Four NBA players have signed rookie scale extensions so far in 2026, but if recent history is any indication, that number should at least double by October 19, which is the deadline for those deals to be completed.
In each of the past seven offseasons from 2019-25, at least nine rookie scale extensions have been signed. And while it’s not uncommon for the most lucrative of those extensions to be finalized early in the offseason, like Victor Wembanyama’s new deal with the Spurs was this year, many negotiations go down to the wire. In each of those last seven years, at least five rookie scale extensions have been completed in October (or, in the case of the COVID-delayed 2020 offseason, December).
Based on those figures, it seems safe to assume news will break within the next couple weeks about a few more rookie scale extension agreements, but which of the players eligible to sign those contracts are the best bets to actually get something done? That’s the question we’re considering today.
Listed below are the 19 players who entered the offseason eligible for rookie scale extensions and have yet to sign, ranked by the likelihood that they’ll finalize new deals by October 19. We’re starting with the least likely candidates and working our way up to the most likely.
To clarify, this list isn’t ranking these players by value — the No. 1 player isn’t necessarily the one who should get the most lucrative contract. We’re just using our best judgment to predict which of them are most likely to have new contracts in hand by opening night, allowing them to avoid going through the restricted free agency process in July 2027.
Let’s dive in…
19. Cam Whitmore
18. Jordan Hawkins
Before breaking down the extension-eligible players still on the board, we can eliminate two players from our initial list of 19. Whitmore and Hawkins were eligible for rookie scale extensions entering the 2026 offseason, but Whitmore was waived by the Cavaliers after being traded from Washington to Cleveland and Hawkins was cut by the Grizzlies after being dealt from New Orleans to Memphis. Whitmore has since caught on with the Nuggets on a two-way contract and it’s possible Hawkins will have to settle for a two-way deal if he wants to be on an NBA roster by opening night. He projects to clear waivers later today.
