of both Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka open frontcourt minutes for Nick Nurse to downsize with OG at center in ways he only dabbled with last postseason. Perhaps those different lineups and the benefits they bring can spearhead a case for Most Improved Player honors.</p>
<p>With this latest extension, a team that came within one game of the conference finals last season has secured a core of Anunoby, Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet for at least the next four years. That they were able to do so before OG could’ve fielded more expensive offers elsewhere is another testament to Masai Ujiri’s excellence.</p>
<p><strong>Grade: A+</strong></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/12/22/grading-rookie-nba-extensions-handed-out-before-the-deadline/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Derrick White </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_418983" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img class="size-full wp-image-418983" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/12/22/grading-rookie-nba-extensions-handed-out-before-the-deadline/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2134,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1204594597.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2134" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1204594597.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1204594597-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">NBA (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)</p>
</div>
<h2>Derrick White (four-year $73 million)</h2>
<p>Derrick White broke onto the scene during the 2019 playoffs, where he helped the San Antonio Spurs to a seventh game in their first-round matchup against Denver with averages of 15.1 points and 3.0 assists per game (shooting 62.1 percent inside the arc).</p>
<p>For a team devoid of much young talent, White’s play was a glimmer of hope for the rebuild that crept closer yet one San Antonio wasn’t so quick to embrace the following season.</p>
<p>White averaged 27.3 minutes a game as a starter in that first-round versus the Nuggets with a usage rate of 24.6. Those numbers respectively dropped to 24.7 minutes per game and an 18.9 usage rate throughout the 2019-20 campaign spent primarily coming off the bench.</p>
<p>Then play moved down to the bubble and White was thrust back into the spotlight in a last-ditch effort to sneak the Spurs into the playoffs. He started all seven of the seeding games he appeared in, scoring over 20 in four of them. San Antonio’s historic postseason streak came to an end, but White left with his head high after averaging 18.9 points (.455/.393/.833), 5.0 assists and 4.3 rebounds a game.</p>
<p>Like the Magic, the Spurs aren’t exactly burdened with free agents lining up to take their money. That cap space has to go somewhere and White was the beneficiary.</p>
<p>White will have to prove worthy of this new deal, first by making a full recovery from the toe surgery that will keep him sidelined to begin the new season. But development is always a two-way street. San Antonio appeared to have discovered a playstyle in the bubble with DeMar DeRozan lining up at power forward, not only expanding the court but opening up more playing time for White.</p>
<p>He clearly has the talent to justify his new deal. As the Spurs moves forward into uncharted territory, Gregg Popovich just has to be flexible enough to let him try.</p>
<p><strong>Grade: B+</strong></p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="Los Angeles Lakers: The 5 best bets to be Anthony Davis stoppers" data-url="https://hoopshabit.com/2020/10/19/los-angeles-lakers-anthony-davis-4/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/12/22/grading-rookie-nba-extensions-handed-out-before-the-deadline/"https://hoopshabit.com/2020/10/19/los-angeles-lakers-anthony-davis-4/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> Los Angeles Lakers: The 5 best bets to be Anthony Davis stoppers </a> </div>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—>">