Rookie Scale Salaries For 2022 NBA First-Round Picks
With the NBA’s salary cap set at $123,655,000 for the 2022/23 league year, the rookie scale has been set as well. The rookie scale locks in the value of contracts for first-round picks.
In every NBA league year, rookie scale amounts are assigned to each first-round slot, from No. 1 through No. 30. Teams can sign their first-rounders to as little as 80% of that rookie scale amount, or up to 120% of that figure.
While that rule theoretically affords teams some flexibility, first-round picks virtually always sign contracts worth 120% of their rookie scale amount, and unsigned first-rounders have a cap hold worth 120% of their rookie scale amount.
Listed below are the salary figures that represent 120% of the rookie scale amounts for 2022’s first-round picks. If a first-round pick signs a rookie scale contract in 2022/23, it will be for the amount below unless he accepts a deal worth less than the maximum allowable 120%. If that happens, we’ll adjust their amounts below.
These salary figures will only apply if the player signs in 2022/23. If a player doesn’t sign an NBA contract this year, his rookie contract will look a little different in future seasons.
Rookie scale contracts are guaranteed for the first two years, with team options on the third and fourth years.
Here’s the 2022 breakdown, via Eric Pincus of Sports Business Classroom:
| Player | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 | 2025/26 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paolo Banchero | $11,055,120 | $11,608,080 | $12,160,800 | $15,334,769 | $50,158,769 |
| Chet Holmgren | $9,891,240 | $10,386,000 | $10,880,640 | $13,731,368 | $44,889,248 |
| Jabari Smith | $8,882,640 | $9,326,520 | $9,770,880 | $12,350,392 | $40,330,432 |
| Keegan Murray | $8,008,440 | $8,409,000 | $8,809,560 | $11,144,093 | $36,371,093 |
| Jaden Ivey | $7,252,200 | $7,614,480 | $7,977,240 | $10,107,163 | $32,951,083 |
| Bennedict Mathurin | $6,586,800 | $6,916,080 | $7,245,720 | $9,187,573 | $29,936,173 |
| Shaedon Sharpe | $6,012,960 | $6,313,800 | $6,614,160 | $8,399,983 | $27,340,903 |
| Dyson Daniels | $5,508,600 | $5,784,120 | $6,059,520 | $7,707,709 | $25,059,949 |
| Jeremy Sochan | $5,063,520 | $5,316,960 | $5,570,040 | $7,096,231 | $23,046,751 |
| Johnny Davis | $4,810,320 | $5,050,800 | $5,291,160 | $6,746,229 | $21,898,509 |
| Ousmane Dieng | $4,569,840 | $4,798,440 | $5,027,040 | $6,670,882 | $21,166,202 |
| Jalen Williams | $4,341,480 | $4,558,680 | $4,775,760 | $6,580,997 | $20,256,917 |
| Jalen Duren | $4,124,280 | $4,330,680 | $4,536,840 | $6,483,144 | $19,474,944 |
| Ochai Agbaji | $3,918,360 | $4,114,200 | $4,310,280 | $6,383,525 | $18,726,365 |
| Mark Williams | $3,722,040 | $3,908,160 | $4,094,280 | $6,276,531 | $18,001,011 |
| AJ Griffin | $3,536,180 | $3,712,920 | $3,889,920 | $5,967,137 | $17,106,157 |
| Tari Eason | $3,359,160 | $3,527,160 | $3,695,160 | $5,675,766 | $16,257,246 |
| Dalen Terry | $3,191,400 | $3,350,760 | $3,510,480 | $5,399,118 | $15,451,758 |
| Jake LaRavia | $3,047,640 | $3,199,920 | $3,352,680 | $5,163,127 | $14,763,367 |
| Malaki Branham | $2,925,600 | $3,071,880 | $3,217,920 | $4,962,033 | $14,177,433 |
| Christian Braun | $2,808,600 | $2,949,120 | $3,089,640 | $4,921,797 | $13,769,157 |
| Walker Kessler | $2,696,400 | $2,831,160 | $2,965,920 | $4,878,938 | $13,372,418 |
| David Roddy | $2,588,640 | $2,718,240 | $2,847,240 | $4,831,766 | $12,985,886 |
| MarJon Beauchamp | $2,420,400 | $2,609,400 | $2,733,720 | $4,781,276 | $12,544,796 |
| Blake Wesley | $2,385,480 | $2,504,640 | $2,624,280 | $4,726,328 | $12,240,728 |
| Wendell Moore | $2,306,520 | $2,421,720 | $2,537,040 | $4,574,283 | $11,839,563 |
| Nikola Jovic | $2,239,920 | $2,352,000 | $2,464,200 | $4,445,417 | $11,501,537 |
| Patrick Baldwin | $2,226,000 | $2,337,720 | $2,448,840 | $4,420,156 | $11,432,716 |
| TyTy Washington | $2,210,040 | $2,320,440 | $2,431,080 | $4,388,099 | $11,349,659 |
| Peyton Watson | $2,193,960 | $2,303,520 | $2,413,560 | $4,356,476 | $11,267,516 |
Thunder Sign Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams To Rookie Deals
The Thunder have signed a couple of their first-round draft picks, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams, according to NBA.com’s official transactions log.
Holmgren was the second pick of the draft after spending one season with Gonzaga. In 32 games (26.9 MPG) for the Bulldogs, the 7’0″ Holmgren averaged 14.1 PPG, 9.9 RPG and 3.7 BPG on .607/.390/.717 shooting.
Williams was the 12th pick of the draft after three seasons with Santa Clara. In 33 games (34.8 MPG) as a junior for the Broncos, the 6’6″ wing averaged 18 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 4.2 APG and 1.2 SPG on .513/.396/.809 shooting.
Oklahoma City has been in rebuilding mode for a couple of seasons now, but the influx of young talent should help accelerate the team’s progression. Holmgren was considered the top prospect in the draft by many talent evaluators, while Williams was a draft riser after strong athletic testing numbers and standout scrimmage performances at the combine in Chicago last month.
Assuming Holmgren and Williams sign for 120% of the rookie scale, which virtually every first-rounder does, they’ll be in line for first-year salaries of $9.89MM and $4.34MM, respectively.
Wizards Sign Anthony Gill To Two-Year Deal
JULY 1: Gill has officially signed his contract, according to NBA.com’s transactions log. That signals that his two-year deal is worth the minimum, since minimum-salary contracts can be finalized during the July moratorium.
JUNE 30: The Wizards are re-signing forward Anthony Gill to a two-year contract, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski tweets.
Gill was a restricted free agent after Washington extended a qualifying offer. It’s most likely a veteran’s minimum deal, though terms have not been disclosed.
The 6’8″ Gill, 29, went undrafted out of Virginia in 2016 and spent most of his professional career overseas. He signed a two-year contract with the Wizards in November 2020.
Gill came off the bench in 44 games last season, averaging 4.1 PPG and 1.9 RPG in 10.5 MPG.
Wizards Sign Johnny Davis To Rookie Contract
The Wizards have signed first-round pick Johnny Davis to his rookie scale contract, according to NBA.com’s official log of transactions.
Davis, who averaged 19.7 PPG, 8.2 RPG, and 2.1 APG in 31 games (34.2 MPG) at Wisconsin as a sophomore in 2021/22, was the 10th player off the board in last Thursday’s draft.
He’ll join a Wizards backcourt that is undergoing some changes this offseason — while Bradley Beal will return on a five-year, maximum-salary contract, Ish Smith, Raul Neto, Tomas Satoransky, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope are out, and Davis, Monte Morris, Will Barton, and Delon Wright are in.
Assuming Davis signs for 120% of the rookie scale, which virtually every first-rounder does, he’ll be in line for a first-year salary of $4.8MM and a four-year deal worth $21.9MM.
Lakers Officially Sign Jones, Brown, Toscano-Anderson
The Lakers have officially completed three signings, according to a team press release. The trio of players are center Damian Jones, wing Troy Brown and wing Juan Toscano-Anderson.
Jones, Brown and Toscano-Anderson were all signed to minimum-salary contracts. Both Brown and JTA received one-year deals, while Jones got a two-year deal with a player option.
Jones, 27, had a solid season with the Kings in 2021/22 after struggling to find a standard roster spot in ’20/21. In 56 games this season (18.2 MPG), Jones averaged 8.1 PPG and 4.4 RPG while shooting 65.8% from the field and 71.8% from the line.
Brown, 22, was the 15th pick of the 2018 draft and spent his first two-plus seasons with Washington before being traded to Chicago last year. The Bulls declined his qualifying offer after he struggled to make an impact this season, averaging 4.3 PPG and 3.1 RPG on .419/.353/.769 shooting in 66 games (16 MPG).
Toscano-Anderson, 29, spent the last three seasons with the Warriors and recently won a title. In 73 games (13.6 MPG) in ’21/22, he averaged 4.1 PPG, 2.4 RPG and 1.7 APG on .489/.322/.571 shooting.
Because the three players are on minimum contracts, the deals can be completed before the transaction moratorium ends on July 6.
Pacers Re-Sign Jalen Smith
JULY 6: The Pacers have made it official with Smith, according to NBA.com’s transactions log. Head coach Rick Carlisle said today at a media session that the plan is for Smith to be Indiana’s starting power forward in the fall (Twitter link via Scott Agness of Fieldhouse Files).
JULY 1: Free agent big man Jalen Smith has agreed to a two-year contract with the Pacers and will return to Indiana, sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).
Smith’s new two-year deal is worth $9.6MM, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. That’s approximately the maximum amount the Pacers could offer over two seasons.
The 10th overall pick in 2020, Smith barely saw any action as a rookie in Phoenix in 2020/21, then found himself out of the Suns’ plans. They turned down his third-year rookie scale option for 2022/23 at the start of last season and traded him to Indiana at this year’s deadline.
With the lottery-bound Pacers, Smith began to flash the upside that made him a lottery pick two years ago, averaging 13.4 PPG, 7.6 RPG, and 1.0 BPG on .531/.373/.760 shooting in a part-time role (24.7 MPG).
There was a sense that Smith may be playing himself out of the Pacers’ price range — even though they hold his Bird rights, they were prohibited from offering him a starting salary higher than $4.67MM, the amount of his declined option. However, that limit didn’t stop the two sides from getting a deal done.
While it’s possible potential suitors were hesitant to invest too aggressively in Smith based on the numbers he was putting up for a team out of playoff contention down the stretch, he’s still just 22 years old and has the potential to continue improving.
Smith’s role and place on the 2022/23 depth chart will be determined in part by whether veteran bigs like Myles Turner and Daniel Theis remain on Indiana’s roster or end up elsewhere by the fall.
Western Rumors: Mitchell, Payton II, Lillard, Bryant
Rudy Gobert‘s impending trade to Minnesota, in which Utah will receive multiple unprotected first-round picks, and a separate trade sending Royce O’Neale to Brooklyn for another first-round pick, could be seen as an indication that the Jazz might be rebuilding.
In an appearance on NBA Today, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said (video link from Talkin’ NBA) the league is preparing for Jazz star Donovan Mitchell to request a trade, noting that O’Neale was one of Mitchell’s closest friends on the team.
“If you’re Donovan Mitchell and you see two trades like this that are designed to save more than $100MM and get first-round draft picks, that doesn’t inspire confidence,” Windhorst said. “And talking to league executives who saw some of this coming, they think it would be abnormal for Donovan to not want out at this point.
“Now, they obviously have the option to use these assets to trade something to put around Donovan, and that may be what they’re trying to sell him on. But right now, there are teams out there that are revving up the possibility of calling Utah and seeing what it’s going to take to get Donovan Mitchell, because they’re not going to be done. This is not a team that needs Mike Conley. This is not a team that needs Bojan Bogdanovic. This is not a team that needs Rudy Gay. All of these guys who have long-term money who have value to other places, I would suspect, are going to potentially be on the trade market and the Jazz are going to get calls.”
When the Gobert news broke, both ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Tony Jones of The Athletic said the Jazz planned to retool the roster around Mitchell rather than move him.
However, Andy Larsen of The Salt Lake Tribune hears (Twitter links) that it’s not a lock that the Jazz will keep Mitchell, saying there’s been some “push back” on those reports. The Jazz plan to keep their options open for all possibilities, according to Larsen, who notes that Mitchell could be a fallback option for the Heat if they’re unable to land Kevin Durant.
Here are a few more rumors from the Western Conference:
- A source tells Sam Amick of The Athletic that both Stephen Curry and Draymond Green pitched Gary Payton II on sticking with the Warriors, but Golden State’s reported offer — two years for about taxpayer mid-level exception money — was substantially less than he received from the Trail Blazers (three years, $28MM). Losing Payton will surely sting for the Warriors, as he was a fan favorite and an excellent defender, Amick observes.
- As Amick relays, it was assumed that Damian Lillard would be a lock to sign a two-year, max extension shortly after free agency opened, which has yet to transpire. The deadline won’t pass until the start of the regular season, but Lillard may still needs some convincing to sign the deal, a source tells Amick, who says the star guard wanted the Blazers to have a strong offseason to prove they could build a contender around him. According to Amick, adding Payton will surely help matters. Not only does the team need perimeter defense, which Payton provides, but there are a couple other ties between the two players. Payton’s father, Hall-of-Famer Gary Payton, has been a mentor to Lillard, and all three are represented by agent Aaron Goodwin.
- Brad Turner of The Los Angeles Times hears (via Twitter) from sources that the Lakers are very interested in a reunion with center Thomas Bryant, who is an unrestricted free agent. However, the Lakers can only offer a veteran minimum deal, so Bryant is in search of a better offer. The Raptors are also pursuing Bryant, per Turner.
Warriors Sign Donte DiVincenzo To Two-Year Deal
JULY 8: The Warriors have officially signed DiVincenzo, the team announced today in a press release.
JULY 1: The Warriors and swingman Donte DiVincenzo are in agreement on a free agent deal, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic, who reports (via Twitter) that DiVincenzo will sign a two-year, $9.3MM contract with the team. It will include a second-year player option, Charania adds.
Given the Warriors’ cap situation and the numbers reported by Charania, it appears the club will use a portion of its taxpayer mid-level exception to complete the signing.
DiVincenzo was a full-time starter on the Bucks team that won a championship in 2020/21, averaging 10.4 PPG, 5.8 RPG, and 3.1 APG on .420/.379/.718 shooting in 66 games (27.5 MPG) during that regular season. However, a major ankle injury sidelined him for most of the postseason and for a chunk of the ’21/22 campaign.
The 25-year-old didn’t look like his old self when he returned to Milwaukee’s lineup, and the team traded him to Sacramento at the February deadline. DiVincenzo played better for the Kings, averaging 10.3 PPG, 4.4 RPG, and 3.6 APG with a .368 3PT% in 25 games (26.6 MPG).
Despite DiVincenzo’s solid play down the stretch, he didn’t receive a qualifying offer from the Kings, who shifted their focus to acquiring Malik Monk and Kevin Huerter to solidify their wing rotation. That decision made DiVincenzo an unrestricted free agent, meaning the former Villanova standout is free to sign outright with Golden State.
The addition of DiVincenzo will help make up for some of the rotation losses the Warriors have endured during free agency. Gary Payton II, Otto Porter, Nemanja Bjelica, and Juan Toscano-Anderson have all reached agreements with new teams since Thursday evening.
Based on the terms reported by Charania, the Warriors aren’t using the full amount of the taxpayer mid-level exception on DiVincenzo, so they’ll still have a small part of it available. They may use that leftover portion to sign second-round pick Ryan Rollins to a three-year contract instead of the maximum two years he could get using the minimum salary exception.
Latest On Kevin Durant
After speaking to “a couple” NBA general managers, Marc J. Spears of ESPN (video link via Talkin NBA) outlined during an appearance on NBA Today what sort of return the Nets are seeking as they explore the trade market for Kevin Durant.
“A young or future All-Star,” Spears said, “lots of picks, the ability to swap picks, and another starter.”
Spears went on to say that Durant “might not have as much control of the situation as one would think,” not only because he has four years left on his contract but because there are so many teams involved in the bidding. According to Spears, about half the league’s clubs remain interested.
Here’s more on Durant:
- Sam Amick of The Athletic explains that Phoenix is Durant’s preferred destination in part because of his close relationship with Monty Williams, who was an assistant for the Thunder in 2015/16. The bond between the two men grew deeper after Williams’ wife was killed in a car accident in February 2016, Amick writes.
- While Phoenix may be atop Durant’s wish list, Amick has gotten the sense that the Nets would want something more – or something “different” – than a Suns package headlined by Deandre Ayton and Mikal Bridges. Cameron Johnson is a player who might help move the needle for the Nets, Amick adds. However, John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 (Twitter link) suggests that any deal between the Suns and Nets would likely see Phoenix giving up the maximum amount of first-round picks (four) and pick swaps (three).
- The Heat are also on Durant’s wish list, but Amick says the former MVP would only want to play on a Miami team that features Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, and Kyle Lowry. Amick is understandably skeptical that a package centered around Tyler Herro would gain any momentum.
- The Nets have been “emboldened” by the returns in the Rudy Gobert and Dejounte Murray trades, which both included multiple unprotected first-round picks, Adrian Wojnarowski said during an appearance on ESPN’s televised NBA Free Agency Special on Friday evening. Wojnarowski added that he doesn’t believe the Nets are in any rush to make a deal, since they want to fully assess all their options.
- Wojnarowski also said during ESPN’s NBA Free Agency Special (video link) that he believes the Raptors are “lurking” as a possible suitor for Durant, given their combination of players and draft picks, as well as their track record for making this sort of deal (for Kawhi Leonard in 2018).
Celtics Notes: Brogdon, Gallinari, Trade Exception, Hauser
Guard Malcolm Brogdon, whom the Celtics are set to acquire in a trade from Indiana, said there were some indications that he might be headed to Boston.
“I had heard that Boston was interested over the past few days, but as a player, you don’t know everything that’s going on,” Brogdon told Jared Weiss of The Athletic on Friday. “You just have to sit tight, let your agent work, let your team work and then let the team that wants you, work as well. The Pacers were really good at facilitating a deal and sending me somewhere I could win. I am very much appreciative of how the Pacers have handled everything.”
The 29-year-old led the Pacers in scoring last season with 19.1 points per game, but he says he’s ready to sacrifice his individual numbers to help the team get over the hump and win a ring.
“I’m looking to win a championship, that’s actually it,” Brogdon said. “In the past, I’ve worried about stats and numbers and all that. I’m going to Boston and not worrying about that.”
A source tells Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald (Twitter link) that the Celtics view Brogdon as a sixth man, and intend to keep the starting lineup they used last season featuring Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Al Horford and Robert Williams.
Here’s more on the Celtics:
- Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe hears from a source close to Danilo Gallinari that the forward had better financial offers than the Celtics could provide via the taxpayer mid-level exception, but the opportunity to join a championship contender was too enticing to pass up. Jay King of The Athletic reports similarly, with sources saying Gallinari had at least one rival team offering more money.
- Over the past couple of weeks the Celtics explored possibilities with using their $17.1MM traded player exception, per Himmelsbach, but nothing came to fruition and the team currently doesn’t plan to use it after acquiring Brogdon, who will make $67.6MM over the next three seasons, including $22.6MM in 2022/23.
- Boston plans to agree to terms with Sam Hauser on a multiyear deal in the coming days, Himmelsbach adds in a tweet. That outcome was expected after the Celtics made Hauser a restricted free agent a couple of days ago.
- According to Murphy (Twitter link), the Celtics are scouring the free agent market for a backup big man. They can only offer a veteran’s minimum deal, but I’m sure they’ll find a taker considering Boston was two wins away from a title this past season.