The Hawks agreed to a five-year, $150 million rookie scale extension with forward Jalen Johnson, per NBA insider Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report. It became official just moments before the league’s 5 p.m. Central time deadline to reach such a deal.
Rich Paul, Johnson’s agent, sealed the deal, which is fully guaranteed, per ESPN’s Shams Charania. For the Hawks, this move signals just how much they believe in Johnson’s trajectory as he steps into a much bigger role.
Johnson, who will turn 23 in December, has been steadily climbing in Atlanta’s rotation. Last season, he broke out in a big way, putting up 16 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game.
He also flashed his defensive versatility with 1.2 steals while shooting over 51% from the field and showing improved range from deep. Injuries may have cut his season short, but there’s no question Johnson has NBA All-Star potential.
And with Dejounte Murray out of the picture after being traded, Johnson’s role is about to get even bigger. He’s already considered one of the top candidates for the Most Improved Player award, and the Hawks didn’t want to risk his price tag going up any further. Getting this deal done now gives them cost certainty moving forward — especially as Johnson’s stock continues to rise.
At $30 million per year, Johnson’s extension matches what Jalen Suggs just got from Orlando and puts him among the highest-paid players from this offseason’s rookie extensions.
The Hawks are banking on Johnson becoming one of their cornerstones, along with No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher and Onyeka Okongwu. With Johnson locked in, Atlanta’s focus now shifts to figuring out if Trae Young will remain part of their long-term plans as his own contract inches closer to decision time.
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