The 2024 offseason is the opening of the so-called extension window for players selected in the first round of the 2021 NBA draft. Young talents such as Detroit’s Cade Cunningham, Cleveland’s Evan Mobley, Toronto’s Scottie Barnes, and Orlando’s Franz Wagner are among those who have recently reached second-contract deals.
In Houston, this window allows the team to give second contracts to big man Alperen Sengun and shooting guard Jalen Green. But unlike most teams, there’s a financial incentive for the Rockets to wait until 2025 to finalize those deals, since Houston is currently positioned to have lots of financial space beneath the league’s salary cap.
Such a plan would potentially make Sengun and Green free agents, but they would be restricted, giving Houston the right to match any outside offer. Thus, the risk is fairly minimal.
In an interview from his native Turkey, Sengun was recently asked about his contract situation. As translated to English via subtitles, here’s what Sengun said regarding his status with the Rockets:
We’re waiting, as well. My managers are negotiating with them. Next year, I’m not a [unrestricted] free agent. Being a free agent like this means… that other teams can make offers, but those offers can be for a maximum of four years. My current team, Houston, can make a five-year offer.
So, let’s say next year I get offers for a four-year deal worth, say, $200 million or $180 million. These will be the prices. This year, they’re not obligated to sign me, but if they don’t sign me, these offers will be on the table next year.
They will enter into competition with other teams, but I can’t just say yes. For example, if Chicago makes me an offer, I can’t just say, ‘Okay, I’ll join you.’ Houston can match the offer, if they offer the same amount. They can say, ‘I’m also offering the same amount, and I will not send Alperen.’ But, for example, if Chicago offers some money and Houston offers less… then if I want to go, I can go. So, there will be some risk.
As I said, they don’t have to sign [in 2024]. But I want to sign, of course, because when you do, you have peace of mind. You secure your future, and you don’t have to worry anymore. You don’t have the fear of getting injured.
Alperen talks about the contract situation subbed in english: pic.twitter.com/7zQuTfWzb9
— yağız (@JustAKidFromTc) July 21, 2024
If there are any tensions, it could help that Philadelphia just went through a similar exercise with Tyrese Maxey, who won NBA Most Improved Player honors last season (Sengun finished third).
By waiting an extra year to sign Maxey to his extension, the 76ers used the resulting cap space to sign perennial All-Star forward Paul George. Houston could be using a similar plan with Sengun.
