Spurs
In case you missed it, Victor Wembanyama isn’t going anywhere.
The reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year has officially signed a five-year rookie-scale maximum extension with the Spurs, the team announced after ESPN’s Shams Charania first reported the agreement.
The deal includes a fifth-year player option, but perhaps the biggest surprise is what it doesn’t include.
According to Charania, Wembanyama declined to add Rose Rule language that could’ve boosted the value of the contract by roughly $50 million if he met certain performance benchmarks next season. Instead, he’ll receive the standard maximum, projected at about $252.3 million.
Earlier Friday, Jake Fischer of The Stein Line reported there had been talk around Las Vegas that Wembanyama might even consider taking less than the max to help San Antonio build around him. While that didn’t happen, passing on the Rose Rule escalators still gives the Spurs a little more long-term flexibility.
The move also came just hours after Wembanyama posted a simple message on social media: “Spurs family, I’m here to stay. Whatever it takes.”
Considering he just finished third in MVP voting after leading San Antonio back to the NBA Finals, the Spurs probably liked hearing that almost as much as seeing the contract signed.
Trail Blazers
The Trail Blazers have claimed center Micah Potter off waivers after the Pacers released him earlier this week.
Potter emerged as a solid rotation player in Indiana last season, averaging 9.7 points and 5.0 rebounds while shooting an impressive 42.3 percent from three-point range in 47 games.
Portland already has plenty of size, with Donovan Clingan, Robert Williams III, Yang Hansen and Branden Carlson among its centers. But Williams’ injury history and the lack of NBA experience behind him likely made Potter an appealing low-risk addition.
Better yet for the Blazers, Potter’s contract remains non-guaranteed, giving the team plenty of flexibility heading into training camp.
Nuggets
The Nuggets have officially signed second-round pick Trevon Brazile to a standard NBA contract.
The move had been expected after Denver traded with San Antonio to acquire Brazile’s draft rights last month. The 6-foot-10 forward averaged 13.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.6 blocks as a senior at Arkansas, helping lead the Razorbacks to the Sweet 16.
Financial details of the deal haven’t been reported, though second-round picks who receive standard contracts typically sign three- or four-year agreements.
Denver continues to add affordable young talent as it navigates a busy offseason that still includes restricted free-agent decisions on Peyton Watson and Spencer Jones.
MORE HOOPS | NBA free agents by position
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