The NBA`s free agent class of 2025 was once anticipated to be historically significant.
Many star players, including Jayson Tatum, Jimmy Butler III, Donovan Mitchell, Lauri Markkanen, Jalen Brunson, Anthony Davis, Damian Lillard, Jamal Murray, Rudy Gobert, Aaron Gordon, Derrick White, and Brandon Ingram, were expected to enter free agency this offseason.
However, modifications to extension rules introduced in the 2017 and 2023 collective bargaining agreements have provided incentives for these 12 players to secure guaranteed contracts a year early, thus avoiding free agency. Since the 2022 offseason began, a total of 65 veteran players have extended their contracts, with 26 players doing so last year alone.
This offseason, over 100 players are eligible to sign extensions, including the two most recent MVP award winners, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic.
Here is an overview of what to anticipate from 16 notable players who are eligible for extensions, and a look at their potential career paths in the league.
Supermax Eligible Candidates
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder
Gilgeous-Alexander met the supermax performance criteria (All-NBA in consecutive seasons) during the 2024 offseason but had to wait until now because he hadn`t yet completed seven years of service in the league.
Now that he is eligible, the recently named MVP is expected to join the select group of 13 players who have signed supermax contracts since 2017.
A potential four-year extension for Gilgeous-Alexander valued at $293.4 million would set a new standard, with an average annual salary of $73.3 million, marking the highest in NBA history. His initial salary of $65.5 million in the first year of the extension would begin in the 2027-28 season.
There exists a less likely scenario where Gilgeous-Alexander could delay signing the extension until the 2026 offseason. This would allow him to add a fifth season to the contract and potentially secure an additional $86 million beyond what he is eligible for this summer, bringing the total value of the extension to $379 million.
Gilgeous-Alexander led the league in scoring this season, averaging 32.7 points per game, and achieved a streak of 71 consecutive games with at least 20 points, which is the fourth-longest streak in NBA history.
What to expect: Gilgeous-Alexander is highly likely to become the 14th player in league history to sign a supermax deal.
July Extension Candidates
Trae Young, Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks` strategy in negotiating with Trae Young will be crucial in shaping the team`s roster composition in future seasons. On the surface, Young`s performance certainly justifies the four-year, $229 million extension he is eligible to sign. His $51 million salary in 2026-27 would replace his current $48.9 million player option. This season, Young led the league in assists with an average of 11.6 per game, the highest since Russell Westbrook in 2020-21. He also recorded 200 assists in fourth quarters, the most since John Stockton in the 1996-97 season.
The counterargument against a new contract is based on roster construction philosophy and the team`s willingness to commit long-term to Young. Atlanta has emphasized building its team around younger players such as Dyson Daniels, Jalen Johnson, and Zaccharie Risacher. Young recorded a career-low 53% shooting percentage at the rim this season and his second-worst effective field goal percentage. He also led the league in turnovers with 355.
Should an extension not be agreed upon, Young could become an unrestricted free agent in the 2026 offseason if he declines his player option. Another factor to consider is the limited pool of potential trade partners if Atlanta were to make Young available. Currently, the only teams with notable backcourt needs are Brooklyn and Sacramento.
What to expect: Unless Young is amenable to a more modest contract (for example, a three-year deal around $120 million), it seems unlikely the Hawks will offer the 26-year-old All-Star a full $229 million extension.
Kyrie Irving, Mavericks
Kyrie Irving is expected to feature prominently on two lists this summer: significant extension candidates and key free agents to watch.
If Irving opts into his $43 million salary before the June 24 deadline, both he and the team would be permitted to negotiate a deal for up to four years and $267 million.
However, considering Irving turned 33 in March, is recovering from a notable knee injury, and his teammate Anthony Davis is already under contract for the next three seasons, it seems improbable the Mavericks would commit to more than a two-year extension starting at $59 million.
What to expect: Irving is likely to decline his current player option and sign a new contract directly with the Mavericks.
Nikola Jokic, Nuggets
It was less than three years ago that Jokic signed a five-year, $276 million supermax extension following Denver`s victory in its first NBA championship.
Now, the three-time MVP is eligible to extend his contract by an additional three seasons, potentially worth $212 million. Because his player option for the 2027-28 season would be replaced by a new salary, the net amount of new guaranteed money would be $152 million.
However, Jokic signing a new contract this offseason is not a foregone conclusion for Denver. He was candid in his assessment of the current roster, stating it lacked sufficient quality or depth to win another championship.
“We definitely need to figure out a way to get more depth,” Jokic commented after the Nuggets were eliminated by the Oklahoma City Thunder in seven games during the Western Conference semifinals. “It seems like the teams that have longer rotations, the longer benches, are the ones winning. You look at Indiana and OKC and Minnesota, and they have been great examples of that.”
Delaying the decision to sign an extension until closer to the October 21 deadline would increase pressure on the team`s ownership and management. Jokic could potentially earn an additional $81 million if he waits until the 2026 offseason.
What to expect: Although an extra $152 million in guaranteed funds is appealing, Jokic might be in a better financial position by deferring his decision until closer to Oct. 21. It`s worth noting he still has two years remaining on his current contract after the upcoming season, which would provide more financial leverage by waiting.
Norman Powell, Clippers
The Clippers have deliberately constructed their roster with the aim of competing now while simultaneously maintaining financial flexibility for the future.
Key examples include the three-year extension Kawhi Leonard signed in 2024 and James Harden`s short-term agreement. The only guaranteed salary currently on the Clippers` books for the 2027-28 season is the $21 million due to Ivica Zubac.
Extension negotiations with Powell will indicate the Clippers` future spending approach. Powell is entering the final year of his contract, and it is clear he has performed above his $19.2 million salary. Before the All-Star break, he averaged 24.2 points, shooting 49.6% from the field and 42.8% from beyond the arc.
Nevertheless, committing to an annual salary of $30 million or more – he is eligible to sign a four-year extension valued at $128.5 million – should prompt the Clippers to exercise caution. Powell recently turned 32 and has only played more than 60 games in one of the past four seasons.
What to expect: If the Clippers consider Powell a priority, a two-year extension worth $50 million could serve as a compromise beneficial to both sides. A $25 million annual salary in 2027-28 would still allow the Clippers to retain over $120 million in potential cap space available for free agency.
Austin Reaves, Lakers
Through no fault of their own, Austin Reaves and the Lakers may find themselves in a state of impasse regarding a new contract.
Reaves signed a four-year deal with the Lakers worth $53.8 million in 2023, representing the maximum allowable amount given his free agent status at that time. His $13.9 million salary in 2025-26 is below both the average player salary and the non-taxpayer midlevel exception.
Two years later, this favorable contract could play a significant role in the guard`s decision to become a free agent in the 2026 offseason. Due to his team-friendly salary, the largest extension the Lakers can offer is four years and $89.2 million. The $19.9 million salary for the first year represents 140% of the average player salary, which is the maximum increase permitted under the CBA rules.
What to expect: Reaves is likely to decline signing an extension now and will enter free agency in 2026. Opting out of the $14.9 million player option in 2026-27 would provide him with greater financial flexibility when negotiating a new contract with the Lakers.
Jaren Jackson Jr., Grizzlies
Given that Jaren Jackson Jr. did not receive All-NBA honors this season, the Grizzlies will need to employ a creative strategy for extending the contract of the 2023 Defensive Player of the Year.
Because the rookie extension Jackson signed in 2021 features declining salaries, the largest extension currently permitted would be four years and $146.8 million. This amount is substantially less – specifically, $150 million less – than what he could potentially sign for with Memphis as a free agent in 2026, and $75 million less than he could command from another team with available cap space.
A feasible solution involves renegotiating his current $23.3 million salary by utilizing available cap space and then extending him for an additional four seasons. For instance, the Grizzlies could use their $6.9 million in cap room to increase his salary for the upcoming season to $30.3 million. Memphis would then be allowed to extend his contract for another four years and $190 million. This season, Jackson joined Anthony Davis and Victor Wembanyama as the only players to average 20 points and 1.5 blocks during the regular season.
What to expect: A renegotiation of his current contract followed by an extension is the likely path. For the first year of the extension to begin at $51 million (the maximum first-year salary), Memphis would need approximately $14 million in cap space to increase his pay in the 2025-26 season.
Ja Morant, Grizzlies
Discussions regarding a contract extension for Ja Morant involve several complexities. There is no immediate urgency as he still has three years remaining on the five-year, $197 million extension he signed back in 2022. Concerns about his durability persist, as a combination of injuries and suspensions has limited Morant to playing a total of just 120 games over the past three seasons. This raises the question: why extend a contract by two years and $128.4 million for a player who frequently struggles to stay on the court?
On the other hand, there is a prevailing belief within the Memphis organization that the former All-Star remains a cornerstone player around whom they plan to build, not only for the upcoming season but for the foreseeable future.
The 25-year-old achieved a streak of 18 consecutive games scoring 20 or more points this season, the third-longest such streak of his career. Morant also recorded a career-high in turnovers and shot 45.4% from the field, his second-lowest percentage since he was drafted in 2019.
What to expect: Memphis is likely to see out the current season and potentially engage in extension talks next offseason.
Zion Williamson, Pelicans
An extension for Zion Williamson appears improbable for two primary reasons. Firstly, committing long-term to a player who has spent considerably more time sidelined than actually playing presents a significant risk. Since being drafted in 2019, Williamson has participated in only 46% of regular-season games and has never made an appearance in the NBA playoffs. He has managed to play more than 30 games in a season on only two occasions.
Secondly, the structure of Williamson`s current contract means that New Orleans would lose significant leverage if an extension were signed. Williamson`s $39.4 million salary ($7.9 million of which is currently protected) for the upcoming season becomes fully guaranteed on July 15. His salaries for the subsequent two seasons ($42.2 million and $44.9 million) remain non-guaranteed. If Williamson were to sign a two-year extension worth $128.4 million, his original contract would immediately become fully guaranteed.
What to expect: No extension is anticipated this offseason, and Williamson is likely to become a free agent in 2028.
Mikal Bridges, Knicks
If durability were the sole criterion, Mikal Bridges would be an absolute certainty for a new contract. This offseason, he is eligible to sign an extension valued at up to four years and $156.1 million.
Since entering the league in 2018, Bridges has maintained an incredible streak, not missing a single game. His average playing time of 37 minutes per game this season was the highest of his career.
During the regular season, Bridges achieved a 50% shooting percentage from the field for the first time since his final year with Phoenix. This improvement in efficiency can be attributed to his different role with the Knicks compared to his two previous seasons in Brooklyn. In the Knicks` second-round playoff series victory against Boston, Bridges shot an impressive 56.5% from the field and scored a total of 29 points during fourth quarters in the series.
Jalen Brunson`s team-friendly extension signed last summer helps pave the way for Bridges to receive a new contract while allowing the New York Knicks to maintain financial flexibility. The Knicks are projected to be approximately $30 million below the second salary apron in the 2026-27 season if Bridges` extension begins with a $34 million salary.
What to expect: The key question will be whether the Knicks are prepared to offer their fourth-best player an average salary approaching $40 million over the next four seasons. If they are willing, it seems improbable that Bridges would decline a $10 million increase in salary for the upcoming season and over $150 million in guaranteed money.
Karl-Anthony Towns, Knicks
Karl-Anthony Towns continues to perform at an All-NBA level on the offensive end and should consequently be considered for a new contract. This season, he joined Nikola Jokic as the only players to average at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, and shoot 40% or better from 3-point range. Towns` 56 double-doubles ranked as the third-most in the league.
However, the situation presents complications.
Towns is already under contract for the next three seasons ($53.1 million, $57.1 million, and $61 million), with the final year being a player option. By extending his contract for an additional two years and $150 million, New York would be committing to pay a player in his mid-30s an average annual salary of $75 million.
What to expect: Given that Jalen Brunson`s $43 million salary in 2027-28 could potentially increase to over $70 million (Brunson holds a player option that season), it is difficult to foresee New York committing significant additional funds to Karl-Anthony Towns.
Devin Booker, Suns
No player eligible for an extension possesses greater leverage than Devin Booker. The reason for this is Suns owner Mat Ishbia`s public declaration that Booker is not available for trade.
“Never happen,” Ishbia told ESPN when asked about the possibility of trading Booker. “It`s silly. So here`s what I`ll tell you: I have Devin Booker in his prime. In order to win an NBA championship, you have to have a superstar. You have to have a great player.” For the eighth consecutive season, Booker averaged at least 25 points per game while shooting over 45% from the field. He participated in 75 games this season, his highest total since 2016-17.
Despite having three years remaining on the $220 million supermax extension he signed in 2022, Booker is eligible to add two more seasons to his contract. The average annual salary of $75 million over these two additional years would be the highest in league history.
What to expect: A two-year extension valued at $150 million appears fitting, considering the significant emphasis Phoenix has placed on building its roster around the accomplished guard.
Kevin Durant, Suns
Kevin Durant`s future, along with that of Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, is expected to be a dominant topic this offseason.
With Durant currently under contract for just one more season, Phoenix faces a crucial decision: continue building around Durant and Devin Booker, or undertake a roster reset and explore trade options.
Durant, who will turn 37 in September, is eligible to sign a two-year extension with Phoenix worth $124 million. However, accepting an extension at that specific salary would make him ineligible to be traded for a period of six months.
“I want my career to end on my terms, that`s the only thing,” Durant stated last month on `The Draymond Green Show with Baron Davis.` “That`s the only thing I`m worried about. Because I see a lot of dudes that don`t get that opportunity, so I want to keep putting in that work to make that choice on my own.”
If Durant were to be traded, he would immediately be eligible to sign a two-year extension worth $111 million with his new team. Alternatively, he could sign the same two-year, $124 million extension available with Phoenix, but only after six months have passed following the trade.
What to expect: In a scenario potentially mirroring the end of Jimmy Butler III`s tenure with the Miami Heat, Durant might sign a two-year extension for $111 million with Phoenix and subsequently be traded.
Waiting until August
Luka Doncic, Lakers
Luka Doncic and the Lakers are eligible to agree to a three-year extension worth $160 million after the conclusion of the NBA Finals. However, because he was traded on February 2, the Lakers must wait until August 2 if their objective is to extend him for the maximum allowable amount: four years and $229 million.
There are multiple possible structures for a new extension for Doncic:
A four-year, $229 million maximum contract, where the $51 million salary for the first year (2026-27) replaces the player option for that season. A more likely scenario is a three-year extension valued at $165 million that includes a player option in the third year. A shorter-term extension would enable Doncic to potentially re-enter free agency sooner and recover some of the estimated $345 million he might have forfeited when he was traded from the Mavericks.
For his part, Doncic confirmed his intention to remain with the Lakers in an interview with ESPN`s Malika Andrews prior to the postseason. However, while there is confidence that Doncic will extend his contract, demonstrating what the roster could look like in the post-LeBron James era remains a significant priority.
What to expect: Doncic is anticipated to sign a three-year agreement for $165 million, which is expected to include a player option for the 2028-29 season.
De`Aaron Fox, Spurs
After being traded in February, De`Aaron Fox was resolute in stating that San Antonio was not merely a temporary stop in his career.
“There was no f—ing list,” Fox told ESPN regarding trade discussions with his former team, the Kings, at the trade deadline. “There was one team. I wanted to go to San Antonio.”
Similar to Luka Doncic, Fox is eligible to agree to an extension after the Finals conclude, but with limitations on the total years and value until a later date. While a three-year, $140.2 million extension is immediately available, he becomes eligible for a four-year, $229 million deal starting on August 3.
What to expect: Fox is expected to sign a four-year extension valued at $229 million.
Waiting until October
Tyler Herro, Heat
Tyler Herro made it clear after the season concluded that signing an extension to remain with the Miami Heat is a significant goal for him.
“The front office, the organization, the city, everyone knows how much I love Miami,” Herro told the Miami Herald. “I`ve been here since I was 18, 19. I`ve got two kids here.”
Beginning October 1, Herro becomes eligible to add a three-year extension worth $149.7 million to the remaining two years ($31 million and $33 million) on his current contract. If no agreement is reached by the October 20 deadline, Herro would then become eligible to sign a four-year extension worth $206.9 million next offseason. He would be eligible for a supermax contract (five years, $380 million) if he were to be selected to an All-NBA team in the 2025-26 season.
Herro not only earned his first All-Star selection this season but also consistently produced numbers indicative of All-NBA caliber performance. For the fourth consecutive season, Herro averaged at least 20 points, finishing the 2024-25 season with five games scoring 35 points or more, a career-best 47.2% shooting percentage from the field, and 5.5 assists per game. While his on-court statistics are impressive, his history with injuries has been a past concern. However, Herro played a career-high 77 games this past season. Notably, Miami lost all five games he missed.
What to expect: The appeal of guaranteed money is likely to be the deciding factor, leading to Herro signing a three-year extension worth $149.7 million.
