NBA 2022 Draft Class Ends Rookie Extension Period With Nine Deals, Twelve Players Set For Restricted Free Agency

The NBA's 2025 rookie scale contract extension deadline passed with 12 players from the 2022 draft class securing new deals, including notable maximum-salary extensions for Paolo Banchero, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren. These maximum deals were signed early in the offseason, reflecting teams' commitments to their top rookies. However, another 12 players, including key young talents like Jaden Ivey, Jalen Duren, Tari Eason, and Jeremy Sochan, did not reach agreements, meaning they will enter the final year of their rookie contracts and become restricted free agents next offseason. The Detroit Pistons and Houston Rockets notably declined to extend Ivey, Duren, and Eason, signaling potential roster reshuffles or testing of market value for these players. Tari Eason's situation was particularly highlighted, as Houston's inability to reach an extension despite a recent major signing with Kevin Durant suggests complex negotiations ahead. Overall, the mixed outcomes reflect varying team strategies regarding long-term flexibility and player commitment as the 2025-26 NBA season begins.