NBA extension watch: Clippers weigh Garland deal, Wizards consider Davis future, Thunder signal Wallace priority
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The NBA’s offseason calendar makes several prominent players eligible for lucrative contract extensions in July and August, and three franchises are already navigating complicated decisions.
Clippers: Decision time on Darius Garland
Guard Darius Garland becomes eligible on Aug. 4 for a contract worth up to three years and $177 million, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks. The 24-year-old appeared in only 45 games last season while recovering from turf-toe surgery and another toe injury, yet he impressed after a mid-season trade to Los Angeles.
In 19 games with the Clippers, Garland averaged 19.9 points and 6.3 assists, shooting 47.1 percent overall and a career-best 43.8 percent from three-point range. The Clippers went 13-6 during that span.
“The offseason is the time where you can make great gains with your body,” team president Lawrence Frank said, underscoring durability concerns. Los Angeles also owns the No. 5 pick in a draft viewed as rich in backcourt talent, a factor that could push serious extension talks to 2025.
Wizards: Anthony Davis talks complicated by injuries
Anthony Davis, 33, is eligible on Aug. 6 for a four-year extension projected at roughly $275 million, which would pay about $76 million in his age-37 season. The veteran big man did not suit up after being traded to Washington and has failed to reach 60 games in five of the past six years.
“They know that I want to win,” Davis said recently. “Nobody wants to lose.” The Wizards are rebuilding, armed with the No. 1 overall draft pick, a young roster and newly acquired Trae Young. League observers see little urgency on either side; any long-term deal would likely require financial concessions tied to Davis’s availability history.
Thunder: Cason Wallace expected to stay long-term
Cason Wallace becomes extension-eligible on July 6 after earning All-Defensive Second Team honors and leading the league in steals. GeniusIQ tracking cited by Marks shows opponents shot just 41.6 percent with Wallace as the closest defender, and he limited postseason matchups such as Austin Reaves, Devin Booker, Stephon Castle and Jalen Green to 25 percent from three.
Durability adds to his value: Wallace has played at least 68 games in each of his three seasons, including a perfect 82 as a rookie. Oklahoma City historically locks up its young core under executive Sam Presti, and league sources expect the same approach with Wallace.
The coming weeks will determine whether any of the three franchises move quickly or wait for further clarity before making nine-figure commitments.
Source: Hoops Wire
