Three of the brightest stars from the 2023 NBA Draft class – Victor Wembanyama, Amen Thompson, and Keyonte George – have already received lucrative rookie-scale contract extensions, and several others could reportedly be next in line to get paid as their rookie deals are set to expire after the upcoming season.
According to ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania, there is currently growing optimism surrounding potential extensions for Detroit Pistons forward Ausar Thompson and Charlotte Hornets wing Brandon Miller, with both players expected to continue discussions with their respective teams.
"I'm told there is optimism with an Ausar Thompson extension in Detroit. And then I would also keep an eye on Cason Wallace, Brandin Podziemski, Jaime Jaquez...and Anthony Black who's also a high draft pick in that class," Charania reported on NBA Today.
"But I would look at both Brandon Miller and Ausar Thompson to have more and more conversations with their respective teams, the Hornets and the Pistons, in the upcoming days and weeks," he added.
Three 2023 NBA Draft stars sign lucrative extensions
So far, three of the top players from the 2023 draft class have signed contract extensions as they enter the final year of their rookie deals.
The biggest name is MVP candidate Victor Wembanyama, who signed a five-year, $252 million max rookie-scale contract extension with the San Antonio Spurs.
The Houston Rockets also rewarded two-way young star Amen Thompson with a five-year, $208 million deal, while the latest player to secure a major extension was Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George.
George agreed to a five-year, $157.5 million extension following his breakout season with Utah.