Contract Deadlines Loom for Hawks, Celtics and Nets Ahead of 2024-25 Season
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Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks open camp with heightened expectations and several unresolved deals. No extension has been reached with Trae Young, who is eligible for a four-year, $229 million contract through June 30. Dyson Daniels can negotiate an extension until Oct. 20.
After last season’s play-in loss to Orlando, Atlanta added Kristaps Porziņģis, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Luke Kennard and rookie Asa Newell. ESPN BET lists the club with the fourth-best odds to win the Eastern Conference, though the franchise has missed the playoffs five times and advanced past the first round only once since 2017-18.
Front-office decisions also include Zaccharie Risacher’s third-year team option, due Oct. 31, along with possible extensions for Porziņģis, Young, Daniels and Mouhamed Gueye.
Celtics
Boston’s frontcourt has undergone a six-week overhaul. The Celtics lost Jayson Tatum to an Achilles injury, traded Porziņģis to Atlanta, saw Luke Kornet sign in San Antonio and watched Al Horford depart for Golden State. Those four combined for 184 starts and 61.3 points per game last season.
With postseason center minutes previously handled almost entirely by Horford, Porziņģis and Kornet, a new group—Neemias Queta, Luka Garza, Chris Boucher, Xavier Tillman and Josh Minott—will be closely monitored.
Key dates include Queta’s contract guarantee on Oct. 20, Jordan Walsh’s salary protection increase on Oct. 21 and Baylor Scheierman’s third-year option deadline on Oct. 31. Extension talks could involve Walsh and Anfernee Simons.
Nets
The Brooklyn Nets are balancing a youth movement with roster constraints. Eight players are on first-round rookie contracts, including five from the 2024 draft—the first time any franchise has made five first-round selections in a single year. Sixteen of the 18 players in camp are 26 or younger, and 15 deals are fully guaranteed, forcing cuts before opening night.
Brooklyn currently sits $1.9 million above the minimum salary floor. Waiving Jalen Wilson, Tyrese Martin and Drew Timme would drop the club below that threshold. Alternatives include guaranteeing those contracts and releasing them, cutting a different guaranteed deal, or using part of the team’s $13.6 million in cap space to complete a trade.
Important deadlines arrive soon: Michael Porter Jr.’s extension window closes Oct. 20, Wilson’s contract protection increases Oct. 21, and team options for Kobe Bufkin, Dariq Whitehead and Noah Clowney must be exercised by Oct. 31.
The three Eastern Conference clubs enter camp with roster tweaks in place and several financial decisions still on the clock.
Source: Hoops Wire
