Players On Designated Rookie Extensions
Since Nets star Kevin Durant made his trade request earlier this week, NBA fans have become a whole lot familiar with a specific term in the league’s Collective Bargaining Agreement: the designated rookie extension.
As we explain in a glossary entry on the subject, a designated rookie extension is a five-year extension given to a player who is entering the final year of his rookie scale contract. It must be worth the maximum salary, but it’s that fifth year in particular that makes a player a “designated rookie.” A player who signs a four-year, maximum-salary rookie scale extension is not considered a designated rookie.
Here’s the full list of players currently on designated rookie extensions:
- Bam Adebayo (Heat)
- Devin Booker (Suns)
- Luka Doncic (Mavericks)
- Joel Embiid (Sixers)
- De’Aaron Fox (Kings)
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder)
- Donovan Mitchell (Jazz)
- Jamal Murray (Nuggets)
- Michael Porter Jr. (Nuggets)
- Ben Simmons (Nets)
- Jayson Tatum (Celtics)
- Karl-Anthony Towns (Timberwolves)
- Andrew Wiggins (Warriors)
- Trae Young (Hawks)
An NBA team is permitted to carry up to two players on designated rookie extensions, as the Nuggets are with Murray and Porter. However, a team cannot carry two designated rookies if both of those players were acquired via trade.
Because the Nets acquired Simmons from the Sixers in this year’s James Harden blockbuster, that means they’re not allowed to trade for a second player on a designated rookie extension unless they move Simmons beforehand (or in the same deal). The same rule would apply to the Warriors with Wiggins, but it’s obviously far more relevant these days for the Nets, who are said to be seeking at least one young star in a package for Durant.
Many of the players on the above list aren’t going anywhere — it’s not as if the Mavericks are going to consider trading Doncic. But with a player like Durant on the trade block, few NBA stars are untouchable, and teams will have to take the designated rookie rule into account when they consider offers for the former MVP.
For instance, the Suns and Heat, who have been mentioned as Durant’s preferred landing spots, wouldn’t be able to trade Booker or Adebayo for him (not that Phoenix would be willing to include Booker anyway).
Grizzlies guard Ja Morant, Cavaliers guard Darius Garland, and Pelicans forward Zion Williamson are expected to be added to the above list soon. Morant agreed to a five-year, maximum-salary extension with Memphis, Garland did the same with Cleveland, and Williamson will sign one with New Orleans.
The designated rookie rule says that a team can’t carry two players acquired via trade if those players have signed designated rookie extensions that apply to a “current or future” cap year, so even though the extensions for Morant, Garland, and Williamson won’t take effect until 2023/24, the rule would apply to them as soon as they officially sign.
Only a player who signs a rookie scale extension can become a designated rookie. The rule doesn’t apply to players who reach free agency, even if they sign a five-year, maximum-salary contract at that time.
Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram, for example, isn’t considered a designated rookie since he signed his five-year max contract after becoming a free agent. Deandre Ayton also can’t be a designated rookie now that he has reached free agency. Either player could hypothetically be sent to Brooklyn in a Durant trade.
Players who signed four-year, maximum-salary rookie scale extensions also aren’t considered designated rookies, as noted above. That means Raptors forward Pascal Siakam could also theoretically be traded to Brooklyn without Simmons having to move.
Again, teams can carry two designated rookies if just one was acquired via trade. For instance, the Heat wouldn’t be prohibited from making a deal for Mitchell, since their current designated rookie (Adebayo) has spent his entire career in Miami.
Finally, it’s worth clarifying that this rule only applies if a trade occurs after the player signed his designated rookie extension. In other words, the Thunder would be allowed to trade for a second designated rookie without moving Gilgeous-Alexander, since they acquired him from the Clippers before he signed his rookie scale extension.
2022 NBA Draft Pick Signings
Free agent and trade news has dominated NBA headlines over the last few days, but teams around the league are also taking care of the rookies they drafted on June 23, signing them to their first NBA contracts. Because cap holds for first-round picks count for 120% of the rookie scale instead of 100% in the current Collective Bargaining Agreement, there’s little incentive for teams to wait to lock up their first-rounders.
For first-round picks, rookie contracts are fairly rigid, having essentially been predetermined. The NBA’s rookie-scale structure dictates that first-rounders will be signed to four-year deals, which include two guaranteed years, then team options in years three and four.
The value of those contracts depends on where a player was drafted. This year, No. 1 overall pick Paolo Banchero signed a four-year deal worth in excess of $50MM, which represents the maximum allowable 120% of his scale amount. No. 30 pick Peyton Watson, on the other hand, would be in line for a four-year contract worth a little over $11MM.
The full breakdown of this year’s first-round rookie salaries and contracts can be found right here — if you see a first-rounder listed below as “signed,” you can assume his contract looks like that, unless otherwise indicated.
Second-round picks, meanwhile, aren’t assured of two guaranteed seasons, though some players will receive them. Teams can sign second-rounders to whatever amount they choose, using cap room or various exceptions. Those players who immediately join their NBA teams figure to earn a minimum salary or something slightly above the minimum. We’ll make a note of contract details for second-rounders below, as they become available.
Finally, some second-rounders – and perhaps even some first-rounders – won’t sign NBA deals immediately. They may get two-way contracts, play in the G League, or head overseas to refine their games while their NBA teams retain their rights. We’ll make note of that below too, wherever it’s applicable.
Here’s a breakdown of 2022’s draft pick signings. This list will continue to be updated as more draftees sign their first NBA contracts:
First Round:
- Orlando Magic: Paolo Banchero, F, Duke: Signed
- Oklahoma City Thunder: Chet Holmgren, F, Gonzaga: Signed
- Houston Rockets: Jabari Smith, F, Auburn: Signed
- Sacramento Kings: Keegan Murray, F, Iowa: Signed
- Detroit Pistons: Jaden Ivey, G, Purdue: Signed
- Indiana Pacers: Bennedict Mathurin, G/F, Arizona: Signed
- Portland Trail Blazers: Shaedon Sharpe, G, Kentucky: Signed
- New Orleans Pelicans: Dyson Daniels, G, G League Ignite: Signed
- San Antonio Spurs: Jeremy Sochan, F, Baylor: Signed
- Washington Wizards: Johnny Davis, G, Wisconsin: Signed
- Oklahoma City Thunder: Ousmane Dieng, F, New Zealand Breakers: Signed
- Oklahoma City Thunder: Jalen Williams, G, Santa Clara: Signed
- Detroit Pistons: Jalen Duren, C, Memphis: Signed
- Cleveland Cavaliers: Ochai Agbaji, F, Kansas: Signed
- Charlotte Hornets: Mark Williams, C, Duke: Signed
- Atlanta Hawks: AJ Griffin, F, Duke: Signed
- Houston Rockets: Tari Eason, F, LSU: Signed
- Chicago Bulls: Dalen Terry, G, Arizona: Signed
- Memphis Grizzlies: Jake LaRavia, F, Wake Forest: Signed
- San Antonio Spurs: Malaki Branham, G/F, Ohio State: Signed
- Denver Nuggets: Christian Braun, G, Kansas: Signed
- Utah Jazz: Walker Kessler, C, Auburn: Signed
- Memphis Grizzlies: David Roddy, F, Colorado State: Signed
- Milwaukee Bucks: MarJon Beauchamp, G, G League Ignite: Signed
- San Antonio Spurs: Blake Wesley, G, Notre Dame: Signed
- Minnesota Timberwolves: Wendell Moore, F, Duke: Signed
- Miami Heat: Nikola Jovic, F, Mega Mozzart: Signed
- Golden State Warriors: Patrick Baldwin, F, Milwaukee: Signed
- Houston Rockets: TyTy Washington, G, Kentucky: Signed
- Denver Nuggets: Peyton Watson, F, UCLA: Signed
Second Round:
- Indiana Pacers: Andrew Nembhard, G, Gonzaga: Signed
- Four-year, $8,583,166 contract. First three years guaranteed. Fourth-year team option.
- Four-year, $8,583,166 contract. First three years guaranteed. Fourth-year team option.
- Orlando Magic: Caleb Houstan, F, Michigan: Signed
- Four-year, $8,207,150 contract. First two years guaranteed. Third year non-guaranteed. Fourth-year team option.
- Toronto Raptors: Christian Koloko, F/C, Arizona: Signed
- Three-year, $5,239,563 contract. First two years guaranteed. Third year non-guaranteed.
- Three-year, $5,239,563 contract. First two years guaranteed. Third year non-guaranteed.
- Oklahoma City Thunder: Jaylin Williams, C, Arkansas: Signed
- Four-year, $8,207,150 contract. First two years guaranteed. Third year non-guaranteed. Fourth-year team option.
- Four-year, $8,207,150 contract. First two years guaranteed. Third year non-guaranteed. Fourth-year team option.
- Los Angeles Lakers: Max Christie, G, Michigan State: Signed
- Two-year, minimum-salary contract. Fully guaranteed.
- Two-year, minimum-salary contract. Fully guaranteed.
- Detroit Pistons: Gabriele Procida, G, Fortitudo Bologna: Will play overseas
- Dallas Mavericks: Jaden Hardy, G, G League Ignite: Signed
- Three-year, minimum-salary contract. First two years guaranteed. Third year partially guaranteed.
- Three-year, minimum-salary contract. First two years guaranteed. Third year partially guaranteed.
- Memphis Grizzlies: Kennedy Chandler, G, Tennessee: Signed
- Four-year, $7,127,014 contract. First three years guaranteed. Fourth-year team option.
- Four-year, $7,127,014 contract. First three years guaranteed. Fourth-year team option.
- Cleveland Cavaliers: Khalifa Diop, C, Gran Canaria: Will play overseas
- Charlotte Hornets: Bryce McGowens, G, Nebraska: Signed
- Two-way contract.
- New Orleans Pelicans: E.J. Liddell, F, Ohio State: Signed
- Two-way contract.
- New York Knicks: Trevor Keels, F, Duke: Signed
- Two-way contract.
- Los Angeles Clippers: Moussa Diabate, F, Michigan: Signed
- Two-way contract.
- Golden State Warriors: Ryan Rollins, G, Toledo: Signed
- Three-year, minimum-salary contract. First two years guaranteed. Third year partially guaranteed.
- Minnesota Timberwolves: Josh Minott, F, Memphis: Signed
- Four-year, minimum-salary contract. First two years guaranteed. Third year non-guaranteed. Fourth-year team option.
- Four-year, minimum-salary contract. First two years guaranteed. Third year non-guaranteed. Fourth-year team option.
- Denver Nuggets: Ismael Kamagate, C, Paris: Will play overseas
- Memphis Grizzlies: Vince Williams, F, VCU: Signed
- Two-way contract (two years).
- Two-way contract (two years).
- Indiana Pacers: Kendall Brown, F, Baylor: Signed
- Two-way contract.
- Cleveland Cavaliers: Isaiah Mobley, F, USC: Signed
- Two-way contract.
- Minnesota Timberwolves: Matteo Spagnolo, G, Cremona: Will play overseas
- Atlanta Hawks: Tyrese Martin, F, UConn: Signed
- Two-year, minimum-salary contract. First year partially guaranteed. Second year non-guaranteed.
- Two-year, minimum-salary contract. First year partially guaranteed. Second year non-guaranteed.
- New Orleans Pelicans: Karlo Matkovic, F, Mega Mozzart: Will play overseas
- Boston Celtics: JD Davison, G, Alabama: Signed
- Two-way contract.
- Washington Wizards: Yannick Nzosa, C, Unicaja Malaga: Will play overseas
- Golden State Warriors: Gui Santos, F, Minas: Will play in G League
- Cleveland Cavaliers: Luke Travers, G/F, Perth Wildcats: Will play overseas
- Portland Trail Blazers: Jabari Walker, F, Colorado: Signed
- Three-year, minimum-salary contract. First year guaranteed. Second year partially guaranteed. Third year non-guaranteed.
- Milwaukee Bucks: Hugo Besson, G, New Zealand Breakers: Will play overseas
Note: The Bucks and Heat forfeited their own second-round picks due to free agency gun-jumping. They would have been No. 54 and No. 55, respectively.
Hoops Rumors’ Free Agent Prediction Contest Leaderboard
Forty of the 50 players who made our initial list of the top NBA free agents of 2022 have already tentatively come off the board. Some of those players picked up options or signed extensions with their old teams; many have reached free agent agreements since Thursday, either with their former team or a new club.
[RELATED: 2022 NBA Free Agent Tracker]
With just 10 of our top 50 free agents left on the board, our free agent prediction contest is already entering its home stretch. You can check out the leaderboard right here to follow along with the action and see how you’re doing relative to the competition.
Using the leaderboard, you can search for your own name in the contest results. You can also click on anyone’s name to see their individual picks.
A few other things to keep in mind:
- During the July moratorium, the leaderboard is being updated based on tentative contract agreements. However, until those agreements become official after the moratorium, they won’t be locked in. In other words, if we’d been running this contest back in 2015, when DeAndre Jordan committed to the Mavericks before changing his mind and signing with the Clippers, you wouldn’t have gotten credit for predicting Jordan would sign with Dallas, even if he may have been listed in our leaderboard as a Mav for a few days.
- If a player exercised his option, his free agency is over. For example, Kyrie Irving will be considered to have “signed” with the Nets even if he’s traded later in the offseason.
- Ties will be broken based on which entrant picked the higher-ranked free agents more accurately on a cumulative basis. Each free agent will be assigned a point value based on his ranking and the entrant with the lower overall point total would win a tiebreaker. For instance, an entrant who correctly picks the No. 4 and No. 8 free agents’ destinations (12 points) would earn the tiebreaker over an entrant who correctly picks No. 1 and No. 14 (15 points).
- We will announce the winners on Hoops Rumors once all 50 free agents have signed or on September 27, 2022, whichever comes first. If there are any unsigned players as of September 27, they’ll be excluded from the competition.
You can keep tabs on the leaderboard via the “Hoops Rumors Features” sidebar of our desktop site or the “Features” page in our mobile menu.
Jazz Rumors: Mitchell, Gobert Trade, McDaniels, Backcourt
In the latest episode of his Hoop Collective podcast (video link), ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said people around the league still believe Donovan Mitchell will be traded, despite reports that the Jazz plan to retool around the All-Star guard following the Rudy Gobert blockbuster. His ESPN colleague Tim MacMahon agrees.
“I don’t think he’s on the roster when the season starts,” MacMahon said. “Maybe he is. I’d be shocked if he’s on the roster after the trade deadline.”
Tony Jones of The Athletic, who – along with ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski – reported following the Gobert trade agreement that the Jazz don’t intend to move Mitchell, reiterated on Friday night that the team is “not amenable” to trading the former Louisville star. The plan is for Mitchell to be with the team for the start of the 2022/23 season, Jones says.
However, Jones added a caveat: If Utah receives an offer that’s similar in scale to the Gobert package, “it will be hard not listen.” Jones also notes that the Jazz will need to ensure they have Mitchell’s buy-in before committing to building the roster around him.
Mitchell and Gobert never seemed to be on the best of terms, so Mitchell may not view the Gobert trade unfavorably, especially if the front office is committed to flipping some of the assets from that package for win-now help.
Still, the team just hired a first-time head coach (Will Hardy) on a five-year contract and may be moving on from three of Mitchell’s best friends on the roster (Royce O’Neale was traded to Brooklyn, while Eric Paschall and Trent Forrest became unrestricted free agents after not receiving qualifying offers). So there will have to be conversations between the Jazz and the 25-year-old guard, Jones writes.
Here’s more on the Jazz:
- In initial negotiations between the Jazz and Timberwolves for Gobert, Utah was insisting on the inclusion of forward Jaden McDaniels, but Minnesota refused, according to Jones. That’s one reason why the package of draft picks (three unprotected first-rounders, a top-five protected first-rounder, and a swap) was so substantial — the Wolves preferred to give up extra draft assets rather than surrender McDaniels.
- The Jazz’s front office viewed Gobert’s super-max contract as a “hindrance,” sources tell Jones. The big man is owed a guaranteed $123MM over the next three seasons and has a $46.7MM player option for 2025/26, so moving that contract creates significant cap flexibility for Utah going forward.
- The Jazz are “not even close” to finished with their offseason, according to Jones, who says a logjam in the backcourt will need to be cleared. In addition to Mitchell, Utah still has guards Mike Conley, Jordan Clarkson, Patrick Beverley, Malik Beasley, Nickeil Alexander-Walker , Jared Butler, and Leandro Bolmaro.
- Andy Larsen of The Salt Lake Tribune breaks down the return the Jazz got for Gobert, making a case that all 10 pieces headed to Utah can be viewed as assets (as opposed to filler).
Checking In On NBA’s Top Remaining Free Agents
Technically, most of this year’s top free agents remain unsigned. Until the moratorium in place at the start of the 2022/23 league year lifts at 11:01 am Central time on July 6, most of them are ineligible to sign their new contracts.
However, within the last 40-ish hours, 40 of the players from our list of 2022’s top 50 free agents have taken themselves off the market by reaching contract agreements with teams around the league.
[RELATED: 2022 NBA Free Agent Tracker]
While those are just tentative agreements and could still fall apart, that usually doesn’t happen more than once or twice in a given offseason, so it’s safe to pencil those deals in for the time being and assume those free agents are off the board.
So who does that leave? As of Saturday morning, here are the top free agents from our top-50 list (which was last updated on Tuesday) who have yet to agree to new deals:
- James Harden, G, Sixers
- Deandre Ayton, C, Suns (RFA)
- Miles Bridges, F, Hornets (RFA)
- Collin Sexton, G, Cavaliers (RFA)
- Cody Martin, F, Hornets (RFA)
- Caleb Martin, F, Heat (RFA)
- Dennis Schröder, G, Rockets
- Montrezl Harrell, C, Hornets
- Jordan Nwora, F, Bucks (RFA)
- T.J. Warren, F, Pacers
Four of our top nine free agents remain on the board, but there are a couple caveats worth considering here. Harden, for instance, is widely expected to remain with the Sixers — it’s just a matter of the two sides figuring out how many years and dollars he’ll get. The two sides are reportedly meeting this weekend to negotiate his new contract.
Bridges’ on-court contributions made him one of our top free agents of this offseason when we published our initial list, but if we were re-ranking the available players today, he would plummet. After being arrested following allegations of felony domestic violence, Bridges was formally charged on Friday, per the Los Angeles Police Department (story via ESPN), and his NBA future is very much up in the air.
Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer wrote on Friday that a long-term deal for Bridges, which appeared to be a formality a few days ago, now appears very unlikely. Emiliano Carchia of Sportando (Twitter link) has sources who believe the Hornets will pull their $7.9MM qualifying offer to Bridges, making him an unrestricted free agent. The 24-year-old is toxic right now, and for good reason.
Of the eight other players listed above, four are restricted free agents, which will reduce their leverage to negotiate favorable multiyear terms, at least to some extent. However, Ayton, in particular, still seems like a good bet to land a lucrative long-term contract.
His situation may be tied to the Kevin Durant trade market — if the Suns can acquire Durant, Ayton could be a key part of the outgoing package in a sign-and-trade, either to Brooklyn or a third team. The Jazz and Pacers are among the teams that have been linked to the former No. 1 overall pick.
It remains unclear which teams might try to force the Cavaliers‘ hand on Sexton. According to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com (Twitter link), Cleveland still has about $15MM in breathing room below the luxury tax line. It’s possible the club will be able to bring back Sexton and stay out of the tax if no rival suitors with cap room are prepared to pursue the 23-year-old guard.
Harrell has his own legal issues to deal with, though the marijuana charges he’s facing will presumably be viewed by teams as far less troublesome as Bridges’ charges.
Warren, meanwhile, is a bit of a wild card. On merit alone, he would’ve ranked much higher on our initial list, but the fact that he has essentially missed two full seasons due to injuries made me wary of placing him too high — it seems as though his lengthy layoff may be giving potential suitors pause as well.
The following free agents were noted in the honorable mention section of our top-50 list and aren’t yet spoken for:
- LaMarcus Aldridge, F/C, Nets
- Carmelo Anthony, F, Lakers
- Bismack Biyombo, C, Suns
- Avery Bradley, G, Lakers
- Thomas Bryant, C, Wizards
- Facundo Campazzo, G, Nuggets
- DeMarcus Cousins, C, Nuggets
- Goran Dragic, G, Nets
- Dwight Howard, C, Lakers
- Serge Ibaka, F/C, Bucks
- Jeremy Lamb, G/F, Kings
- Markieff Morris, F, Heat
- Austin Rivers, G, Nuggets
- Tristan Thompson, C, Bulls
- Hassan Whiteside, C, Jazz
Here are our full lists of free agents by position/type and by team.
NBA 2022 Free Agency: Day 2 Recap
The rate of the contract agreements reported on the second day of the NBA’s free agent period slowed down a little after a fast-paced first day on Thursday. Still, we saw another 20-plus free agents come off the board, including one who became the second free agent to receive a maximum-salary commitment this summer.
[RELATED: 2022 NBA Free Agent Tracker]
It was also an eventful day in non-free agent NBA news, with a three-time Defensive Player of the Year headlining a blockbuster trade agreement and a former No. 1 overall pick nearing a maximum-salary contract extension.
Listed below are the highlights from around the NBA on Friday.
Free agent agreements:
These deals aren’t yet official, so the reported terms could change — or agreements could fall through altogether. Generally speaking though, teams and players are on track to finalize these agreements sometime after the moratorium ends on July 6.
Note: Some of these salary figures may include options, incentives, or non-guaranteed money.
Zach LaVine, Bulls agree to five-year, $215.16MM (maximum-salary) contract.- Jusuf Nurkic, Trail Blazers agree to four-year, $70MM contract.
- Mitchell Robinson, Knicks agree to four-year, $60MM contract.
- Kevon Looney, Warriors agree to three-year, $25.5MM contract.
- Ricky Rubio, Cavaliers agree to three-year, $18.4MM contract.
- John Wall, Clippers agree to two-year, $13.2MM contract.
- Bruce Brown, Nuggets agree to two-year, $13MM contract.
- Danilo Gallinari, Celtics agree to two-year, $13MM contract.
- Jalen Smith, Pacers agree to two-year, $9.6MM contract.
- Donte DiVincenzo, Warriors agree to two-year, $9.3MM contract.
- Derrick Jones, Bulls agree to two-year, $6.6MM contract.
- Bryn Forbes, Timberwolves agree to one-year, minimum-salary contract.
- Aaron Holiday, Hawks agree to one-year, minimum-salary contract.
- Damion Lee, Suns agree to one-year, minimum-salary contract.
- Robin Lopez, Cavaliers agree to one-year, minimum-salary contract.
- Raul Neto, Cavaliers agree to one-year, minimum-salary contract.
- Bol Bol, Magic agree to two-year contract.
- Luke Kornet, Celtics agree to two-year contract.
- Otto Porter, Raptors agree to two-year contract.
- Drew Eubanks, Trail Blazers agree to one-year contract.
- Theo Pinson, Mavericks agree to one-year contract.
Trades:
- Jazz agree to trade Rudy Gobert to Timberwolves for five players, four first-round picks (three unprotected), and a pick swap.
- Pacers agree to trade Malcolm Brogdon to Celtics for five players – including Daniel Theis and Aaron Nesmith – and a 2023 first-round pick (top-12 protected).
- Hawks agree to trade Kevin Huerter to Kings for Justin Holiday, Maurice Harkless, and a 2024 first-round pick (top-14 protected).
Other news:
- Zion Williamson, Pelicans nearing five-year, maximum-salary rookie scale extension (expected to include protections related to games played and/or injury).
- The Nets are reportedly seeking a “historic haul” for Kevin Durant. Here are the latest rumors.
- Nemanja Bjelica agrees to sign two-year, $4MM contract with Turkish team Fenerbahce.
Previously:
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 |
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.
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.
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.