Clippers
Darius Garland may have dealt with injuries and inconsistency this past season, but his short stint with the Clippers still offered plenty of encouragement.
As relayed by ESPN’s Bobby Marks, Garland is extension-eligible beginning Aug. 4 and could sign a new deal worth up to three years and $177 million.
The former Cavaliers guard played just 45 games overall after battling turf toe surgery recovery and another toe injury during the season. He was later traded to Los Angeles, where he quietly played some highly efficient basketball.
In 19 games with the Clippers, Garland averaged 19.9 points and 6.3 assists while shooting 47.1 percent from the field and a career-best 43.8 percent from deep. Los Angeles went 13-6 in those games.
Still, durability remains the major question.
“The offseason is the time where you can make great gains with your body,” Clippers president Lawrence Frank said.
Marks also noted another interesting wrinkle: the Clippers hold the No. 5 pick in the draft and could strongly consider selecting a guard in what many evaluators believe is a loaded backcourt class.
Because of that, extension talks with Garland may ultimately wait until next summer.
Wizards
Anthony Davis is extension-eligible this offseason too, though the situation in Washington feels far more complicated.
Davis, 33, did not appear in a game after being traded to the Wizards and has now failed to reach 60 games in five of the past six seasons.
When healthy, however, he remains one of the NBA’s most impactful two-way players.
According to Marks, Davis becomes eligible Aug. 6 for a four-year extension worth roughly $275 million. The deal would pay him approximately $76 million at age 37.
That’s a huge commitment for a player with significant injury concerns.
Davis recently made it clear that winning remains his top priority.
“They know that I want to win,” Davis said. “Nobody wants to lose.”
The Wizards, meanwhile, are still very much in transition despite adding Davis and Trae Young. Washington also owns the No. 1 overall pick and has a roster filled with younger players.
Marks suggested there’s little urgency here from either side.
An eventual extension remains possible, but it would likely need to come with some sort of compromise financially given Davis’ age and availability history.
Thunder
Cason Wallace has rapidly developed into one of the NBA’s premier perimeter defenders, and the defending champions are expected to reward him accordingly at some point.
Per Marks, Wallace becomes extension-eligible beginning July 6 after another standout defensive season.
Wallace earned All-Defensive Second Team honors this year and led the NBA in steals. According to GeniusIQ data cited by Marks, opponents shot just 41.6 percent against Wallace as the closest defender — one of the best marks in the league.
His playoff defense stood out too.
Wallace held players such as Austin Reaves, Devin Booker, Stephon Castle and Jalen Green to just 25 percent shooting from three-point range during the postseason.
Durability has also become one of Wallace’s biggest strengths. He has played at least 68 games in all three NBA seasons, including all 82 during his rookie campaign.
Marks noted Oklahoma City has consistently prioritized extending its own young core under executive Sam Presti.
Given that history, few around the league expect Wallace to be going anywhere anytime soon.
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