Rockets Pick Up 2026/27 Options On Thompson, Sheppard
The Rockets have exercised their team options for the 2026/27 season on guards Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard, reports Danielle Lerner of The Houston Chronicle (subscription required).
While Houston waited until deadline day to pick up those options, there was never a doubt that they’d be exercised. Both players project to be major parts of the team’s future and will have relatively team-friendly cap hits for ’26/27, with Thompson earning $12,258,609 and Sheppard making $11,108,880.
It’s a fourth-year option for Thompson, who was the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 draft. He’ll be eligible for a rookie scale extension during the 2026 offseason and is line for a lucrative second contract after earning All-Defensive first team honors as an NBA sophomore in 2024/25. So far this season, he’s averaging 14.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game through four outings (33.5 MPG).
Sheppard, the third overall pick in 2024, played a very limited role as a rookie, averaging just 12.6 minutes per night in 52 games. However, he’s being counted on to take on more responsibilities this season in the wake of Fred VanVleet‘s ACL tear. In his first four games, he he averages of 10.0 points, 3.5 assists, and 3.3 rebounds in 22.5 minutes per contest, with a 36.4% mark on three-point attempts.
Because Sheppard is having his third-year option picked up, the Rockets will have one more decision to make on his rookie scale contract — his $14.04MM option for 2027/28 will have to be exercised next fall.
With Houston’s moves complete, we’re only awaiting word on Charlotte’s and New York’s ’26/27 rookie scale option decisions, as our tracker shows.
Southwest Notes: Okogie, Adams, Flagg, Mavs, G. Jackson
After using a jumbo starting lineup in their first two games of the season – both losses – the Rockets made a change on Monday, swapping in veteran wing Josh Okogie for center Steven Adams. As head coach Ime Udoka explained before the game, per Danielle Lerner of The Houston Chronicle (subscription required), he wanted a look at a smaller, more defensive-minded starting five.
“(Okogie) knows his role. He’s keeping it simple,” Udoka said. “Brings the physicality and aggressiveness on the defensive side of the ball. Knows how to play off other guys and then fits in with the areas we like: crashing the glass, slashing, making plays, second opportunities, and kind of gives Amen (Thompson) a break on ball at times.”
The change paid off, as Houston picked up its first win of the season. And while the sample size is very small, the Rockets’ lineup that features Okogie alongside Thompson, Alperen Sengun, Kevin Durant, Jabari Smith Jr. has an impressive +29.2 net rating in its first 13 minutes together.
Still, it’s worth noting that Monday’s victory came against the Nets, who didn’t put up much resistance against any lineups the Rockets used. Additionally, Houston has a +18.2 net rating in 59 minutes through three games with Sengun and Adams sharing the court, so Udoka figures to continue leaning on that pairing going forward.
We have more from around the Southwest:
- Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg hurt his shoulder early in Monday’s game and appeared to be struggling with the injury after returning to the court, making just 1-of-9 shots on the night. However, he’s not on the injury report for Wednesday’s matchup with Indiana, so it sounds like he’s good to go, tweets Christian Clark of The Athletic. Dallas will likely be without its starting center for a second straight game though, as Dereck Lively II is listed as doubtful due to a right knee sprain.
- Dallas’ NBA and NHL teams are at odds, as the Mavericks filed suit against the NHL’s Dallas Stars on Tuesday, claiming that the club is in breach of its agreement with the American Airlines Center and has obstructed maintenance and upgrades to the arena the team shares. Brad Townsend and Lia Assimakopoulos of The Dallas Morning News have the details on that lawsuit in an in-depth story on the two clubs’ dysfunctional relationship. Assimakopoulos published a separate Morning News story about the Stars countersuing the Mavs on Wednesday, writing that the NHL team alleges the Mavs are attempting a “hostile takeover” of the arena.
- GG Jackson II had a breakout rookie season for the Grizzlies as a 19-year-old in 2023/24, but has seen his playing time decline significantly since then, even as the club has dealt with a series of injuries depleting its rotation. Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal takes a closer look at Jackson’s efforts to earn regular minutes, noting that the Grizzlies have challenged the third-year forward to improve his defense. “GG is always very valuable for us,” head coach Tuomas Iisalo said ahead of the season. “It’s easy to forget that he’s still the youngest player in our roster, even though he’s a third-year professional. He’s worked incredibly hard the whole summer. He’s looking to become a complete basketball player, and he’s taking the steps in the right direction.”
Rockets Plan To Apply For DPE Over VanVleet’s Injury
The Rockets plan to file for a disabled player exception due to Fred VanVleet‘s knee injury, Kelly Iko of Yahoo Sports tweets.
If granted, the exception would be worth $12.5MM — 50 percent of VanVleet’s $25MM salary. The DPE allows a team to sign a player up to the value of the exception without using cap space.
The DPE would allow the Rockets to sign a player to a one-year contract, trade for a player in the final year of his contract, or place a waiver claim on a player in the final year of his contract. In order for the exception to be granted, an NBA-designated physician must determine that the player is “substantially more likely than not” to be sidelined through at least June 15 of that league year.
Since the Rockets are right up against a hard cap, the exception wouldn’t help much at this point in the season — they still wouldn’t be able to add a 15th man without shedding salary. However, having that DPE available could give them some additional flexibility later in the season, either in the trade market or in free agency.
Just over a month ago, VanVleet underwent surgery to repair to torn ACL in his right knee. He’s expected to miss the entire season.
VanVleet coincidentally met with the media Monday for the first time since the injury. The veteran guard said he was in top shape prior to injuring his knee during an offseason workout in the Bahamas.
“Just being so excited, and I probably was in the best shape of my life leading up into this season, and just super excited about being out there getting off to a good start,” he told Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle and other media members. “So that was that was definitely disheartening to get hurt at that stage before the season.”
VanVleet, the Rockets’ starting point guard the past two seasons, said there’s no timeline for his return.
“No, no timeline,” he said. “Just taking it slow, day-by-day, and it’s definitely like a week-by-week, day-by-day thing. We’ll see where we’re at towards the end of the year.”
VanVleet holds a $25MM option on his contract for next season. He’s aiming to be back and better than ever.
“I’m gonna come back a much better person, player, everything in between,” VanVleet said, per Lerner. “That’s just the way that I approach things, who I am as a person. The nature of the rehab is so slow, like just take so many things for granted, being able to have to learn how to walk again and like baby steps. So to be able to build yourself back up from ground zero, I have no doubt that I’ll come back a more complete, better, player and person.”
Southwest Notes: Rockets, Fox, Grizzlies, Gafford, B. Williams
Losses to Oklahoma City and Detroit aren’t a cause for panic, but the Rockets have problems to work out following an unexpected 0-2 start, writes Danielle Lerner of The Houston Chronicle (subscription required). Kevin Durant exploded for 37 points on Friday, but the rest of the offense seemed disconnected. The lack of an experienced point guard means the team is often slow to get into its initial actions and try to exploit mismatches, Lerner observes, which results in forced shots late in the clock.
Another issue is that the double-big lineup coach Ime Udoka has started in the first two games has been effective on defense, but the Rockets’ offense is more efficient with just one center on the floor.
“That’s why coaches get paid the big bucks; they got to make those tough decisions,” Durant said. “It’s always good having a versatile team, but knowing once you throw these different lineups out there, it’s the toughest job as a coach. So we’ll be patient and keep growing and keep figuring things out. But defensively, we’re pretty solid.”
Houston is also trying to come up with a point guard solution after losing Fred VanVleet for the season to a torn ACL. The team is counting on Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard to take his place, but Thompson is new to the position and Sheppard is adjusting to regular playing time after being used sparingly last season.
“The adjustment is really just being able to put people in the right spot, communicate with my teammates, and be kind of like a second coach out there to Ime, but I’m learning,” Thompson said. “I’m trying to figure it out, and I know it’s just gonna be better.”
There’s more from the Southwest Division:
- Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox took part in a 5-on-5 scrimmage after Friday’s shootaround and there’s optimism that he might make his season debut by the end of October, according to Jeff McDonald of The San Antonio Express-News (subscription required). Fox has been dealing with a hamstring injury since training camp began, but said he feels “close” to returning. Jeremy Sochan and Kelly Olynyk also participated in the scrimmage and are expected back soon. “I see them do some things on the court, and I think they definitely can play,” coach Mitch Johnson said. “It’s October, so we’re probably going to be a little later than early. But they look great. I hope it will be sooner rather than later.”
- A size mismatch contributed to the Grizzlies‘ 32-point loss to Miami on Friday, notes Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal (subscription required). With Zach Edey and Brandon Clarke both recovering from surgery, Memphis didn’t have enough big men to contend with Kel’el Ware and Bam Adebayo.
- The Mavericks had hoped Daniel Gafford could return from his right ankle sprain on Friday, but now he’s been downgraded to doubtful for Sunday’s game, relays Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News (Twitter link). Brandon Williams will miss the game for personal reasons, Curtis adds (Twitter link).
Rockets Notes: VanVleet, Thompson, Sheppard, Sengun, Udoka
Less than a month after undergoing surgery on his torn ACL, Rockets guard Fred VanVleet was in attendance at Thursday’s practice in a coaching capacity, writes Danielle Lerner of The Houston Chronicle (subscription required). Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard, who have taken on increased ball-handling responsibilities in VanVleet’s absence, expressed appreciation at having the veteran around again.
“It’s already like the old days,” Thompson said. “He’s giving me advice. Just asking him a lot of questions, seeing how he runs the floor.”
Sheppard said VanVleet gave him some instruction on screening angles and slowing down the offense, according to Lerner (Twitter link).
“I’ve said it multiple times, Fred’s been unbelievable to me,” Sheppard said. “I’ve learned so much from him. So just having him back on the court, speaking what he sees and stuff, is really special.”
A team source tells The Houston Chronicle that VanVleet may try to travel with the Rockets on their two-game road trip to Toronto and Boston next week.
Here’s more on the Rockets:
- There’s no consensus among rival executives and scouts around the NBA about whether Houston will eventually need to acquire a veteran point guard to fill in for VanVleet or whether the team will be fine with youngsters like Thompson and Sheppard running the show, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. While one source who spoke to Windhorst criticized Sheppard’s defense and said it makes it “tough to play him at times,” another expressed confidence in the former No. 3 overall pick’s ability to handle his new role. “You can focus on what he can’t do, but I’ve followed him since he was a teenager and all he’s done is overcome doubters,” that exec told ESPN. “Just give him time.”
- After making just 21 total three-point shots last season, Alperen Sengun went 5-of-8 from beyond the arc on Tuesday vs. Oklahoma City. While it would be a “game-changer” for the Rockets if Sengun establishes himself as a reliable threat from outside, not everyone is convinced that will happen, writes ESPN’s Tim Bontemps. However, opposing evaluators are more willing to buy into the big man’s improved “vision and shot creation,” per Bontemps. “He’s way better than I ever thought he would be, and the thing that’s impressive about him is he’s got a really strong command of the game as far as directing traffic,” one scout said. “He’s thinking the game at a higher level than a lot of his teammates. They know it, and they’re following his lead.”
- Following a rebuilding period, Houston is back to being a desirable destination for players around the NBA, according to Lerner (subscription required), who says the presence of head coach Ime Udoka is one key reason why players want to join the Rockets. “I love it because he’s tough, he’s gonna tell you stuff right away,” said Clint Capela, who returned to Houston as a free agent over the summer. “I feel that that’s what you need. The season is so long, and at the end of the season it’s more mental and toughness to fight through fatigue, to fight through minor injuries … and that type of coach who is very good at motivating guys and talks can actually get you to play harder. That’s what it’s about whenever you get to the postseason.”
NBA Teams With Open Roster Spots
Each of the NBA’s 30 teams is permitted to carry 15 players on standard contracts and three on two-way deals once the regular season begins, which works out to a maximum of 540 players across 30 rosters.
[RELATED: 2025/26 NBA Roster Counts]
Of those 540 potential roster spots, 522 are currently occupied to open the 2025/26 season, leaving 18 open roster spots around the NBA across 17 teams. Here’s the full breakdown of those 18 openings around the league:
One open standard roster spot and one open two-way slot
- Cleveland Cavaliers
The only team operating above the second tax apron, the Cavaliers are likely in no hurry to fill the 15th spot on their standard roster, which would cost them exponentially more in tax penalties beyond the player’s salary. Cleveland also has the ability to make changes involving its 14th roster spot at some point if it wants to — Thomas Bryant minimum-salary contract is fully non-guaranteed, so he’d only be owed a prorated portion of his salary if he’s waived at some point on or before January 7.
While two-way players don’t count against the salary cap, they still earn modest salaries (half the rookie minimum), so it’s possible the Cavs will look to save a little money on the league’s priciest roster by holding their third two-way slot open for the time being. A team that has an open standard roster spot is also limited to 90 overall active games for its two-way players instead of 50 apiece, so the Cavs probably aren’t looking to use up many of those games early in the season if they can help it.
One open standard roster spot
- Atlanta Hawks
- Boston Celtics
- Denver Nuggets
- Detroit Pistons
- Golden State Warriors
- Houston Rockets
- Los Angeles Clippers
- Los Angeles Lakers
- Miami Heat
- Minnesota Timberwolves
- New York Knicks
- Orlando Magic
- Philadelphia 76ers
- Phoenix Suns
- Toronto Raptors
Many of these teams are carrying an open roster spot for luxury tax reasons. The Celtics, Nuggets, Warriors, Rockets, Clippers, Lakers, Timberwolves, Knicks, Magic, Sixers, Suns, and Raptors are all over the tax line, while the Heat don’t have much breathing room below it.
Most of those teams will add 15th men eventually, but won’t do so yet. Several of them – Golden State, Houston, both L.A. teams, New York, and Orlando – actually can’t do so yet, since they’re operating so close to their respective hard caps.
The Hawks have room under the tax line for a 15th man, but of all the teams in this group, the Pistons could be the best bet to fill their open roster spot sooner rather than later. They’re well more than $20MM below the tax line, so there are no concerns related to finances or spending flexibility. Still, given that Jaden Ivey is the only player on the roster dealing with more than a day-to-day injury right now, there’s no urgency to bring in a 15th man immediately.
One open two-way slot
- Brooklyn Nets
In the past, a team without a G League affiliate of its own might be slow to fill its two-way contract slots, but all 30 NBA clubs now have affiliates in the NBAGL, so outside of thriftiness, there’s no real excuse not to carry a full complement of two-way players once the G League season begins in the coming weeks.
That’s especially true for the Nets, whose team salary is the lowest in the league entering the season. With so many rookies on the team’s standard roster, a third two-way player might not see any action at the NBA level anytime soon, but it would still make sense for Brooklyn to bring in another young prospect to develop in the G League.
Rockets Notes: Eason, Durant, Sengun, More
The Rockets made forward Tari Eason a “strong” contract offer prior to Monday’s deadline for rookie scale extensions, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported on the latest episode of the Hoop Collective podcast (YouTube link).
“From what I understand…it was in excess of $100MM,” Windhorst said. “I don’t know how much of it would have been guaranteed.”
When he reported on Monday that the Rockets and Eason had failed to come to terms on an agreement, Windhorst’s ESPN colleague Shams Charania wrote that the two sides were unable to bridge the gap in their negotiations “on multiple fronts.” That report, along with Windhorst’s comment, could signal that Eason and his camp weren’t satisfied with the amount of guaranteed money in Houston’s proposal.
Each of the nine players who ultimately signed rookie scale extensions in 2025 received fully guaranteed deals.
Here’s more on the Rockets:
- Entering the 2025 offseason after their first-round loss to Golden State, the Rockets’ front office wasn’t “trying to move guys,” general manager Rafael Stone told ESPN’s Michael C. Wright. However, Stone and the Rockets ended up pulling the trigger on a trade for Kevin Durant because they felt the opportunity was too good to pass up. “Jalen (Green) and Dillon (Brooks), we love those guys,” Stone said. “Everybody does. Not a single person on this team felt they needed to be moved out. And you’re never trying to give away the 10th pick of the draft because that’s still a really good player. We did it because of the opportunity. Kevin’s a very unique player. His archetype is unique. He’s this high-volume efficient scorer who doesn’t have to have the ball in his hands 24-7. In that sense, he’s kind of a unicorn. He’s also a two-way player. There just aren’t a whole lot of Kevin Durants. We’ll just have to see how he ultimately fits.”
- Durant’s first game with the Rockets was a nail-biting double-overtime 125-124 loss to the defending champion Thunder. Durant, who missed a free throw late in regulation and then fouled out with 11 second left in the second overtime period, put the blame on himself after the game, according to Wright. “I missed the free throws, and I fouled somebody at the end,” the star forward said. “I think those two plays are the reason we lost. … I’ve got to be better.” Durant was also in the middle of a near-disaster at the end of the first overtime, when he called for a timeout the Rockets didn’t have — he wasn’t called for a technical foul because the referees didn’t see his signal, crew chief Zach Zarba later explained.
- While Durant’s Rockets debut didn’t end in a win, Alperen Sengun‘s performance in defeat was an extremely encouraging sign for the team, as William Guillory of The Athletic and Danielle Lerner of The Houston Chronicle (subscription required) write. On the heels of an impressive EuroBasket performance for the Turkish national team, Sengun posted a monster line of 39 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists vs. Oklahoma City and showed that Houston won’t always have to lean on Durant for half-court scoring. “He was kind of the backbone of our offense tonight,” forward Josh Okogie said of Sengun, per Lerner.
- Although the trade for Durant was a win-now move for the Rockets, the rest of their core is still so young that they place just 21st in the “now or later” rankings compiled by ESPN’s Zach Kram. As Kram explains, the teams at the top of his list are the most desperate to win right away, while the clubs near the bottom are the most content to win later.
Southwest Notes: Eason, Durant, Poole, Dumars, Johnson
After not reaching an agreement with the Rockets prior to Monday’s deadline for rookie scale extension, forward Tari Eason said on Tuesday that he still wants to be in Houston long-term, per Danielle Lerner of The Houston Chronicle (subscription required).
“Of course,” he said. “I got drafted here. This is home. The brought me in. Since kind of day one, Houston’s been like home and family to me. So of course.”
Eason seemed well positioned to sign an extension after the Rockets worked out a two-year, $90MM deal with Kevin Durant over the weekend that left them projected to be well below the second tax apron in 2026/27. Instead, he’ll look to boost his value with a strong contract year before hitting restricted free agency next summer. He indicated on Tuesday that he’s comfortable with that outcome and hopes to help the Rockets make a deep playoff run before his rookie contract expires.
“It’s business. It’s nothing personal,” Eason said. “I don’t think it really changes my goal. I’m here to try to win a championship with Houston. That’s really my main focus.”
We have more from around the Southwest:
- Speaking of Durant’s extension, he referred to the decision to sign that contract as a “no-brainer,” according to Lerner (subscription required). “Just talking to (general manager) Rafael (Stone) and (head coach) Ime (Udoka) and how they wanted to build the team, and how I seen myself in this organization, I just thought it was a perfect contract for it,” Durant said. “So I’m glad we can get that out the way, won’t have to worry about external noise throughout the season if I didn’t have a contract signed. So just worry about basketball, and focus on the season.”
- The Pelicans‘ trade for Jordan Poole over the summer was met with somewhat mixed reactions, but the former Warriors and Wizards guard looks like he could be an ideal fit in New Orleans, according to Les East of NOLA.com. Poole appealed to the front office due to his ability to play both on and off the ball and the fact that he’s “obsessed with basketball,” East writes. He also gained championship experience during his time in Golden State. “He won a ring,” teammate Zion Williamson said. “So he knows what it takes to get there and having that experience on this team with him is big for us.”
- In a feature story for Pelicans.com, Jim Eichenhofer looks at Joe Dumars‘ first few months on the job in New Orleans and details why the Hall of Famer was willing to leave his position at the NBA league office to come home and run the Pelicans‘ front office.
- While he has been the subject of some trade speculation in the past, Spurs forward Keldon Johnson continues to solidify his place in San Antonio with each passing year and has become one of the team’s culture bearers, per Jeff McDonald of The San Antonio Express-News (subscription required). “His role has evolved numerous times, and he has never wavered in terms of his commitment and enthusiasm to be here,” head coach Mitch Johnson said. “I think that speaks more than anything I can say.”
Thunder’s Jalen Williams, Isaiah Joe Out For Opener
Thunder star Jalen Williams will not play in Tuesday’s regular season opener vs. Houston as the All-Star forward continues to recover from offseason surgery to repair a torn scapholunate ligament in his right wrist, according to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, who says (via Twitter) the 24-year-old is not expected to miss extended time.
In a full story for ESPN.com, MacMahon notes that Oklahoma City has been cagey about Williams’ recovery timeline.
“Just whenever I feel like I can be a hundred percent, then I’ll rock out,” Williams said during the preseason. “Part of the process is just figuring out how to get my jump shot back. A lot of it is just trying to get feel back.”
Williams sustained the wrist injury in early April, shortly before the regular season ended, and played with it during the playoffs, which saw the team win its first championship. He just started shooting with his right hand this month, MacMahon adds.
The Thunder’s injury report also includes sharpshooting guard Isaiah Joe, who has been ruled out with a knee issue, per Rylan Stiles of SI.com. Thomas Sorber (season-ending torn ACL), Kenrich Williams (arthroscopic knee surgery) and Nikola Topic (testicular procedure) are sidelined as well.
As for the Rockets, they will be without Fred VanVleet (torn ACL), Dorian Finney-Smith and Jae’Sean Tate, Stiles writes. Both Finney-Smith and Tate are recovering from offseason ankle surgery.
The Rockets announced they will use a jumbo-sized starting lineup on Tuesday consisting of Amen Thompson, Kevin Durant, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun and Steven Adams, as Stiles relays.
No Rookie Scale Extensions For Rockets’ Eason, 11 Others
The Rockets and forward Tari Eason failed to come to terms on a rookie scale extension ahead of the 5:00 pm Central time deadline on Monday, reports Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).
Entering the day, Eason looked like one of the top remaining candidates to sign a rookie scale extension, along with Nuggets wing Christian Braun and Hawks guard Dyson Daniels. However, while Braun and Daniels completed deals worth $25MM annually, the Rockets and Eason were unable to find common ground “on multiple fronts,” according to Charania.
That wording suggests the two sides not have seen eye to eye on both years and dollars, or perhaps they disagreed over how the end of a potential extension would be structured in terms of options and/or guaranteed money.
According to Kelly Iko of Yahoo Sports (Twitter link), the Rockets and Eason’s camp had been “far apart in valuation” for weeks and weren’t able to bridge that gap despite an 11th hour push from the team, which was in position to work out an agreement with Eason after extending Kevin Durant over the weekend.
Eason is one of 12 players who didn’t sign rookie scale extensions prior to Monday’s deadline despite being eligible. Those players will now be on track for restricted free agency when their rookie scale contracts expire during the 2026 offseason.
Here’s that full list of players, sorted by their 2022 draft position and with their projected 2026 qualifying offers included in parentheses:
- Jaden Ivey, Pistons ($13,402,098)
- Bennedict Mathurin, Pacers ($12,256,222)
- Jeremy Sochan, Spurs ($9,615,393)
- Ousmane Dieng, Thunder ($9,132,437)
- Jalen Duren, Pistons ($8,966,188)
- Ochai Agbaji, Raptors ($8,879,483)
- Mark Williams, Suns ($8,774,590)
- Tari Eason, Rockets ($8,014,182)
- Dalen Terry, Bulls ($7,661,348)
- Malaki Branham, Wizards ($7,110,593)
- Walker Kessler, Jazz ($7,064,702)
- Peyton Watson, Nuggets ($6,534,714)
Those qualifying offers, which must be issued in order to make the player a restricted free agent, are subject to change depending on whether or not the player meets the starter criteria next season. A player drafted in the top 14 who falls short of the criteria would have a qualifying offer worth $8,774,590. A player who was drafted between No. 10 and No. 30 and achieves the starter criteria would see the value of his QO increase to $9,615,393.
A team that issues a qualifying offer to a potential restricted free agent gains the right of first refusal on that player and can match any offer sheet he signs with a rival suitor. A player who doesn’t get a QO next June would hit the market as an unrestricted free agent.
Magic forward Paolo Banchero, Thunder teammates Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams, Kings forward Keegan Murray, Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr., Trail Blazers guard Shaedon Sharpe, and Heat forward Nikola Jovic joined Braun and Daniels in signing rookie scale extensions, bringing the total for 2025 to nine. The details on those deals can be viewed here.