Alperen Sengun, Jalen Inexperienced and different stars are nonetheless trying to find contracts

Glad Friday, of us! Welcome again to Layup Strains. Thanks a lot for becoming a member of me right this moment. I hope you’ve had a incredible week.

The NBA season is nearly upon us! Issues formally begin on October 22, however even earlier than that, we’ll have media day coming quickly on the finish of September, after which, earlier than you recognize it, coaching camp might be right here.

That’s why it’s time to start out speaking about contract extensions.

Yearly, earlier than the season begins, groups should determine whether or not to signal their up-and-coming gamers on rookie offers to new contract extensions. The window for negotiations this season was from July 6 and extends to October 21, only a day earlier than the season begins. As soon as the deadline passes, groups gained’t be capable to negotiate and their gamers will enter restricted free company.

The 2021 draft class is on the clock this season. Three gamers have already acquired profitable extensions: Cade Cunningham,  Franz Wagner, Scottie Barnes and Evan Mobley. Everybody else continues to be in search of a brand new deal.

That features huge names like Alperen Sengun, Jalen Inexperienced (the previous No. 2 total choose), Jalen Suggs, Jonathan Kuminga and Josh Giddey. These are lots of key gamers who may very well be coming into into lame-duck years subsequent season.

A couple of of them are in all probability locks at this level. It’d be stunning if the Magic didn’t get a deal accomplished with Suggs, for instance. And I’d be shocked if the Bulls didn’t lock Giddey down with a deal after buying and selling for him this summer.

However for names like Inexperienced, Sengun and even Kuminga, it feels extra seemingly that their groups will simply revisit issues subsequent offseason. These gamers will get an opportunity to show themselves in new, larger roles and their groups will make determinations from there.

It’s a dangerous wager. And there’s an opportunity they might enter a restricted free company and discover cash on the market that may have them on one other workforce subsequent season. However that appears to be a danger these groups are keen to take.

There’s nonetheless simply over a month left till the deadline, so these offers may nonetheless occur. However with the best way issues are wanting proper now, we is perhaps in for a wild end to the NBA’s offseason.

What’s taking place with AJ Griffin?

Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports activities

You not often see prime draft picks flame out of the league after simply a few seasons, however it appears that evidently is perhaps taking place with AJ Griffin.

In line with the most recent from Shams Charania, Griffin is considering stepping away from basketball.

Seeing that was flat-out stunning. Griffin was as soon as thought-about the most effective highschool gamers within the nation and was a prime recruit at Duke. Accidents have actually derailed his profession since.

Right here’s Bryan Kalbrosky with extra:

“Griffin, who was a five-star recruit popping out of highschool and the top-rated participant within the state of New York, was a McDonald’s All-American. He performed faculty basketball for the Duke Blue Devils and was named ACC All-Freshman in 2022.

Whereas he missed a part of his one-and-done season resulting from accidents, he was then chosen by the Atlanta Hawks with the No. 16 total choose within the 2022 NBA Draft.

After averaging 19.5 minutes throughout 72 video games as a rookie, Griffin didn’t get as a lot enjoying time for the Hawks throughout his second skilled season. It ended with 8.5 minutes per recreation throughout simply 20 appearances.”

I don’t know if accidents are the issue for Griffin right here or if there’s one thing else we don’t find out about happening. All I do know is that it stinks to listen to that this is perhaps the tip of the street for him enjoying within the NBA. He’s such a proficient participant.

Shootaround

— A’ja Wilson received excessive reward from across the sports activities world for her new WNBA scoring report.

— DeMar DeRozan doesn’t assume the Raptors wanted Kawhi Leonard to win a title in 2019. Idk about that, DeMar.

— Bam Adebayo and A’ja are positively a factor, btw.

— Sue Fowl isn’t involved about Angel Reese’s taking pictures woes.

That’s a wrap, of us! Let’s do that once more subsequent week. Till then, peace.

-Sykes ✌️