In a subscriber-only story for The Third Apron, Yossi Gozlan takes a look at 11 players around the NBA who are currently eligible for veteran contract extensions.
According to Gozlan, Spurs wing Julian Champagnie has been a complete bargain on his current deal and should be in line for a considerable raise. San Antonio holds a $3MM team option on Champagnie for 2026/27, which the team would have to decline to extend him.
As Gozlan writes, the maximum the 24-year-old could receive on an extension would be $87MM over four years. Gozlan suggests a four-year deal in the $75-76MM range could be a reasonable compromise for both sides.
Gozlan also projects extensions for Spurs forward Harrison Barnes (two years, $24MM) and Jazz center Jusuf Nurkic (exact same structure), among others.
Here are a few more odds and ends from around the basketball world:
- John Hollinger of The Athletic lists nine of his favorite sleepers ahead of the 2026 draft. Hollinger acknowledges that some of the players on his list, including Santa Clara forward Allen Graves and Stanford guard Ebuka Okorie, may decide to return for another college season in 2026/27. A couple other sleepers Hollinger mentions (Corey Camper and Emanuel Sharp) will be automatically draft-eligible, as they’re both fifth-year seniors.
- Former NBA big man Jesse Edwards, who spent last season on a two-way deal with the Timberwolves, is in advanced talks with Spanish club Baskonia about a rest-of-season contract, reports Donatas Urbonas of BasketNews.com. The Dutch center played for Melbourne United in Australia in 2025/26, averaging 13.5 PPG, 8.5 RPG and 1.1 BPG in 35 games (22.4 MPG).
- In an extensive interview with Milun Nesovic of Serbian outlet Meridian Sport, Partizan Belgrade president Ostoja Mijailovic discussed a number of current and former NBA players, as Eurohoops and Sportando relay. The Sixers were limited to offering Partizan $875K as part of a buyout for Cameron Payne, yet the EuroLeague club received $1.75MM in that agreement. According to Mijailovic, the remaining $875K came from Payne himself. Mijailovic confirmed Partizan forward Isaac Bonga received NBA interest last month, but the team had the option to decline the $875K buyout it was offered for Bonga and did so because it values him. However, the former second-round pick could be on the move this summer, as Partizan will no longer have the option to turn down a buyout offer for Bonga once ’25/26 ends.
- Mijailovic also expressed regret for the lucrative deals given to Jabari Parker and Shake Milton, and said the team remains fond of Dante Exum, who was waived by Washington last month after being traded by Dallas. Exum hasn’t played at all this season due to a knee injury. “It is certainly our desire to bring back players who left a mark at Partizan and who can help the team on the court,” Mijailovic said, per Eurohoops. “Exum is one of the players we all adored, and we still adore him.”

Why would Spurs decline that option? Champagne is playing well but replaceable.
They would decline him to either give him a raise or send him packing.
Yeah ok.
Only if they have a handshake deal on a team friendly extension, I highly doubt it will be 4/$80 though.
The guy is a bargain. Plenty of teams would want him. Best thing is to just sign him to a deal. At end of year and reward him. Spurs are contenders. So you want this guy around. 3-4 yr deal. Spurs can cut salary by moving Vassell or Johnson.
Exum will definitely be signed by Dallas again this offseason. Makes just as much sense as the last 2 years.
Spurs would have bird rights and do a sign and trade after using Champagne next season on sweet F-all. Hard for teams to outright sign big deals these days without a sign and trade.
As far as draft sleepers go. JT Toppin a Junior was a first rd pick. As high as a lottery pick. Before he got hurt. Major injury torn ACL. This guy has size and is a legit modern day 4 imo. The consensus is a year to come back. I don’t know if he stays in draft. I would. I believe he will go in first rd, a late pick. Please please please …. Knicks at 25. I would take him. He will be ready to help in March 2027. We can wait. Someone will take him late first rd.
Shake Milton not been any good overseas?