The rookie-scale extension market got another jolt Sunday night, but not every eligible player is heading toward the finish line before today’s deadline.
Thunder guard Cason Wallace became the sixth player to lock in a rookie-scale extension, agreeing to a five-year, $139MM deal. Victor Wembanyama, Keyonte George, Brandin Podziemski, Amen Thompson and Ausar Thompson had already been extended. Even so, Marc Stein reports that the Class of 2023 is tracking below the average of 11 extensions that were handed out to the previous three draft classes.
One of the players left in a trickier spot is Magic guard Anthony Black. League sources told Stein that Orlando has no desire to trade the 22-year-old, but the team is not in a place to tack on another major contract to a payroll that already includes Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs and Desmond Bane at more than $32MM this season. Stein says the expectation is that the Magic will take more time to sort out their financial picture and handle Black as a restricted free agent next summer.
Jeff Weltman hinted at that approach on media day, saying, “You guys know that we’re in a lot tighter quarters (financially) than we’ve been in years past. … We expect Anthony to have a great year.
(Deals) don’t always get done right now. Sometimes they get done later, so we’ll see.”
Around the league, several teams are working through last-minute roster and two-way decisions.
In New York, the Knicks did not try to move backup guard Tyler Kolek before waiving Bruce Brown on Saturday, according to a source briefed on the talks. Brown might have been the more helpful piece for a team trying to defend a title this season, but Stein was told New York would have only considered moving Kolek if it could land a backup center in return. The final roster spot instead went to James Wiseman, whom coach Mike Brown still sees as a player with major upside after coaching him as an assistant with Golden State.
“When you have a guy that’s 25 years old, that has the length and the athleticism and the talent (of) a James Wiseman, because (Karl-Anthony Towns is) not athletic like that and Andre (Drummond) was once that - he still has some of it,” Brown said. “… (Wiseman’s) vertical threat at the rim, the vertical threat defensively, how good he runs, you welcome that at his size and age and athleticism.”
Milwaukee is also expected to be active on the fringes of the roster. Sources told Stein the Bucks hope to bring Pete Nance back on a two-way deal after waiving him Saturday, though “multiple contenders” are also prepared to make him a two-way offer if he clears waivers today.
Dallas could be in a similar position with Seth Lundy. After parting ways with Lundy and two-way player John Poulakidas, the Mavericks now have a newly opened two-way spot, and Stein describes Lundy as a “strong candidate” to fill it.
The Mavericks may not be able to bring back Moussa Cisse if they decide to waive him and keep Dwight Powell on the roster. Stein says the Bulls have interest in Cisse if he becomes available, and the Hawks could also pursue him even though they do not currently have an opening on their 15-man roster. He also notes that the Sixers and Lakers would have “strong interest” in Cisse on a two-way contract, though both teams already have all three two-way slots occupied.
And in New Orleans, Zion Williamson is trying to add another layer to his game. Stein reports that Williamson wants the three-point shot to become a bigger part of his arsenal, and the Pelicans forward has been working on expanding his range during the preseason.
In Other News...
Magic Face A Costly Anthony Black Decision As Pressure Builds
The rookie-scale extension window is starting to come into focus for Orlando, and Anthony Black sits right in the middle of it. The Magic have been in ongoing talks with the former lottery pick, a negotiation that matters more now as clubs around the league watch how Orlando handles its payroll and its young core. Around the same time, Oklahoma City locked in Cason Wallace on a five-year rookie-scale extension, another example of a team choosing to secure a rising guard before the deadline drama can spill into the season.
For the Magic, this is about more than one contract. Black remains a key part of their long-term plan, but the closer the deadline gets, the more the conversation shifts from development to leverage and timing. Orlando has some decisions to make, and the rest of the league knows it, which is why this situation feels heavier than a routine extension discussion. [Read more 🡒]
Noah Pendas Latest Setback Raises A Tough Early Question For Orlando
Noah Pendas preseason has taken another frustrating turn, and for Orlando it comes with an early reminder of how quickly a promising camp can get complicated. The forward said the latest issue involves a partial tear in his right hamstring, after a previous injury in a different part of the same muscle had already fully healed. He spoke candidly about the recovery process, leaning on the teams medical staff and stressing the need to stay patient rather than try to force his way back too soon.
For the Magic, it leaves a tough early question hanging over a player they had been trying to integrate while preseason momentum was still building. Penda said he has been encouraged by the way the group has looked and by the support from teammates, even as he works through the setback. The broader concern now is less about his immediate absence than how Orlando manages a young players health without letting one injury turn into a lingering issue. [Read more 🡒]
Anthony Black Just Raised The Stakes For Orlandos Backcourt
Anthony Blacks contract situation now sits squarely on the list of things the Magic will be watching as the season unfolds. The sides were unable to work out a rookie-scale extension before the deadline, which leaves the former lottery pick headed into a more complicated chapter of his Orlando tenure as the organization continues trying to build around a young backcourt.
For the Magic, the important part is that this is far from a final break point. Black is positioned to become a restricted free agent next summer, giving Orlando the right to match any offer sheet he signs elsewhere, while Jeff Weltman has already said conversations are ongoing and a future deal remains possible. It is the kind of deadline miss that does not close the door, but it does make the next several months a little more interesting. [Read more 🡒]