Most of the players eligible for a contract extension this summer committed to more years with their teams. There are some who wanted to delay those talks for the summer, like Nikola Jokic. Austin Reaves decided to decline an extension, bet on himself, and hope for a richer contract next summer when he will be a free agent. With that in mind, there are three more All-Stars who will try to negotiate extensions with their team. Among the most important players eligible for a contract extension are players like Kevin Durant, Trae Young, and Tyler Herro. Players like Ja Morant, Zion Williamson, and Karl-Anthony Towns can also sign longer deals, but they have three years remaining on their current deals.
Deadline Looms for Three Extensions That Could Change the NBA
Trae Young
Young and his contract extension talks could very well change the shape of the league. Young is an All-Star caliber player who led the league in assists last season. He is eligible to sign a $228.6 million contract extension with the Atlanta Hawks. But whether the team decides to write that check, or tries to get him to sign a deal for less, remains to be seen.
On one side, he is a 26-year-old (turns 27 on September 19) point guard who can shoot, loves to pass the ball, and can orchestrate their offense. On the other hand, he is a liability on defense and is one of the smallest point guards in the league. The Hawks can start their rebuilding by focusing on players like Dyson Daniels (also eligible for an extension) and Jalen Johnson. Or they can continue building around Trae, hoping their youngsters will be ready to compete in a year or two. Without an extension, Young will become an unrestricted free agent in 2026 (if he declines his player option), and the Hawks can lose him for nothing. If the two sides cannot agree on an extension, he might become the hottest name nearing the trade deadline.
Kevin Durant
According to the latest reports, KD and the Houston Rockets are not rushing contract extension talks. In the last few years, the Rockets have demonstrated an ability to negotiate shorter and smaller deals with their players. Whether they will be able to do that with Durant, or they will give him the full two-year, $122 million extension he can sign, remains to be seen.
One thing is certain: if the Rockets want to compete for a championship this season, they should not leave any distraction hanging over their head. Until Durant puts his signature on the contract, reporters will continue to ask him and the Rockets about the deal. That can linger throughout the season.
Tyler Herro
Herro will be eligible for a contract extension on October 1. There is still time for the Miami Heat to decide what they will do with their All-Star guard. Last season, he was arguably their best player. But in the playoffs, Herro showed he is not a player who can lead a team. The Heat were completely dismantled by the Cleveland Cavaliers, who often hunted Herro on the defensive end.
To make matters more challenging, the Heat are reluctant to commit salary to players beyond next season. They want to have cap space in the summer of 2026. Herro does have two more years on his contract, but he wants stability and clarity. Miami might try to sell him on the idea of retooling the roster in the summer. With the recent deals that Mikal Bridges and De’Aaron Fox received, it is hard to see Herro accepting anything lower than $40 million per year.
But the biggest challenge is the date. Miami cannot offer him anything before October 1. If they do sign him to a longer deal, he will essentially get a one-year no-trade clause. That would shatter their flexibility for the next two seasons.
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