With the league’s extension window for most eligible players closing Monday at 6 p.m. ET, several front offices are racing the clock to finalize new deals while keeping an eye on future cap flexibility and the looming 2027 free-agent class.
Houston weighs Durant’s next deal
The Houston Rockets have roughly $70 million in projected space beneath the second luxury-tax apron to accommodate extensions for Kevin Durant and third-year forward Tari Eason. Durant, eligible for a two-year, $120 million maximum contract, has indicated he expects to remain in Houston, but the club is pushing to fit both players under the apron after Fred VanVleet’s season-ending ACL injury made his $25 million player option for 2026-27 likely.
Heat prioritize 2027 cap room
All-Star guard Tyler Herro is interested in an extension, yet Miami has held only preliminary talks, sources told ESPN. Newly acquired veterans Norman Powell and Andrew Wiggins are also unlikely to secure long-term agreements soon. The Heat already locked in forward Nikola Jovic on a four-year pact worth just over $60 million that begins at $16.2 million in 2026-27, dips to $14.9 million the following season and rises thereafter—an arrangement designed to preserve space for a potential 2027 spending spree when stars such as Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Donovan Mitchell and Anthony Davis could hit the market.
Lakers and Bulls stand pat for now
Guard Austin Reaves will not sign an extension before Monday because league rules cap any raise at 140 percent of his current salary, limiting him to roughly $89 million over four years. Reaves holds a $14.8 million player option for next season and is expected to command a starting salary exceeding $40 million in free agency. Chicago’s Coby White is in a similar position: his $12.8 million salary can only jump to about $18 million in an extension, well below his projected market value. Chicago still has an estimated $75 million in cap space for next summer to retain White and add help around him, Josh Giddey and recent lottery picks Matas Buzelis and Noa Essengue.
Atlanta takes a wait-and-see approach
The Hawks and Kristaps Porzingis share interest in a new contract, but with the 7-foot-3 center owed $30.7 million in the final year of his deal, both sides prefer to assess his health through the season. Franchise cornerstone Trae Young, who owns a $49 million player option for 2026-27, seeks a new max-level agreement, though Atlanta is weighing luxury-tax concerns. Rookie of the Year Dyson Daniels faces Monday’s deadline for a rookie-scale extension, while last fall’s buzzer-beating five-year, $150 million deal with Jalen Johnson serves as a template for the team’s youth-retention strategy.
Knicks juggle payroll and flexibility
New York has discussed a possible extension with center Mitchell Robinson, who is entering the final year of a $13 million contract, but no traction has been reached. Forward Karl-Anthony Towns, with three seasons left on his deal and a $61 million player option for 2027-28, has expressed a desire to remain in Manhattan; nevertheless, the Knicks continue to operate carefully around the second apron. Even Mikal Bridges’ off-season extension was structured so the swingman remains trade-eligible before the Feb. 5 deadline.
Health remains Philadelphia’s main concern
Reigning MVP Joel Embiid, coming off February knee surgery after signing a four-year, $240 million extension last year, participated in an open scrimmage Sunday and could appear in the 76ers’ final preseason game against Minnesota. Philadelphia officials are encouraged, though the organization continues to temper public expectations after last season’s injury-plagued campaign. Rookie guard VJ Edgecombe has also impressed during camp, adding to the cautious optimism inside the building.
The next 48 hours will clarify which teams lock in core pieces now and which choose to maintain maneuverability for what could be one of the most anticipated free-agent classes in recent memory.
Source: ESPN
